AL-MASRY AL-YOUM
Protests mushroom countrywide
Tue, 30/03/2010
Scores of people demonstrating before Egypt's parliament building in downtown Cairo on Tuesday--for a host of different reasons--threatened to step up protests if their parliamentary representatives failed to address their demands. In recent days, the sidewalk opposite the parliament building has become the site of six independent demonstrations.
Employees of cabinet-affiliated information centers, whose sit-in has now entered its eighth day, complain that they have worked for nine years without receiving health insurance or financial incentives. They were also angered by the recent dismissal of a colleague from his job at the Daqahliya Information Center for taking part in the demonstration, and threatened to resign from the ruling National Democratic Party.
Only meters away, a group of physically-challenged people also maintained their days-long protest to demand jobs in accordance with the law, which stipulates that both public- and private-sector companies must allocate five percent of job vacancies to those with special needs. They also demanded residential units in public housing projects and permits to open small-size businesses.
Agriculture Ministry employees also continued their protest in demand of salary raises, while 300 workers of Al-Maasara Company for Manufacturing Telephone Equipment urged the government to take over ownership of the company from its foreign owner, who, they say, plans to liquidate the firm.
Meanwhile, 30 young subscribers to the Mubarak National Housing Program--launched as part of President Hosni Mubarak's electoral platform--also staged protests against the government's failure to provide them with housing units on schedule.
Employees of the public socialist prosecutor's office likewise maintained their protest against their planned transfer to jobs within the court system, for which they say they are overqualified. The public socialist prosecutor's office was established by the government in 1971 as an exceptional form of prosecution, especially in corruption-related cases. The office was abolished by parliament in 2008, with its authority being transfered to the attorney general.
Similar demonstrations were also reported in several areas outside Cairo.
In Tanta, some 1500 railway workers declared a strike after failing to receive promised bonuses, bringing trains in and around the city to a halt for more than two hours. Also in Tanta, roughly 400 nurses of the Tanta University Hospital continued protests for a third day to demand higher salaries.
In Daqahliya, meanwhile, about 200 nurses from a local hospital suspended their strike until 1 April. They demand that the hospital hire a security company to protect them from harassment after a nurse was attacked by a knife-wielding assailant inside the hospital.
In Alexandria, employees of Egyptian steel manufacturer Ezz Steel agreed to call off their strike after company officials promised to meet their longstanding demands for salary readjustments and bonuses.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
Showing posts with label Tanta. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tanta. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Workers, Pharmacists, Nurses & Disabled Protest in Cairo
AL-MASRY AL-YOUM
A day of protests
Wed, 24/02/2010
Pharmacists
Around 300 pharmacists protested on Tuesday in front of the Doctors Syndicate against a decision by the health minister requiring pharmacies to have a minimum floor area of 40 square meters. Security forces prevented the pharmacists from staging their protest in front of the health ministry's headquarters.
The syndicate issued a statement in which it said it had requested the Minister of the Interior for permission to organize a march from the Doctors Syndicate to the Ministry of Health. The request had been declined, said the statement.
Although a protest in front of the ministry had been approved by both security forces and the syndicate, according to the syndicate's statement, security "notified the syndicate at short notice" that the protest in front of the ministry was not in fact approved. The pharmacists questioned what security concerns their "professional" protest could possibly pose.
Zein el-Abideen, syndicate treasurer, said the syndicate was planning a gradual escalation against the health minister.
Tanta Flax workers
Workers from the Tanta Flax and Oils Company fiercely attacked MP Ahmed Shoubeir in a statement they issued on Tuesday. They accused him of having opposed them since they began their sit-in, despite the fact that he is the representative for their constituency.
The protesting workers also criticized Aisha Abdel Hadi, Manpower and Migration Minister, for her absence, along with that of other concerned government officials from the People's Assembly's Manpower Committee, which discussed the workers' demands on Monday.
The workers, have been protesting for 16 days, and suspended their sit-in on Tuesday 6 PM, after accepting a government offer of early buyouts of LE40,000 for each worker.
Physically disabled persons
Dozens of physically disabled persons protested in front of the Cairo governorate to demand their rightful 5 percent share of apartments and kiosks provided by the state. The protesters said they had staged several protests before but with no result.
Ahmed Ali, a protester, said that for the last 20 years he has been requesting an apartment. He currently rents an apartment for LE350 a month, while his salary is LE300, which means he has to depend on charity to pay his children's school fees.
Ayman Sobhi, another protestor, said he submitted a request for an apartment 12 years ago, but hasn't received anything so far. Without a job, he has asked officials several times to give him a kiosk to enable him to make a living.
Nurses
Gharbiya--Around 400 nurses from the Tanta University Hospital protested on Tuesday in front of the Emergency Hospital demanding that their bonuses and allowances be paid. They also requested equal treatment with their Zagazig, Alexandria and Cairo counterparts.
