Independent energy union under fierce government attack in Algeria

The government of Algeria is escalating its war on the independent union of electricity and gas workers SNATEGS, which organizers workers at the state energy company SONELGAZ. Hundreds of union members, delegates and officers have been dismissed, harassed and persecuted on bogus legal charges for exercising their fundamental rights.

In May this year the government revoked SNATEGS’ legal status and sentenced union President Raouf Mellal to six months in prison for exposing corruption and massive fraud carried out by SONELGAZ over a decade of overcharging millions of Algerians on their utility bills.

Now the government is attempting to eliminate the union altogether. On December 3, the Ministry of Labour announced that SNATEGS had held a meeting to dissolve itself! No authorized meeting took place, and according to the union’s statutes only a national congress can take this decision.

SNATEGS lives and fights, and needs your support. The union is affiliated to the IUF and to our sister organizations PSI and IndustriAll, and together we have launched a joint labourstart email campaign. CLICK HERE to send a message to the Algerian authorities.