Egypt: Strike statistics for 2009 – 2011

Egyptian NGO Awlad al-Ard publishes regular reports of strike activity in Egypt. It is not clear exactly what the sources are for this information, but presumably the reports are largely compiled from press coverage of strikes. The distinction between these different categories of collective action is not particularly clear. For example, most sit-ins will necessarily…

Egypt: Minister dissolves official trade union federation

Independent trade unionists and workers’ rights organisations welcomed the decision of Egypt’s Minister of Labour, Ahmad al-Borai, to dissolve the administration of the Mubarak-era Egyptian Trade Union Federation. Riot police stood guard outside the ETUF headquarters in Cairo on 7 August and its former officials – staunch supporters of the old regime – were unceremoniously…

Suez Workers Announce Indefinite Stike

On the 30th of July and after almost a week of protest on poor wage conditions and various promised bonuses, overtimes and allowances being denied to them, all workers at the Vinavil Chemical Factory in Suez’s Industrial Complex announced indefinite strike. The Egyptian-Italian owned company failed to reach any compromise with the workers. One worker…

Egypt: They gave their children for the revolution

Hearing about the attack on Tahrir and the horrific assault on the martyrs’ families and their supporters brought back memories of meeting some of these brave people in May. The picture here shows members of the martyrs’ families who the British Trade Union delegation met in Tahrir Square on 1 May. We have no idea…

رسالة إلى الزملاء في النقابة المستقلة لمصلحة الضرائب العقارية بمصر

R & C Euston Branch   رسالة إلى الزملاء في النقابة المستقلة لمصلحة الضرائب العقارية بمصر 28 يوليو 2011   نوجه رسالة تحية وتضامن من فرع يوستون للدخل والجمارك بنقابة الخدمات العامة والتجارية ببريطانيا إلى زملائنا العاملين بمصلحة الضرائب في مصر. إن فرع نقابتنا الواقع في وسط لندن يتضمن 700 عضواً مسؤولون عن زيارة أصحاب الأعمال في…

Egypt: Strike paralyses railway

Hundreds of striking railworkers blockaded the tracks on 25 July at the main railway station in Cairo, paralysing the movement of trains. They are demanding improved bonuses and death-in-service benefits as well as the resignation of managers and officials from the corrupt pro-mubarak trade union. Monday’s strike and protest came after management failed to meet…