About 650,000 public sector workers were joined by thousands of other people across Tunisia on 22 November chanting “shame on the government” and calling to be given their “rights” in protest against the government’s refusal to raise wages amid threats from international lenders to stop financing its economy while inflation is rising. Schools, universities, municipalities, and ministries were shut and hospitals had only emergency staffing. This is arguably the biggest strike action organised by the UGTT over the last 5 years. Under pressure from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and a deepening political crisis, Prime Minister Youssef Chahed is battling to cut the budget deficit to about 4.9% of gross domestic product (GDP) this year from 6.2% last year. His unpopular reforms include cuts to the public sector, state companies, and fuel subsidies.