General Union of Algerian Workers

The General Union of Algerian Workers (French Union générale des travailleurs algériens; often abbreviated UGTA ) is a trade union in Algeria. It was founded during the Algerian War in 1956 by the FLN and was, until 1990, the labor union in the country.

History

The organization was founded in 1956 by the FLN underground during the Algerian War in 1956. After independence, the country's UGTA took over the role of trade union unity in the created by the FLN one-party state. At the time of independence in 1962, the organization had 300,000 members. After Ahmed Ben Bella had prevailed in the FLN internal power struggle as president, the UGTA was politically closely tied to the party. An attempt Ben Bella from the ranks of UGTA militiamen set up as a counterweight to the army, had no consequences by the takeover of the military Hourai Boumedienne 1965. Large parts of the members were followers of a self-management of factories and farms, as opposed to the guide used by the FLN. In 1969, 12.8 % of industrial establishments in the country were in a funded by the UGTA self-government. However, in the course of this model came in favor of state capitalism to a halt.

The organization came with their secular orientation already in the 60s in an ideological opposition to the rise of Islamist movements in the country. In the context of political liberalization in the country the end of 1990 UGTA lost its status as a labor union, as the Islamic Salvation Front, the establishment of its own workers' organization was permitted.