UNION GéNéRALE DES TRAVAILLEURS MAROCAINS (UGTM)

Moroccan labor union.

The Istiqlal Party founded the General Union of Moroccan Workers (UGTM) in 1959 to compete with the Moroccan Labor Union (Union Marocaine du Travail, UMT), then associated with the National Union of Popular Forces (Union Nationale des Forces Populaires, UNFP). The UGTM represents the labor branch of the Istiqlal Party, which emphasizes nationalistic, pro-Islamic, and pan-Arab policies. The UGTM takes a pragmatic stance toward the government, not hesitating to support its policies. This was particularly true when the Istiqlal Party was represented in the cabinet (1977–1984). During the 1980s the UGTM gained ascendancy within various sectors, but especially in the rural milieu and agriculture.

The UGTM competed with the UMT in the 1970s and with the Democratic Confederation of Labor (CDT), created in 1978, in the 1980s. However, in the 1990s the UGTM joined forces with the CDT. The socioeconomic situation of the country had been steadily worsening since the 1980s, and both unions called for strikes during the 1990s to force the government into a dialogue with labor representatives. Similar tactics were repeated in 2002 under the government of Abderrahmane Youssoufi. The strikes concluded the following month with a social pact negotiated by the government, the employers, the CDT, and the UGTM.

As of 2003, the modification of the current Labor Code, which could represent a limitation on the right to strike, is an issue of great concern to both unions. UGTM's secretary general is Abderrazak Afilal.

see also union marocaine du travail (umt); youssoufi, abderrahmane.

larry a. barrie
updated by ana torres-garcia