Source: Amnesty International –
In response to the decision by the administrative tribunal in Algiers to dissolve the National Autonomous Union of Education and Training Workers (CNAPESTE), Sar Hashash Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International said:
“Today’s decision to dissolve the CNAPESTE is a serious assault on the rights to freedom of association and peaceful assembly and a devastating blow to independent trade union activity in Algeria. Using restrictive laws to disband a teachers’ union because its members challenged legislation affecting their working conditions is entirely inconsistent with Algeria’s obligations under international human rights law.
The dissolution of a trade union must never be used as a means of punishing workers for exercising their rights or silencing independent voices.
Sara Hashash, Amnesty International.
“The dissolution of a trade union must never be used as a means of punishing workers for exercising their rights or silencing independent voices. Algerian authorities must immediately rescind this ruling, end the judicial harassment of trade unionists, and ensure that workers and their organizations can operate freely without fear of reprisals or arbitrary interference. ”