following an economic crisis in the early 1980s, growing pressure for trade union autonomy in conjunction with the country's transition to a multi-party system in 1990 led to the juwata's dissolution and the founding of the organisation of tanzania trade unions (ottu) in 1992. the move was approved by the country's president and parliament. the main difference between the ottu and the juwata was that the former consisted of sectoral unions and allowed the creation of eleven industrial unions. moreover, the union's internal structure was more democratic than that of its predecessor. after the president broke a promise to raise salaries in the country in 1993, the ottu conducted a successful strike from march 1 to 3 showing that the union was no longer controlled by the government. in january 1994, a strike by high school teachers led to massive government repression including the suspension of 318 teachers as well as to the creation of the tanzania teachers' union.