Some nurses reported being assaulted by university guards, who allegedly caused three injuries. El-Geish Street was cordoned off to prevent the protesting nurses from exiting the area.
Meanwhile, President of Tanta University Dr.Abdel Fattah Sadaqa held a meeting with a number of nurses and other concerned officials. He promised to resolve the problem.
In Alexandria, 15 members of the Community Medicine Unit also protested in front of the health ministry's offices to express dissatisfaction with what they termed "random dismissals" from work after 13 years of service. They called on First Lady Suzanne Mubarak to intervene on their behalf.
The protesters were not allowed into the ministry until security leaders accompanied one of the protesters into the building to submit a complaint on behalf of all her protesting colleagues.
*Translated from the Arabic Edition.
A day of protests
Wed, 24/02/2010
Pharmacists
Around 300 pharmacists protested on Tuesday in front of the Doctors Syndicate against a decision by the health minister requiring pharmacies to have a minimum floor area of 40 square meters. Security forces prevented the pharmacists from staging their protest in front of the health ministry's headquarters.
The syndicate issued a statement in which it said it had requested the Minister of the Interior for permission to organize a march from the Doctors Syndicate to the Ministry of Health. The request had been declined, said the statement.
Although a protest in front of the ministry had been approved by both security forces and the syndicate, according to the syndicate's statement, security "notified the syndicate at short notice" that the protest in front of the ministry was not in fact approved. The pharmacists questioned what security concerns their "professional" protest could possibly pose.
Zein el-Abideen, syndicate treasurer, said the syndicate was planning a gradual escalation against the health minister.
Tanta Flax workers
Workers from the Tanta Flax and Oils Company fiercely attacked MP Ahmed Shoubeir in a statement they issued on Tuesday. They accused him of having opposed them since they began their sit-in, despite the fact that he is the representative for their constituency.
The protesting workers also criticized Aisha Abdel Hadi, Manpower and Migration Minister, for her absence, along with that of other concerned government officials from the People's Assembly's Manpower Committee, which discussed the workers' demands on Monday.
The workers, have been protesting for 16 days, and suspended their sit-in on Tuesday 6 PM, after accepting a government offer of early buyouts of LE40,000 for each worker.
Physically disabled persons
Dozens of physically disabled persons protested in front of the Cairo governorate to demand their rightful 5 percent share of apartments and kiosks provided by the state. The protesters said they had staged several protests before but with no result.
Ahmed Ali, a protester, said that for the last 20 years he has been requesting an apartment. He currently rents an apartment for LE350 a month, while his salary is LE300, which means he has to depend on charity to pay his children's school fees.
Ayman Sobhi, another protestor, said he submitted a request for an apartment 12 years ago, but hasn't received anything so far. Without a job, he has asked officials several times to give him a kiosk to enable him to make a living.
Nurses
Gharbiya--Around 400 nurses from the Tanta University Hospital protested on Tuesday in front of the Emergency Hospital demanding that their bonuses and allowances be paid. They also requested equal treatment with their Zagazig, Alexandria and Cairo counterparts.
Some nurses reported being assaulted by university guards, who allegedly caused three injuries. El-Geish Street was cordoned off to prevent the protesting nurses from exiting the area.
Meanwhile, President of Tanta University Dr.Abdel Fattah Sadaqa held a meeting with a number of nurses and other concerned officials. He promised to resolve the problem.
In Alexandria, 15 members of the Community Medicine Unit also protested in front of the health ministry's offices to express dissatisfaction with what they termed "random dismissals" from work after 13 years of service. They called on First Lady Suzanne Mubarak to intervene on their behalf.
The protesters were not allowed into the ministry until security leaders accompanied one of the protesters into the building to submit a complaint on behalf of all her protesting colleagues.
*Translated from the Arabic Edition.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Strike with No Beginning, Strike with No End
AL-MASRY AL-YOUM
Strike with no beginning, strike with no end
Fri, 29/01/2010
Jano Charbel
The right to strike is clearly stipulated in Egypt's labor law, but can Egyptian workers really exercise this right? Two recent incidents indicate this right is exercisable in theory or law (de jure) but not in practice (de facto): a bus workers’ strike - which was thwarted by the police, and the ongoing strike at the Tanta Flax and Oils Company – which is not recognized by the state-controlled General Union for Textile Workers.
On Wednesday a general strike planned by some 48,000 workers at the Public Transport Authority (PTA) - including bus drivers, fare-collectors, engineers, mechanics and maintenance personnel – was aborted due to pressures and threats from security apparatuses. Strikes are prohibited, by virtue of a Prime Ministerial Decree complementing the Labor Law, “in strategic and vital sites” including public transportation, amongst a host of others.
