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Egypt’s Workers Strike for Democracy and Rights
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The international trade union movement has sent a strong message of support to tens of thousands of striking Egyptian workers as they continue to fight for democracy, social justice and trade union rights.
Workers are striking in dozens of cities throughout the country. Railway and bus workers, state electricity staff and service technicians at the Suez Canal and workers in factories manufacturing textiles, steel and beverages and at least one hospital are all on strike.
The workers are infuriated over reports that the family of President Hosni Mubarak has amassed a fortune worth billions of dollars while some 40 percent of the country’s 80 million people live below or near the internationally defined poverty line of $2 a day, according to the World Bank.
“They were motivated to strike when they heard about how many billions the Mubarak family was worth,” Kamal Abbas told the Associated Press (AP):
They said: “How much longer should we be silent?”
Abbas is general coordinator of the Center for Trade Union and Workers Services (CTUWS). The CTUWS was co-recipient of last year’s AFL-CIO George Meany-Lane Kirkland Human Rights Award on behalf of the Egyptian workers. It also received the French Republic’s Human Rights Award.
“We’re not getting our rights,” Ahmed Tantawi, a public works employee in Suez, told AP. He said workers provide 24-hour service and are exposed to health risks but get only an extra $1.50 a month in hardship compensation. He said employees who have worked their entire lives in the department will retire with a salary equivalent to $200 a month.
In a statement today, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), which includes the AFL-CIO, reaffirmed its support for the strikes and the protests. On Tuesday, trade union members from all over the world joined with community allies for a Day of Action for Democracy in Egypt. In the United States, union members and Egyptian American activists held a rally in front of the White House. Click here to see video messages of support for Egyptian citizens and workers from world union leaders.
The global union movement also is supporting a Global Day of Action on Saturday, Feb. 12, led by Amnesty International. For a list of cities where you can join the actions, click here.
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3 Comments
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“The workers are infuriated over reports that the family of President Hosni Mubarak has amassed a fortune worth billions of dollars while some 40 percent of the country’s 80 million people live below or near the internationally defined poverty line of $2 a day, according to the World Bank.”
Reminds me of Mexico.
VICTORY! Victory in round 1 of a 15 round heavy weight fight. Mubarak is gone! Now the people of Egypt will procede to dismantle the repressive apparatus brick by bloody brick. Look to Egypt if you want to know the difference between real democracy and this controlled sham we have here, which works very well to prevent any progress whatsoever.
I remember during the war in Vietnam, when protesters got tired because one or two marches failed to stop the war. How about 18 days camped in the plaza with hundreds of thousands? We have so much work to do, just like the Egyptians, but they are united and energized and inspired, and we are divided, listless, and depressed. We must learn the lessons of Egypt.
The day of US-imposed dictators, who stay in power for decades because of military aid paid for with our tax dollars, is coming to an end. In fact, this example has been seen not only all over the Middle East (thanks to Al Jazeera), but worldwide, and the people of Egypt will continue to inspire all those suffering in misery under despots everywhere, and the poor and marginalized the world over. The tide is turning, and our chance will come too.
Che called for “Two, three, many Vietnams” back in the early 60s. Our new battle cry must be “TWO, THREE, MANY EGYPTS!
The title of this article perhaps, given the quotes above, should read:
Egypt’s Workers Strike For Economic Justice To End Poverty
Will the new regime listen to the economic needs of working people? Check out the following article:
Published on Sunday, February 13, 2011 by Reuters
Egypt’s New Military Rulers To Ban Unions, Strikes
by Marwa Awad and Alistair Lyon
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2011/02/13-1
BREAKING