ABSTRACT
The first major uprising led by the union movement against Bourguiba's authoritarian regime occurred on January 26, 1978, a day known as "Black Thursday". The UGTT's role as the leader of the National Dialogue Quartet was mired in controversy, with further accusations of political parties using the union to their own ends. The country was troubled by disputes over social issues of all kinds after the fall of Ben Ali, which continued after the Constituent Assembly elections. In addition to their remarks on the controversies regarding the origins and originators of Tunisia's social movements, the interview respondents stated that Ennahdha was wary of the UGTT because it was the only organized force in the country, with an impressive ability to mobilize people. In an environment where fears of the return of the authoritarian system were ever-present, Ennahdha's distrust of the UGTT was mirrored by worries among unionists that Ennahdha would pursue the same authoritarian approach as the former regime.