One driver, whose name is being withheld for security reasons, told Al-Masry Al-Youm “we had planned to launch our strikes, in all 19 garages across Cairo and Giza, at six in the morning. However, upon arrival we found a multitude of state security officers and plain-clothed agents awaiting us in each of our respective garages. In fact they’re still there right now.” The bus driver added that workers at his respective garage were strictly warned not to strike, and were threatened with immediate arrest if they did not start working.
Several bus drivers, from the Nasr and Fath Garages in Nasr City, were reportedly detained on Wednesday and released shortly after. A one hour strike in the Gesr el-Suez Garage was also reported to have taken place on Thursday. Neither of these reports has been officially confirmed, however. The spokesperson at the Public Transport Authority could not be reached for clarifications.
PTA workers have repeatedly expressed their grievances regarding the deterioration of buses, the lack of spare-parts, insufficient health insurance policies, and traffic fines which are directly deducted from drivers’ wages. These workers have also demanded an increase in their food allowances, while drivers and fare-collectors have demanded medical compensations due to their daily exposure to contagious illnesses. Leading elements amongst these workers have even demanded the establishment of an independent general union for public bus workers in place of their existing union, which is controlled by the state and the Governorates of Cairo and Giza.
Following a two-day strike, 18-19 August 2009, the PTA partially conceded to the workers’ demands (in December) by raising food allowances from LE 100 to LE 120 per month. Another bus driver said “all we have received from the Authority is a monthly increase of LE 20 to our food allowance.” He added “on Wednesday Salah Farag (President of the PTA) promised to address all our remaining grievances, but that’s the same thing he said last August. Have a look around any of our garages and you’ll see for yourself that these are not garages but scrap-yards.”
This driver added “we’ve lost all trust in the Authority’s officials, and we never had any trust for their union. This is why will continue to work towards the establishment our own independent general union, God willing.” This worker admitted that he was influenced by the example of the Real Estate Tax Authority employees who managed, last year, to establish Egypt’s first independent trade union since 1957.
Meanwhile in the Nile Delta some 850 workers at the privatized Tanta Flax and Oils Company have been on strike since 9 January. These workers had launched a five month strike from 31 May – 10 November, with the authorization of the General Union for Textile Workers. This earlier strike was the first to be authorized by the General Union since 1957, and is only the second strike to be authorized in the history of the state-controlled Egyptian Trade Union Federation.
Said el-Gohary, a member of the ruling National Democratic Party and President of the General Union for Textile workers, told Al-Masry Al-Youm “this most recent strike has not been authorized, and is in fact not a strike but a lock-out on the part of the administration. The administration has shut the companies’ gates and has kept raw materials from reaching the production lines.”
El-Gohary added that the company administration had done so in protest against the president of the local union-committee, Salah Mossalam, who refused to go despite being sacked on 6 January. “The sacking of a union-committee member is an illegal and illegitimate action which violates the provisions of domestic law and international labor standards. We are against such punitive measures, and we have relayed our objections to the Ministry of Manpower. Only the general union may dismiss a union-committee member from his post.”
In the town of Mit Hebeish, outside the company’s gates, Salah Mossalam told Al-Masry Al-Youm “just yesterday (27 January) a Tanta Court issued its verdict in my favor. My dismissal has been ruled illegal, and within 15 days I will receive official documents to this effect. But will the administration actually reinstate me? That’s another question.” Mossalam expressed his doubts, especially given that six other sacked co-workers who were issued similar verdicts have not been reinstated. A total of ten workers, including three union-committee members, have been sacked for striking since 2008. The company’s administration has refused to recognize these court verdicts, or has appealed against them.
ِ
Another sacked unionist, Hisham al-Oqal, said “the courts, the General Union, the Egyptian Trade Union Federation, and the Ministry of Manpower have demanded our reinstatement, but our company administration simply ignores them all. We called off our last strike, which lasted more than five months, after having received pledges from the general union, the federation, and the ministry that the administration would heed our demands. In the end the administration only paid us our 7 % pay raise – which was overdue anyway.”
Al-Oqal added that the workers’ three principle demands: a 30% pay raise for 2008, a LE28 increase in monthly food allowance, a 10% annual pay raise, and the reinstatement of nine sacked workers (now ten) have not been met. He added that “since 100% of the company’s shares have been privatized and sold” to Saudi Investor Abdelellah el-Kaaki, “we are unable to call for its re-nationalization, and we can’t resort to workers’ self-management since his administration is still around. Such actions would be considered illegal.”
El-Gohary confirmed “re-nationalization is out of the question. The administration may either reoperate this company or liquidate it, in the end it is up to the investor to decide. We don’t know what will become of this company, since the investor refuses to engage in dialogue with us.”
