The National Workers’ Union of Mali has moved into the 2^nd phase of its strike following government’s failure to heed to the requests raised by the union during the first phase of the strike.

The Union first embarked on a 5-day strike from the 17^th of May to the 21^st of May. Among the numerous claims they made, were requests for ‘the balance of premiums and indemnities which differ the conditions of workers having the same references, the same competences’, ‘the harmonization of the indexes of civil servants of the same category and consequent thereto, the application to them of the same age of retirement’, as well as, ‘the refusal of the resumption of recruitment of young people in public functions stopped since 2018 despite the government commitment of an annual recruitment of 8,600 young graduates and the agreement of a massive recruitment of 23,628 diplomas to compensate the years 2019-2020 and 2021, against only 3600 programmed this year’.

The strike was largely patronized with 98% of members in the regions and 96% in the District of Bamako observing the strike. According to the union, the Government and the Employers of Mali despite efforts made by the National Workers’ Union of Mali, have made no proposal for an end to the crisis and showed no interest in the implementation of the measures for the continuation and strengthening of the social dialogue proposed by the trade union delegation.

Due to the unsatisfactory response from government, the 2nd phase of the 5-day strike takes off from Monday, the 24^th to Friday, the 28^th of May 2021.

The Organisation of African Trade Union Unity (OATUU) expresses its support for the workers of Mali and all union members and stands in solidarity with them as they stand up for their fundamental rights as workers and partners in economic development.