More than 500 trade unionists and activists from around the world have signed the Emergency Statement on Egypt, initiated by trade unionists in the UK affiliated to MENA Solidarity. Signatories to the letter include Labour MP John McDonnell, and representatives from dozens of different trade union bodies. Nick Grant from the National Union of Teachers…
Strike leaders from Suez Steel are still being pursued by police, after the factory’s owner, Lebanese businessman Rafiq Daou, demanded their arrest and prosecution. Two workers from the factory were arrested by the Egyptian Army on 12 August, after armoured cars and riot police surrounded the plant. They were later released on bail, but four…
Emergency statement on Egypt – initial signatures were handed in on Wednesday 21 August, but we will continue to send through protests after that date. Last update: 7 September We are appalled by the killing of hundreds of protesters by the Egyptian security forces and army during the forced dispersal of supporters of former president…
A protest movement inspired by Egypt’s “Rebel” campaign brought protesters onto the streets of Bahrain in the largest demonstrations for months on 14 August. The Bahraini authorities have responded harshly – arresting and detaining critics and rushing through vague new laws against “terrorism” in order to justify a crackdown. The report below is from the…
We reject the army’s attack on Suez Steel workers and demand their immediate release Original Arabic here – picture via RevSoc.me on Facebook Nearly a month and a half has passed since the fall of Mohamed Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood from power, thanks to the action of the masses who did not feel any difference…
Picture via Tunisian Popular Front on Facebook Thousands joined a march to reinforce a protest camp outside the Tunisian Constituent Assembly on 6 August, following a call by opposition parties and trade unions to support the call for a new government. The Tunisian trade union federation, the UGTT, was among the main supporters of the…
Picture: Mahalla workers join protests against Morsi, 28 June 2013 Workers at the giant Misr Spinning complex in Mahalla al-Kubra staged a lightning strike today, demanding 2 days paid holiday over the Eid-al-Fitr festival and the payment of part of their annual profit-sharing bonus. The strike was sparked by a notice from the publicly-owned mill’s…
By Hisham Fouad A new rash of strikes across the Egyptian textile industry shows the challenges faced by the military-backed government installed in the wake of Mohamed Morsi’s overthrow. The new government has been in power less than a month, but workers’ protests are already on the rise. This is the result of the continuation…
Statement from Fatma Ramadan, member of the Executive Committee of the Egyptian Federation of Independent Trade Unions – original Arabic here Thanks to Sara Ajlyakin for the translation, edited by Anne Alexander Al-Sisi’s “Permission” is a Deadly Poison My comrades, the workers of Egypt are struggling for their rights and for a better Egypt. Egypt’s…
Egyptian Army chief Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi’s call for massive protests against terrorism on 26 July has won wide support with many independent unions endorsing the demonstrations. The April 6 Youth Movement and the Revolutionary Socialists, along with activists in the Constitution Party’s student groups have rejected al-Sisi’s appeal. The demonstrations come after two weeks of tension…
MENA Solidarity Network 