Frustrated with their conditions, the Tanta Flax workers clashed on Sunday with riot police who moved in to seal-off the companies’ gates. One worker and a senior police officer were wounded in the clashes. On Monday an attempt to march to the headquarters of the Gharbiya Governorate was thwarted by by riot police, in response the workers briefly blocked-off the Tanta-Zifta Highway. On Tuesday the workers managed to march to the governorate and a delegation presented a list of grievances to the governor.
“We sent a bouquet of flowers to the injured senior officer along with a greeting card," said Mossalam.
*Photos by Jano Charbel and Hossam el-Hamalawy
See also:
Excuse Me We Will Take it From Here
A Day without Busses
Strike with no beginning, strike with no end
Fri, 29/01/2010
Jano Charbel
The right to strike is clearly stipulated in Egypt's labor law, but can Egyptian workers really exercise this right? Two recent incidents indicate this right is exercisable in theory or law (de jure) but not in practice (de facto): a bus workers’ strike - which was thwarted by the police, and the ongoing strike at the Tanta Flax and Oils Company – which is not recognized by the state-controlled General Union for Textile Workers.
On Wednesday a general strike planned by some 48,000 workers at the Public Transport Authority (PTA) - including bus drivers, fare-collectors, engineers, mechanics and maintenance personnel – was aborted due to pressures and threats from security apparatuses. Strikes are prohibited, by virtue of a Prime Ministerial Decree complementing the Labor Law, “in strategic and vital sites” including public transportation, amongst a host of others.
One driver, whose name is being withheld for security reasons, told Al-Masry Al-Youm “we had planned to launch our strikes, in all 19 garages across Cairo and Giza, at six in the morning. However, upon arrival we found a multitude of state security officers and plain-clothed agents awaiting us in each of our respective garages. In fact they’re still there right now.” The bus driver added that workers at his respective garage were strictly warned not to strike, and were threatened with immediate arrest if they did not start working.
Several bus drivers, from the Nasr and Fath Garages in Nasr City, were reportedly detained on Wednesday and released shortly after. A one hour strike in the Gesr el-Suez Garage was also reported to have taken place on Thursday. Neither of these reports has been officially confirmed, however. The spokesperson at the Public Transport Authority could not be reached for clarifications.
PTA workers have repeatedly expressed their grievances regarding the deterioration of buses, the lack of spare-parts, insufficient health insurance policies, and traffic fines which are directly deducted from drivers’ wages. These workers have also demanded an increase in their food allowances, while drivers and fare-collectors have demanded medical compensations due to their daily exposure to contagious illnesses. Leading elements amongst these workers have even demanded the establishment of an independent general union for public bus workers in place of their existing union, which is controlled by the state and the Governorates of Cairo and Giza.
Following a two-day strike, 18-19 August 2009, the PTA partially conceded to the workers’ demands (in December) by raising food allowances from LE 100 to LE 120 per month. Another bus driver said “all we have received from the Authority is a monthly increase of LE 20 to our food allowance.” He added “on Wednesday Salah Farag (President of the PTA) promised to address all our remaining grievances, but that’s the same thing he said last August. Have a look around any of our garages and you’ll see for yourself that these are not garages but scrap-yards.”
This driver added “we’ve lost all trust in the Authority’s officials, and we never had any trust for their union. This is why will continue to work towards the establishment our own independent general union, God willing.” This worker admitted that he was influenced by the example of the Real Estate Tax Authority employees who managed, last year, to establish Egypt’s first independent trade union since 1957.
Meanwhile in the Nile Delta some 850 workers at the privatized Tanta Flax and Oils Company have been on strike since 9 January. These workers had launched a five month strike from 31 May – 10 November, with the authorization of the General Union for Textile Workers. This earlier strike was the first to be authorized by the General Union since 1957, and is only the second strike to be authorized in the history of the state-controlled Egyptian Trade Union Federation.
Said el-Gohary, a member of the ruling National Democratic Party and President of the General Union for Textile workers, told Al-Masry Al-Youm “this most recent strike has not been authorized, and is in fact not a strike but a lock-out on the part of the administration. The administration has shut the companies’ gates and has kept raw materials from reaching the production lines.”
El-Gohary added that the company administration had done so in protest against the president of the local union-committee, Salah Mossalam, who refused to go despite being sacked on 6 January. “The sacking of a union-committee member is an illegal and illegitimate action which violates the provisions of domestic law and international labor standards. We are against such punitive measures, and we have relayed our objections to the Ministry of Manpower. Only the general union may dismiss a union-committee member from his post.”
