The municipal workers of Yattafen, a town in the Béni Yenni district of Algeria, began an indefinite strike on January 15, 2020. The workers, who are demanding that their rights be respected, have posted notices around the town stating that the commune's offices will remain closed until their demands are met. According to the workers, their decision to strike was made necessary by the failure of local authorities to address their concerns.
The workers claim that their salaries have not been paid and that the town's accounting service, led by its head, is responsible for the delays and errors in payment. They accuse the accounting service of sabotaging the town's operations and say that the situation has become unbearable. The workers also criticize the town's leaders, including the Secretary-General, for failing to take action to resolve the problems.
Local business owners have expressed support for the striking workers, saying that they too have been affected by the accounting service's incompetence. They claim that the service's errors and delays have caused them significant financial losses and that they have been forced to stop submitting bids for contracts with the commune. The business owners also say that they have written to the authorities to complain about the situation.
The strike has been widely supported by the town's workers, who say that they are determined to see their demands met. However, not all workers are in agreement, and there have been reports of tensions between different groups. The strike has already caused significant disruptions to the town's services, with only the civil registry office remaining open.
The town's residents are calling for the intervention of the provincial authorities to resolve the crisis. They say that the situation in the town has become intolerable and that urgent action is needed to restore order. The residents also express concern that the strike may continue for an extended period, causing further hardship for the community.
The striking workers say that they are prepared to continue their action until their demands are met. They emphasize that their primary concern is the payment of their salaries, which they say have been delayed due to the incompetence of the accounting service. The workers also call for the dismissal of the head of the accounting service and for greater accountability from the town's leaders.
The crisis in Yattafen highlights the deep-seated problems facing many Algerian towns, where corruption, incompetence, and lack of accountability have become endemic. The situation in Yattafen is a stark reminder of the need for urgent reform and for greater transparency and accountability in local government.
Key points
- The municipal workers of Yattafen have begun an indefinite strike to protest against unpaid salaries and what they describe as the sabotage of the town's accounting service.
- The strike has caused significant disruptions to the town's services, with only the civil registry office remaining open.
- The town's residents are calling for the intervention of the provincial authorities to resolve the crisis.
