Workers in the Bticino factory Sadat City began a sit-in strike on 11 November according to the Egyptian Federation of Independent Trade Unions (EFITU). Up to 800 workers occupied the factory, which produces electrical components for building automation and entry systems, in protest at management’s decision to force them to take open-ended leave after they showed their solidarity with a sacked colleague who complained to the Ministry of Labour about the company’s failure to respond to workers’ demands.

According to a message received from Egypt late on Monday 12 November, police had surrounded the factory and workers were expecting imminent attack.

Btincio is a division of the French Legrand group. The management is Italian and French, while the CEO is French.

What you can do

• Send a message of support via EFITU to the striking workers (email menasolidarity@gmail.com).
• Write to the company calling for it to respect workers’ democratic right to strike. You can use the online form here