The Tunisian General Union of Labor (UGTT) and the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions (GFBTU)—two unions whose struggles are emblematic of labor’s role in the Arab uprisings—received the 2012 George Meany-Lane Kirkland Human Rights Award in a ceremony last night at the AFL-CIO headquarters in Washington, D.C.  

UGTT General Secretary Hassine Abassi and GFBTU General Secretary S. Salman Jaddar Al Mahfoodh received the awards for their respective labor movements.

Workers' issues, such as high unemployment and lack of opportunity, declining living standards and the arrogant abuse of political and economic power by the corrupt few, spurred the Arab uprisings; and unions and workers’ rights activists were engaged in some of the most important union organizing in the region’s history.

At the ceremony, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka recognized labor movements throughout the Arab region for their ongoing role in the struggle for democracy and honored:

the brave working people of Bahrain and Tunisia, who transformed a wave of protests into the mass movement of democracy and economic equality that has come to be known as the Arab Spring. Unionists are a leading voice against corruption, for women’s rights and for a robust democracy with the rights of working people at its core.

The desperate act of self-immolation by the young Tunisian street vendor Mohamed Bouazizi in December 2010 spurred one of the most powerful and important civil resistance movements seen in recent history. This act sparked a broad-based struggle for economic and social justice in the Arab world, which is still going on. Workers and unions quickly put their numbers and power behind this struggle and continue to be dynamic forces in organizing and leading the movement toward real democracy and social justice. The struggle has since involved millions of working men and women around the world, inspiring workers’ struggles in many countries, including the United States, in places like Wisconsin. The awards ceremony celebrated the heroic and strategic role unions have played in the Arab Spring. The AFL-CIO is committed to continuing mutual support between Arab and U.S. unions, as these struggles are far from over.

At the awards ceremony, leaders from the Egyptian Federation of Independent Trade Unions (EFITU), UGTT and GFBTU discussed the legacy of the Arab Spring and current opportunities and challenges. The unions behind the Arab Spring movement keep their focus on building real democracy and addressing a broad workers’ agenda that includes addressing high unemployment, lack of decent work, declining living standards and the abuse of political and economic power by a corrupt few. While these countries shared these challenges, each are distinct and unique within the consequences of those struggles.  

UGTT in Tunisia has been active politically and socially in fighting for democracy, human rights and worker rights. To this end, UGTT has been largely successful and, as a result, has substantially increased its union membership. UGTT’s strength lies in its deep roots with workers and community and its commitment to equality and its sense of social responsibility. A major challenge in UGTT’s fight now is to make sure that the goals of democracy, opportunity for women and youth and workers’ rights remain at the center of the Arab Spring movement. Secular extremists are attempting to redefine the goals and recently have attacked the offices of the UGTT to  labor unions to impose their own agenda. 

EFITU emerged from the inspiration and protests of Tahrir Square and continues to work hard to build an effective independent labor movement. They have focused on organizing new members and more than 1,000 new unions have joined EFITU. Among such ongoing challenges as high unemployment and ongoing political transitions, the labor movement continues to represent a broad-based platform for economic and social justice. As the indepdent movement grows, they are struggling to pass a trade union law that would allow independent unions to legally organize. 

Both Tunisia and Egypt paved the way for the demonstrations and civil resistance that occurred in Bahrain. The Bahraini government has been resistant to working with the GFBTU and instead has created its own government-sponsored union. This pseudo-union presents significant challenges in the GFBTU’s ability to organize, mobilize and achieve true democracy. Ultimately, GFBTU wants to promote democracy, with three essential components: a peaceful rotation of power, a contractual constitution with collaboration of Bahraini people and full and powerful legislative and judicial governing bodies.

Unionists in all three of these countries continue to face discrimination, retaliation and imprisonment for their union activity. The legacy of the Arab Spring continues to be marked by its crusade for freedom and liberty.  In Egypt, Tunisia and Bahrain, the crusade continues with the strong leadership, fierce determination and extraordinary courage of EFITU, UGTT and GFBTU.

Read more about the labor movements and the Arab uprisings from the AFL-CIO Executive Council.

The annual Meany-Kirkland Award, created in 1980 and named for the first two presidents of the AFL-CIO, recognizes outstanding examples of the international struggle for human rights through trade unions. Previous winners have included Wellington Chibebe of Zimbabwe; Ela Bhatt, founder of India’s Self Employed Women’s Association; the Liberian rubber workers of FAWUL; Colombian activist Yessika Hoyos; and the General Secretary of “Los Mineros” Mexican Labor Union, Napoleón Gómez Urrutia.