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The three unions, affiliated to the Union Générale des Travailleurs Algériens (UGTA), the Federation nationale des travailleurs des transports (FNTT), the Federation Nationale des Travailleurs des Ports Algériens and the Fédération Nationale des Travailleurs du Pétrole, du Gaz et de la Chimie, met in Amman, Jordan this week for the first Algeria industrial hubs project strategy group meeting.
The Algeria project is the second phase of the ITF industrial hubs programme, which aims to build worker power through uniting unions and industrial sections that work along the same supply chains and are centred around the same geographical locations. Project one of the hubs programme – sponsored jointly with global union federation IndustriALL - is ongoing in the UK.
During the meeting the three federations signed an agreement detailing the aims and objectives of the alliance before agreeing next steps to put the hubs project into practice in Algeria.
During the two-day meeting Fédération Nationale des Travailleurs du Pétrole et du Gaz, de la Chimie applied for ITF affiliation, declaring members across dock, rail, road and maritime. The application will now to referred to the ITF executive board for consideration.
Leader of the federation Touahria Hamou said: “Our federations in Algeria, we are united. We are working together as one hand. We are striving together to increase awareness among workers about their rights and minimise exploitation by international companies. As unions we have economic and social value in Algeria.”
Leaders of the other two federations Seddik Berrama and Adjabi Lazhari expressed their hope that their collaborative working in Algeria would act as a role model for other alliances in the Arab World region and beyond.
For more on the ITF industrial hubs programme visit: www.itfhubs.org
To hear direct from workers involved in the project from Algeria, UK, Ireland, US go to the hubs voices blog:https://itfhubs.wordpress.com/
Follow developments on ITF social media channels facebooks/ITFglobal and twitter @ITFglobalunion #OurHubs