In the town of Mit Hebeish, outside the company’s gates, Salah Mossalam told Al-Masry Al-Youm “just yesterday (27 January) a Tanta Court issued its verdict in my favor. My dismissal has been ruled illegal, and within 15 days I will receive official documents to this effect. But will the administration actually reinstate me? That’s another question.” Mossalam expressed his doubts, especially given that six other sacked co-workers who were issued similar verdicts have not been reinstated. A total of ten workers, including three union-committee members, have been sacked for striking since 2008. The company’s administration has refused to recognize these court verdicts, or has appealed against them.
ِ
Another sacked unionist, Hisham al-Oqal, said “the courts, the General Union, the Egyptian Trade Union Federation, and the Ministry of Manpower have demanded our reinstatement, but our company administration simply ignores them all. We called off our last strike, which lasted more than five months, after having received pledges from the general union, the federation, and the ministry that the administration would heed our demands. In the end the administration only paid us our 7 % pay raise – which was overdue anyway.”
Al-Oqal added that the workers’ three principle demands: a 30% pay raise for 2008, a LE28 increase in monthly food allowance, a 10% annual pay raise, and the reinstatement of nine sacked workers (now ten) have not been met. He added that “since 100% of the company’s shares have been privatized and sold” to Saudi Investor Abdelellah el-Kaaki, “we are unable to call for its re-nationalization, and we can’t resort to workers’ self-management since his administration is still around. Such actions would be considered illegal.”
El-Gohary confirmed “re-nationalization is out of the question. The administration may either reoperate this company or liquidate it, in the end it is up to the investor to decide. We don’t know what will become of this company, since the investor refuses to engage in dialogue with us.”
Frustrated with their conditions, the Tanta Flax workers clashed on Sunday with riot police who moved in to seal-off the companies’ gates. One worker and a senior police officer were wounded in the clashes. On Monday an attempt to march to the headquarters of the Gharbiya Governorate was thwarted by by riot police, in response the workers briefly blocked-off the Tanta-Zifta Highway. On Tuesday the workers managed to march to the governorate and a delegation presented a list of grievances to the governor.
“We sent a bouquet of flowers to the injured senior officer along with a greeting card," said Mossalam.
*Photos by Jano Charbel and Hossam el-Hamalawy
See also:
Excuse Me We Will Take it From Here
A Day without Busses
Monday, August 17, 2009
Tanta Flax Company Strike Enters its 80th Day
Around 200 striking workers from the Tanta Flax and Oils Company embarked on an open-ended demonstration outside the Ministry of Labor today, which marks the 80th day of their strike. Frustrated at the impasse with their company's administration and owner the workers turned to Labor Minister Aisha Abdel Hady in the hope that she could help them realize their six demands. As a pressure mechanism, hundreds of workers at the Tanta Company have announced their intention to launch a hunger strike as of tomorrow.
Some 1,000 workers at the company commenced their strike 80 days ago raising the demands of: reinstating nine co-workers sacked under the pretext of "inciting labor unrest;" the provision of workers' profit-sharing which has been overdue for three years; the provision of incentive pay which has been withheld since 2003; the payment of workers' social insurance expenses withheld since May 2009; and increasing each worker's monthly food allowance from LE 31 per month to LE 90.
Workers chanted slogans denouncing the company owner, a Saudi investor named Abdel Ellah el-Kaaki, and the Egyptian administrative executive Mohamed el-Seihy as being "thieves." The Tanta Flax and Oils Company was privatized over the course of three years from 2005-07. The workers at this company have staged four strikes over the past three years. During their most recent strike the workers have demonstrated outside the Saudi Embassy, blocked-off the Tanta-Zefta highway, and have called for the re-nationalization of the company; with a few militant laborers even calling for workers' self-management of the company.
Hisham el-Oqal, the local union's deputy treasurer is one of the nine workers who were fired. He said "we have sent numerous faxes to the General Union for Textile Workers, the Egyptian Trade Union Federation, the Labor Ministry and to the Prime Minister but no avail. None of these authorities seem concerned with our plight. We hope that the government will heed our demands, but if they don't then we will continue to escalate our protests. We shall not leave Cairo until our demands our met."
Gamal Othman, another sacked worker said "I have been issued a court order according to which I am to be reinstated in the company, but the administration has ignored this court order. We will not leave until Aisha Abdel Hady meets with us and resolves all our problems. Otherwise we will sleep here on the sidewalk outside the ministry until our demands are met or until we are all arrested, beaten or even killed by the security forces." Othman added "we are sick and tired of being ignored. We have repeatedly met with Aisha and the head of the Labor Disputes Bureau at the Ministry Dr. Nahed el-Ashry, as well as Hussein Megawer (President of the state-controlled Egyptian Trade Union Federation), and Saeed el-Gohary (President of the state-controlled General Union for Textile Workers) from whom we have receive nothing but empty promises."
