Picture: Jane Loftus from the Communication Workers’ Union

Dozens of trade union leaders signed a statement in solidarity Haitham Mohamedain, the Egyptian labour lawyer and revolutionary activist who was arrested last week, during TUC Congress in Bournemouth.

Activists from MENA Solidarity also raised the crackdown on Egyptian revolutionaries, opponents of the military government and the workers’ movement on the floor of Congress.

Sue Bond, from PCS union spoke to delegates on Wednesday morning during questions to the TUC General Council on its report.

“I emphasized how the Egyptian revolution was a beacon of hope for millions around the world who were inspired by its slogans of bread, freedom and social justice,” she said, “but I thought it was crucial that delegates should know that recent events threaten to turn back the clock to the Mubarak era, particularly as the TUC has been active in solidarity campaigns for the independent unions in Egypt.

I spoke about how since the military took power on 3 July, we’ve seen the killing of hundreds of Muslim Brotherhood supporters, strikes by steel workers broken up by the army, and now the arrest of Haitham Mohamadein and threats to other activists. I asked the General Council to send a strong message of protest to the Egyptian authorities condemning the harassment of labour movement activists and calling for the dropping of all charges against Haitham Mohamedain.”

Signatories to the statement in defence of Haitham at TUC Congress include:

Jane Loftus, CWU President; Tony Kearns, CWU Senior Deputy General Secretary; John McCormack, UCU Vice-President elect; Simon Renton, UCU President; Linda Newman, UCU Head of Resources; John Holden, UCU NEC; Andy Murray, Unite Chief of Staff; Len McCluskey, Unite General Secretary; Steve Hart, Chair CLASS; Dot Gibson, NUJ/ Unite; John Hendy QC Institute of Employment Rights; Keith Ewing, Institute of Employment Rights; Billy Hayes, CWU; Liz Lawrence, UCU Vice-President; Lorraine Monk UCU NEC; C Wright, UCU NEC; Harriet Brady, UCU NEC; Kathy Taylor, UCU Past President; Ronnie Draper, General Secretary BFAWU; Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary; Peter Pinkney, RMT President; Kevin Courtney, NUT Deputy General Secretary; B Joseph, NUT Executive; Dave Brown, NUT NEC; Mick Rix, GMB National Officer; Martin Smith GMB National Officer; Ken Partridge NUT NEC; J Lyon-Taylor NUT; Roger King NUT National Executive; B Strong, RMT Health and Safety Rep; Darren Ireland, RMT National Executive; Alex Gordon, RMT; Beth Davies NUT President; Jane Nellist, NUT; Joseph Healy, Unite; Willie Shearer, RMT; Max Hyde, NUT; Patrick Roach NASUWT Deputy General Secretary; Kathy Wallis, NASUWT; Alan Phipps, NASUWT; S Shaikh, CWU Deputy Branch Secretary; Chris Tapper, CWU; Bob Archer, NUT; Ian Murch, NUT Treasurer; G Watson, RMT Chair; Lorna Tooley, RMT; Sean McGowan, RMT EC; David O’Donnell RMT; Deborah Rios, RMT; Daz Procter RMT EC; Sally Kincaid NUT; Sara Tomlinson, NUT Lambeth Divisional Secretary; Joe Simpson, POA

What you can do:

• Sign the statement calling for the dropping of all charges against Haitham. Add you name here
• Write urgently to the Egyptian authorities calling for an end to the harassment and prosecution of the military’s political opponents. Rush messages of protest to General Abd-al-Fattah al-Sisi, Commander in Chief of the Egyptian Armed Forces. Email General al-Sisi here mod@afmic.gov.eg copy in Kamal Abu Aita, Minister of Labour (minoffice@mome.gov.eg) and the Egyptian Ambassador to the UK (eg.emb_london@mfa.gov.eg) or your country. 
• Print out this sign for solidarity pictures and send to us via Facebook or Twitter @menasolidarity
• Sign and circulate our Emergency Statement on Egypt which condemns the army’s crackdown