Nermin Sharif: I keep struggling despite all the pressures

Three assassination attempts were carried out against her, she was detained many times, her passport was confiscated, she was marginalized, false information was shared about her, but she never gives up her struggle for workers. “Despite all the pressures, I am the one who succeeds,” says Nermin Sharif, the president of the Libyan General Federation of Trade Unions. Nermin Sharif has carried important works on the trade union struggle of women in Libya. She gives good news; the Libyan women workers are going to form the Female Workers’ Network.

IPTÎSAM AXFÎR

Benghazi – Nermin Sharif, the president of the Libyan General Federation of Trade Unions, has been subjected to three assassination attempts, she was detained, her passport and belongings were confiscated, and her right to travel was denied due to her works in the trade union struggle. Despite facing many obstacles, she never takes a step back in her struggle. Her father is the president of the Union of Private Banks of Libya and her uncle is the president of the Seafarers’ Union of Libya. She has known the trade union culture since her childhood.  

“Our numbers were few and we couldn’t make our voices heard”

Nermin Sharif told us how she started her syndicate works, “After graduating from the Faculty of Economics, I started working at Al Jazeera Customs Service. 400 workers were the members of the Seafarers’ Union of Libya so 1.500 workers of this service didn’t have a private union. So we couldn’t make our voices heard. In 2002, 120 workers were fired. For this reason, we needed to form a private union to defend the rights of workers. Then, a private union for the workers of the Al Jazeera Customs affiliated to the Seafarers’ Union of Libya was formed. I was elected as the vice-chair of the union.”

First woman elected as vice-chair of a union in Libya

Nermin Sharif became the first female vice chair of a union in Libya. Then, she was elected as deputy secretary-general of the Seafarers’ Union of Libya and she worked for the union until 2010. During that period, we couldn’t talk in forums. During one of these forums, I talked about the union and the agreement accepted by the Libyan government. I said the Libyan government had to do what they promised. The union suspended my position because of my speech at the forum. Then, I was elected as the president of the Seafarers’ Union and I became the first woman, who took part in a Seafarers’ Union in the world. We formed an Arab League in the union and we joined the World Federation of Exchanges.”

Nermin Sharif also talked about her works after the revolution. “The name of the Production Union was changed; the name of the union became the Workers’ Union. The delegates of the union were elected. I was elected as the female representative of the union but I didn’t know that.”

Nermin Sharif detained

Nermin Sharif was detained when she tried to go to Tunisia to join the election. “They detained me for being a member of ISIS. Their aim was to prevent me from going to Tunisia. My passport, belongings, and ID card were confiscated. I couldn’t join the election of the Libyan General Federation of Trade Unions but I was elected as the president of the Libyan General Federation of Trade Unions although I was not there. I am still the president of the union.”

“Despite all the pressures, I am the one who succeeds”

Nermin Sharif was detained three times between 2014 and 2016 for her works. “Despite all the pressures, I am the one who succeeds,” Nermin Sharif said, “I was elected as the president of the Libyan General Federation of Trade Unions.” After her detentions, many campaigns were launched demanding her release. “Despite everything, I am still here and work. Next October, an international meeting of trade unions will be held. I will do my best to make the Libyan General Federation of Trade Unions known all around the world and to be a part of the World Federation of Trade Unions.”

Female Workers’ Network to be formed

“Women working in factories are under pressure of their brothers, fathers, and husbands. The women are not allowed to attend the meetings of the union. So we decided to form a network for female workers. This network will have coordinators from every city of Libya and female workers will be registered on this network. This network will have a great role for women’s solidarity.”