Saeed el-Gohary said "we have appealed several times to the Tanta Flax Company's administration and its investor to engage in negotiations with us and indeed we managed to meet with them last month; we came upon a tentative agreement with which to resolve this strike and on this basis we called upon the local union president to call off the strike. However, neither the administration nor the investor fulfilled their part of the agreement. Naturally this has angered the workers and they are continuing with their strike."
This strike is the first one to ever be authorized by the General Union for Textile Workers. Commenting as to why the general union authorized this strike and not any other strike since 1957, el-Gohary said "this is a special case. In its attempts to reclaim these workers' rights, the labor minister and the president of the ETUF had been engaged in negotiations with the company over the course of the past three years. However, the company's administration failed to respond. Moreover, they have been threatening to take punitive measures against these mistreated workers, that's why we moved to authorize this strike."
El-Gohary concluded by saying "we are currently considering the cancellation of the Textile Holding Company's contract with the investors, or returning the Tanta Company to state-ownership. If this is not feasible and the company is liquidated then we demand that the workers should be given proper compensations and should granted their full entitlements and rights. Hussein Megawer has filed a memo to Prime Minister Nazif regarding the sacked workers, and the other grievances. We expect the Prime Minister to intervene swiftly in order to resolve this crisis."
Hoping for workers' self-management in Tanta,
JC
Al-Masry Al-Youm: Tanta Flax Company strike enters its 80th day
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Egypt: See no strikes, hear no strikes, report no strikes
Menassat
Hundreds of workers at a local factory have been on strike since the end of May, demanding an increase in salaries and back pay that has not been given. On Tuesday, the Egyptian state security reared its ugly head when a foreign journalist attempted to cover the strike.
By JOSEPH MAYTON
CAIRO, July 2, 2009 (MENASSAT) — With dozens of workers gripping the iron rod gate marking the entrance to the Tanta Flax and Oil Company, plainclothes state security grabbed, shoved and punched this American reporter. The workers began chanting as the reporter attempted to record footage of what was happening inside the factory.
“No, you are not allowed to see them. It is forbidden,” said the unnamed state security official who forced the journalist to return to Tanta’s train station.
Unsurprisingly, Egypt has no desire to have foreign journalists cover the workers' strike as it enters its second month, even if stopping them requires violence. Nassar Osman, who identifies himself as a spokesman for the workers, said he wants everyone to see what is going on here.
“The people have not been paid in months, they aren’t getting their promised raises and now they are getting harassed by police because of the strike that is going on here,” he said. Osman was working with the state security officials in order to allow the journalist to enter the factory, but to no avail.
According to state security at the factory premises, a foreign journalist, irregardless of proper accreditation, must secure a “permission” consisting of a paper from the information ministry to enter the factory. However, the foreign press office in Cairo said that “there is no such paper. If the state security says no, then you can’t go in.”
Don't look at the workers
The incident highlights Egypt’s growing concern over the coverage of workers’ strikes and demonstrations in the country. Last year, in the Delta town of Mahalla al Kobra, tens of thousands of Egyptians went to the streets in support of the local textile factory workers who went on strike in demand of better wages to combat the rising costs of foodstuffs.
The government responded swiftly, moving troops into the town to quell the dissent. At least one person was killed in the crossfire and scores of people were arrested, including an American photographer who was briefly detained.
“The way they are treating us here is horrible and they don't even allow foreign journalists to do their job,” said one worker, who was to give an interview after the journalist was forcibly put on a “microbus” and driven to the city center. He added that “because the government has a stake in the company, they don’t want the outside world to see what is going on here.”
Fighting for our rights
But, what is really going on in Tanta? According to reports and workers' statements, a Saudi company purchased the factory this year from the Egyptian government. They promised an annual 7 percent salary increase, but since May, the workers have been conducting daily protests and an almost ongoing sit-in on the factory premises after their salaries did not come.
“We want our money,” said the worker, who asked not to be named due to security risks. He argued that all the workers are demanding are better means to survive and live their lives without worrying about making ends meet.
“We are not paid well and with the rising costs of things and food in Egypt, it is becoming extremely difficult for us to support our families, so we have taken to this action in an effort to show that we are prepared to fight for our rights,” he said.
Police Looking for Journalist
Shortly after the interview began, however, the man received a phone call from a fellow worker who told him that the police were searching for the journalist. Scared, the worker immediately ended the interview and rushed out of the café. According to him, the “microbus” driver that the police had forced into taking the journalist to the train station had been arrested. He did not want to risk arrest.
“I can’t be arrested. My family is too important for me to go to jail,” he said as he paid the bill and rushed off.
This is what the state has done to Egyptian society, says Gamal Eid, the Executive Director of the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI). He says that the state of fear instilled in Egyptian life has limited the amount of discussion toward certain areas.
“Just like workers movements, these people believe that the government can and does come in and arrest people and beat them up for simply expressing their ideas. This is wrong, but the fear is very strong and this is difficult to break,” he argues.
