Statement from United Left in Unite the Union
8 December 2012
عربي

We declare our solidarity with our. Egyptian brothers and sisters who are fighting to defend the freedoms they won in the 25 January Revolution. We strongly condemn the attacks on peaceful protesters opposing the draft Constitution, and the assault by the Egyptian government on workers’ rights to organise and strike  since Mohamed Morsi’s election.

In June at our Policy conference, UNITE issued a statement which condemned the Egyptian military’s attempt to seize all power for itself through emergency powers. Then, as now, we stood in solidarity with protesters who filled the streets and forced those who wanted to re-create dictatorship to retreat.

We also declare our total opposition to the stance of our own government. Behind the fine words of our rulers about respecting democracy in Egypt lies complete contempt for ordinary people’s needs. That is why our government backs the deal with the IMF which Morsi has just signed, and which will steal bread and cooking gas from millions of Egyptians through cuts in subsidies.

Together, workers have the power to fight dictatorship and poverty.

We are all united for bread, freedom and social justice.

What you can do:

• Rush messages of solidarity to the Egyptian independent unions via EFITU (efitu.union@hotmail.com – please copy to menasolidarity@gmail.com)
  
• Use this sign to take a picture message of solidarity with the aims of the revolution – you can send the pictures to us via Facebook, email or Twitter (@menasolidarity) and we will forward to colleagues in Egypt:
• See our solidarity toolkit for signs you can print out in support of Egyptian workers’ right to strike and organise independent unions