فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
Casablanca – Abdelilah Benkirane, Secretary-General of the Justice and Development Party (PJD), launched a scathing attack on several labor unions, accusing them of “selling out” the working class to the government for their own gain.
Speaking at the May Day celebrations organized by the National Labor Union of Morocco (UNTM), the PJD’s labor arm, today, Thursday, in Casablanca, Benkirane stated in a strong tone: “There are mercenary unions, and a former head of government says so. There is money going into pockets, and whoever denies this can go and see the homes of some of these union officials.”
After praising his own party’s union, the UNTM, Benkirane attacked other unions without naming them directly, saying: “The other unions, not all of them, come to agreements, take money, and buy and sell; then they go to the workers and tell them something else.”
The party official continued: “Unions, except for those spared by God, one of their leaders wasn’t ashamed to say he didn’t get his due because he contributed to the downfall of a popular party. It’s shameful to say that.”
Benkirane intensified his attack on unions, particularly targeting the Moroccan Labor Union (UMT), noting that its Secretary-General, Miloudi Moukharik, was not invited to the PJD’s conference. He explained: “We didn’t just not invite Akhannouch and Lachgar; we didn’t invite Moukharik either, because it’s impossible for someone who demands a price for selling us out to be invited to our event.”
The “PJD leader” continued his criticism of union leaders, saying: “One hoodlum’s only concern was to organize a strike in Fez, and now he’s outside Morocco, we don’t even know where he went,” adding, “Don’t remain confused, you need to be awake. Don’t follow those who sugarcoat words and ruin the country.”
In contrast, Benkirane lauded the UNTM, describing it as “honest, upright, with clean hands, and it will never sell you out or buy you,” adding, “Anyone you suspect, tell us, and we will deal with them.” He emphasized: “This union doesn’t pressure workers with sit-ins and strikes, and then negotiate with employers at night to tell workers ‘good morning’.”
Benkirane also used the occasion to express the PJD and its members’ support for the Palestinian cause, stating that Moroccans stand with Palestinians against the violations committed against them. He said: “Moroccans are Muslims, our languages are Arabic and Amazigh… and we are supporters of the Palestinian cause; and at our head is His Majesty King Mohammed VI, who has linked Palestine and the southern provinces.”
In this context, Benkirane evoked a famous chant of Raja Casablanca football club fans: “Oh State, oh State, what are you doing to us? Send us to Palestine to fight the Zionists,” which expresses support for Palestine and their readiness to go and support Palestinians. He urged the audience to repeat it as a sign of solidarity.
The Secretary-General of the “Lamp” party also attacked those who utter the phrase “We are all Israelis,” describing them as “microbes,” saying: “There are microbes who dare to attack the Palestinian cause; microbes in politics, media, and in official and unofficial bodies, who come out and say we have no connection to Palestine.”