Workers Unite
In Tanta, with the workers holding strong, coverage of the strike has been limited to phone conversations with those inside the factory. With no end in sight for the workers' sit-in, it is difficult to gauge whether they will be successful or not.
“Look at what we achieved in building our own union,” says Mervat Hilal, a deputy of the tax collectors union, the country’s first private workers union. “We were able to create our own union and get our demands heard, so hopefully, others will follow suit,” she continues, pointing to the union established earlier this year and that has been praised as the first step toward guaranteeing workers rights.
The tax collectors held a similar sit-in at the Egyptian Parliament last year, demanding that their monthly salary be increased. With the government unwilling to budge, they formed a private union. It has been largely successful. Their monthly wages have increased from an average of 300 Egyptian pounds ($50) to over 1,200 Egyptian pounds monthly ($200).
Osman says that their example is a major force in keeping spirits high at the Tanta factory.
“We see others have succeeded. I want all to see what is going on here so we can get there, like other people have already done in this country,” he says.
Whether they will succeed is yet to be seen, but with the chanting uninterrupted every day at the factory, the workers’ pressure is growing, as is their international stature. No foreign journalists are being allowed in, but word is getting out.
http://menassat.com/?q=en/news-articles/6748-egypt-see-no-strikes-hear-no-strikes-report-no-strikes
Hundreds of workers at a local factory have been on strike since the end of May, demanding an increase in salaries and back pay that has not been given. On Tuesday, the Egyptian state security reared its ugly head when a foreign journalist attempted to cover the strike.
By JOSEPH MAYTON
CAIRO, July 2, 2009 (MENASSAT) — With dozens of workers gripping the iron rod gate marking the entrance to the Tanta Flax and Oil Company, plainclothes state security grabbed, shoved and punched this American reporter. The workers began chanting as the reporter attempted to record footage of what was happening inside the factory.
“No, you are not allowed to see them. It is forbidden,” said the unnamed state security official who forced the journalist to return to Tanta’s train station.
Unsurprisingly, Egypt has no desire to have foreign journalists cover the workers' strike as it enters its second month, even if stopping them requires violence. Nassar Osman, who identifies himself as a spokesman for the workers, said he wants everyone to see what is going on here.
“The people have not been paid in months, they aren’t getting their promised raises and now they are getting harassed by police because of the strike that is going on here,” he said. Osman was working with the state security officials in order to allow the journalist to enter the factory, but to no avail.
According to state security at the factory premises, a foreign journalist, irregardless of proper accreditation, must secure a “permission” consisting of a paper from the information ministry to enter the factory. However, the foreign press office in Cairo said that “there is no such paper. If the state security says no, then you can’t go in.”
Don't look at the workers
The incident highlights Egypt’s growing concern over the coverage of workers’ strikes and demonstrations in the country. Last year, in the Delta town of Mahalla al Kobra, tens of thousands of Egyptians went to the streets in support of the local textile factory workers who went on strike in demand of better wages to combat the rising costs of foodstuffs.
The government responded swiftly, moving troops into the town to quell the dissent. At least one person was killed in the crossfire and scores of people were arrested, including an American photographer who was briefly detained.
“The way they are treating us here is horrible and they don't even allow foreign journalists to do their job,” said one worker, who was to give an interview after the journalist was forcibly put on a “microbus” and driven to the city center. He added that “because the government has a stake in the company, they don’t want the outside world to see what is going on here.”
Fighting for our rights
But, what is really going on in Tanta? According to reports and workers' statements, a Saudi company purchased the factory this year from the Egyptian government. They promised an annual 7 percent salary increase, but since May, the workers have been conducting daily protests and an almost ongoing sit-in on the factory premises after their salaries did not come.
“We want our money,” said the worker, who asked not to be named due to security risks. He argued that all the workers are demanding are better means to survive and live their lives without worrying about making ends meet.
“We are not paid well and with the rising costs of things and food in Egypt, it is becoming extremely difficult for us to support our families, so we have taken to this action in an effort to show that we are prepared to fight for our rights,” he said.
Police Looking for Journalist
Shortly after the interview began, however, the man received a phone call from a fellow worker who told him that the police were searching for the journalist. Scared, the worker immediately ended the interview and rushed out of the café. According to him, the “microbus” driver that the police had forced into taking the journalist to the train station had been arrested. He did not want to risk arrest.
“I can’t be arrested. My family is too important for me to go to jail,” he said as he paid the bill and rushed off.
This is what the state has done to Egyptian society, says Gamal Eid, the Executive Director of the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI). He says that the state of fear instilled in Egyptian life has limited the amount of discussion toward certain areas.
“Just like workers movements, these people believe that the government can and does come in and arrest people and beat them up for simply expressing their ideas. This is wrong, but the fear is very strong and this is difficult to break,” he argues.
