Labor & Employment Law

Egypt?s Workers Strike for Democracy and Rights

By James Parks

Egyptians protest at Tahrir Square in Cairo.

The international trade union movement has sent a strong message of support to tens of thousands of striking Egyptian workers as they continue to fight for democracy, social justice and trade union rights.

Workers are striking in dozens of cities throughout the country. Railway and bus workers, state electricity staff and service technicians at the Suez Canal and workers in factories manufacturing textiles, steel and beverages and at least one hospital are all on strike.

The workers are infuriated over reports that the family of President Hosni Mubarak has amassed a fortune worth billions of dollars while some 40 percent of the country’s 80 million people live below or near the internationally defined poverty line of $2 a day, according to the World Bank.

“They were motivated to strike when they heard about how many billions the Mubarak family was worth,” Kamal Abbas told the Associated Press (AP):

They said: “How much longer should we be silent?”

Abbas is general coordinator of the Center for Trade Union and Workers Services (CTUWS). The CTUWS was co-recipient of last year?s AFL-CIO George Meany-Lane Kirkland Human Rights Award on behalf of the Egyptian workers. It also received the French Republic’s Human Rights Award.   

“We’re not getting our rights,” Ahmed Tantawi, a public works employee in Suez, told AP. He said workers provide 24-hour service and are exposed to health risks but get only an extra $1.50 a month in hardship compensation. He said employees who have worked their entire lives in the department will retire with a salary equivalent to $200 a month.

In a statement today, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), which includes the AFL-CIO,  reaffirmed its support for the strikes and the protests. On Tuesday, trade union members from all over the world joined with community allies for a Day of Action for Democracy in Egypt. In the United States, union members and Egyptian American activists held a rally in front of the White House. Click here to see video messages of support for Egyptian citizens and workers from world union leaders.

The global union movement also is supporting a Global Day of Action on Saturday, Feb. 12, led by Amnesty International. For a list of cities where you can join the actions, click here.

Full post as published by AFL-CIO NOW BLOG on February 10, 2011 (boomark / email).