Building solidarity with the workers’ movement in the Middle East

A conference for trade union members and activists
Sunday 20 Nov 2011

11am–3pm Room G2, main campus, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), Thornhaugh Street, London WC1H 0XG

Download a pdf flyer: MENA Solidarity Network Conference 2011

Strikes and protests by organised workers played a key role in the overthrow of the Tunisian and Egyptian dictators earlier this year. Since then we’ve seen the newly-formed independent unions in Egypt organising strikes on a massive scale to realise the revolution’s promise of social justice.

Even Kuwait, with little tradition of workers’ organisation, has been rocked by public sector strikes. From Morocco to Iraq, few countries in the region have been immune from the resurgent workers’ movement.

Yet there have also been setbacks: trade unionists in Bahrain have faced persecution following the crackdown on protest there, while in Egypt workers have been dragged before military courts and strikes are still illegal.

This conference will bring together activists from across the trade union movement to debate how we can build solidarity with those in the Middle East who are fighting for social justice, workers’ rights and genuine democracy.

Conference Agenda:

11am – 11.15 Registration

11.15 – 12 Session 1

The workers’ movement and the Arab Revolutions

Speakers: Anne Alexander, Simon Assaf, Mark Campbell (UCU)

12. – 1.30 Session 2

From Bahrain to Egypt: campaigning against the crackdown

Speakers: Dina Makram-Ebeid (Popular Campaign to Drop Egypt’s Debt) Alia Mosallam (No Military Trials), Bahraini solidarity campaigners

 1.30 – 2 Lunch break

 2 -3 Session 3

Building solidarity for the MENA workers’ movements in the trade unions

Speakers: Unjum Mirza (RMT), Nick Grant (NUT), Andy Reid (PCS)

To register please complete the conference booking form and send to: menasolidarity@gmail.com