France, Alternative Libertaire AL #229 - Ali Ourak (unionist T?l?performance): "The victory allowed us to be respected" (fr)

Teleperformance is a French company operating in several countries. Employees in Tunisia 
led to it a long and victorious struggle, marked by their direct action and concrete 
internationalist union practice. We asked Ourak Ali, general secretary of the union base 
T?l?performance UGTT Ben Arous to tell us this movement. ---- The French multinational 
Teleperformance has been established for several years in Tunisia. Can you introduce a 
little this company in which you work? ---- Teleperformance is installed in Tunisia since 
2001, is the leading call centers in the country, with 5400 employees at different sites 
in the regions of Ben Arous, Tunis and Sousse. The union work began in 2007 and currently 
there are three basic unions: in each region of Tunis, Ben Arous and Sousse.

You had a pretty hectic 2013 spring since you "sequestered" within local management for 
almost two months and have made a hunger strike. You can explain the course of your 
struggle and your claims?

On 26 February, the general direction of the company in Tunisia decided to dismiss five 
employees without any proof of the charges against them. After that employee 
representatives on the board of discipline and basic UGTT union chose to enter a sit-in, 
that is to say, to occupy the premises. Then there was a hunger strike for nine days and 
then a hunger strike at all sites in turn to arrive at a three-day strike from April 1 to 
3. Before the strike, during the WSF, an international meeting was held in coordination 
with the SUD and CGT unions, outside the headquarters of the company to put pressure on 
the leadership of the group. Our main demands were: that the decisions taken by the 
Disciplinary Board of the February 26, 2013 improved occupational classifications, the 
2013 wage increase and the implementation of previous agreements (Ramadan bonus, social 
background, planning committee ... ).

Employees have you supported?

Support employees manifested with hunger strikes, participation remarkable March 26 
international meeting-event and a participation rate in the April strike that exceeded 80% 
in some places ( Ben Arous, Charguia 2, etc..). On our return, a reception was held by the 
employees! Really, support, makes participation during the fifty days of this movement 
were significant.

The fact that management has abdicated after so many weeks makes your victory??

Certainly, the fact that the fight lasted so long and we have been successful, growing our 
victory, it cost us a lot of time and effort, but finally the victory of employees is 
important and stronger than when all battles before.

It changed something in the report with management in everyday life?

The frame was always on the side of the direction of the company, but some of the foremen, 
closer to the ground, has always supported our struggles and demands, as it is also their 
claims.

After the signing of the agreement and our victory even line management closest to the 
direction has changed behavior. Not everything is solved of course, but the collective 
momentum of the fight, strength and determination we showed our international links and 
the fact that we did back direction, lead to more respect vis- ?-vis us in everyday life.

Interview by a militant union SUD call centers