Morocco's union crisis: Plummeting membership & dwindling trust

Morocco’s labor unions are at a crossroads, grappling with a significant decline in membership that threatens their relevance in advocating for workers’ rights. 

Each year, fewer professionals are choosing to unionize, with a notable shift among teachers who are increasingly distancing themselves from established unions to form their own independent groups.

Particularly evident in the teacher protests against the fundamental system this year, previously unionized education professionals turned away from historic and established unions, and formed their own coordinating bodies to advocate for their rights. 

Official figures have long confirmed this crisis within the labor movement, showing a steady decline in union membership.

A 2018 report by the High Commission for Planning (HCP) showed that only 4.3% of workers were unionized, meaning a staggering 95.7% opted out of representation. Despite the presence of major labor unions, the vast majority of Moroccan workers remain unrepresented.

The latest 2023 report shows a further decline in union membership, with 97.3% of active workers now outside unions. The rate is even higher in rural areas, where 99.5% of workers are not unionized, compared to 96.1% in urban areas.

Considering that Morocco’s population aged 15 and over is approximately 27.888 million, and only 12.171 million are in the labor force, the high rate of non-unionization prompts concern about potential drivers behind such low unionization rates. 

In an interview with Hespress EN, Abdellah Ghmimet, secretary general of the National Federation of Education, said that the attractiveness of unions has waned due to their being historical targets of government repression. 

Unions were often suppressed, their leaders arrested, and their activities restricted. This climate of fear and intimidation made it difficult for unions to effectively advocate for workers’ rights. 

The co-optation of unions by external forces has also led to a perception among workers that unions are no longer capable of representing their interests.

“Government hostility towards labor unions, coupled with the suppression of union activities and the denial of basic rights for union organizations, has significantly contributed to the decline in union membership,” added Ghmimet. 

Loubna Najib, secretary general of the National Union for Private Security Guards, Cleaners, and Catering Staff, cited more worrying reasons for the low unionization rate of less than 40% in a sector with over 1.5 million workers.

“The primary deterrent for workers in the private security, cleaning, and catering sectors to unionize is the pervasive fear of employer reprisals, such as termination,” Njib told Hespress Eng. 

These companies, according to the secretary general, often suppress union activities to continue exploiting workers and denying them fair labor practices. Union busting is additionally showing signs of growth within the private sector, 

The decline of unions’ appeal cannot be solely attributed to external factors; internal issues have also played a significant role in their demise.

Internal problems within unions, including a lack of democratic practices, failure to consult with workers, and the pursuit of self-serving interests, have alienated workers and contributed to the decline in union membership.  

“The exploitation of union resources for personal gain and the suppression of dissent have eroded trust in union leadership,” said Ghmimet. 

A teacher and union member who spoke to Hespress EN under the condition of anonymity echoed this hopeless view of Moroccan unions, saying: “The state of unions today is a moral crisis. Many leaders are corrupt and have betrayed the trust of their members. Other unions are simply tools of political parties,” said the union member.

“There’s been a decline in the sense of collective responsibility.”

“Even worse, many teachers have become self-serving. Teachers used to be dedicated to a higher calling, but now many are more concerned with their own individual interests,” the union member said. 

Critics point to the close association of unions with political parties as a factor contributing to their declining appeal.

According to Ghmimet, when unions are controlled by parties, especially those that oppose worker interests, workers feel alienated and distrusted. 

“True unions should be independent and focus on workers’ needs, only engaging in politics when it directly benefits the working class,” he said.

Najib noted that the affiliation of unions with political parties in Morocco negatively impacted union membership rates.

“Most citizens no longer trust unions or political parties despite the fact that these institutions are meant to safeguard collective interests and fight against injustice and corruption,” said Najib.

But the distrust in the unions due to their affiliation with political parties is relatively new. According to the union member, in the past, labor unions often aligned with political parties that had strong ideological stances and ambitious goals, making it easy for union members to identify with these parties. 

For instance, the Democratic Confederation and the Socialist Union party had a strong connection during a period of intense political struggle. Similarly, the General Union of Workers, affiliated with the Independence Party, had a significant following when the party was in opposition. 

“Today, political parties are more like seasonal businesses or have limited and modest demands. Unions that align with these parties end up adopting their limited goals,” said the union member. 

He further explained that societal values have shifted and the middle class has become more individualistic. The broader goals of democracy, human rights, and social justice have been replaced by more personal aspirations, such as individual success. This shift has weakened the connection between unions and the broader political landscape.

The chasm between unions and the workers was laid bare during the teachers’ protests against the fundamental system reforms. 

While four major unions signed a government agreement, one held out, leading to widespread demonstrations from teachers who felt their interests were overlooked.

In response to their unions’ perceived betrayal, many educators have begun forming their own independent coordinating bodies to advocate for their rights, highlighting a grassroots movement gaining momentum in Morocco’s labor landscape, despite lacking official representation status.