Workers Unite
In Tanta, with the workers holding strong, coverage of the strike has been limited to phone conversations with those inside the factory. With no end in sight for the workers' sit-in, it is difficult to gauge whether they will be successful or not.
“Look at what we achieved in building our own union,” says Mervat Hilal, a deputy of the tax collectors union, the country’s first private workers union. “We were able to create our own union and get our demands heard, so hopefully, others will follow suit,” she continues, pointing to the union established earlier this year and that has been praised as the first step toward guaranteeing workers rights.
The tax collectors held a similar sit-in at the Egyptian Parliament last year, demanding that their monthly salary be increased. With the government unwilling to budge, they formed a private union. It has been largely successful. Their monthly wages have increased from an average of 300 Egyptian pounds ($50) to over 1,200 Egyptian pounds monthly ($200).
Osman says that their example is a major force in keeping spirits high at the Tanta factory.
“We see others have succeeded. I want all to see what is going on here so we can get there, like other people have already done in this country,” he says.
Whether they will succeed is yet to be seen, but with the chanting uninterrupted every day at the factory, the workers’ pressure is growing, as is their international stature. No foreign journalists are being allowed in, but word is getting out.
http://menassat.com/?q=en/news-articles/6748-egypt-see-no-strikes-hear-no-strikes-report-no-strikes
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
850 Tanta Linen Workers Continue Strike
The
These workers began their strike on May 31, and with their local union committee, demanded the payment of their overdue bonuses, profit-sharing imbursements, and an increase in food allowance. The workers also demanded the reinstatement of their nine co-workers - who were sacked on the grounds of their participation in the strike.
These workers are: Gamal Othman, Aqqad Tantawi, Ashraf El Harti, Ali Abu Leila, Ahmad El Shennawi, Ramadan Bagouri, Mustafa El Sawi, in addition to the two union committee members, Hisham El Akl, and Ra’fat Ramadan.
It must be mentioned that this strike was even authorized by the (state-controlled) General Union for Textile Workers.
The Center for Trade Union & Workers’ Services expresses its solidarity with these workers and their demands.
June 9, 2009
JC
***
استمرار إضراب عمال طنطا للكتان
وقوات الأمن تفض اعتصامهم أمام مجلس الشعب بالقوة
دخل إضراب عمال شركة طنطا للكتان
أسبوعه الثانى على التوالى، وعلى الرغم من أن أيام الإضراب قد شهدت العديد من الأحداث وصلت لتهديد العمال بالدخول فى إضراب جماعى عن الطعام، إلا أن المستثمر السعودى عبداللاه صالح الكعكى وفى تحدى غريب ما زال يعلن أنه لن يصرف أى حقوق للعمال، متجاهلا كافة أساليب الضغط التى اتخذها عمال الشركة ونقابتهم العامة والتى كان أخرها أمس الاثنين باعتصام أكثر من 100 عامل من عمال الشركة أمام مقر مجلس الشعب فى أثناء مناقشة طلب الإحاطة الذى تقدم به أحد أعضاء المجلس حول مشكلة عمال الشركة، وهو الاعتصام الذى قامت قوات الأمن بفضه بالقوة والاعتداء على العمال وإجبارهم على العودة للشركة.
يذكر أن عمال الشركة البالغ عددهم 850 عاملا قد بدأوا إضرابهم فى 31 مايو الماضى بموافقة النقابة العامة للغزل والنسيج، مطالبين بصرف الحوافز على أساسى مرتب 2008 بدلاً من 2003، صرف الأرباح المتراكمة التى لم تصرف منذ بيع الشركة للمستثمر السعودى، وزيادة بدل الوجبة الغذائية من 32 جنيه إلى 90 جنيه أسوة بجميع شركات الغزل والنسيج، وصرف العلاوة الدورية بنسبة 7 % من الأجر الأساسى التى لم يتم صرفها منذ عام 2003، وإعادة زملائهم المفصولين الذين تم فصلهم عقب إضراب العمال فى شهر يوليو 2008 ومنهم اثنين من أعضاء مجلس إدارة اللجنة النقابية بالشركة، بل وقامت الإدارة بالاستيلاء على مقر اللجنة النقابية.
والعمال المفصولين هم جمال عثمان، عقاد طنطاوى، أشرف الحارتى، على أبو ليلة، أحمد الشناوى، رمضان الباجورى ومصطفى الصاوى، بالاضافة إلى عضوين بمجلس إدارة اللجنة النقابية وهما هشام العكل ورأفت رمضان.
هذا وقد بدأت مشاكل عمال شركة طنطا للكتان فى التفاقم منذ أن قامت الحكومة ببيعها ضمن برنامج إعادة التكيف الهيكلى (الخصخصة) إلى المستثمر السعودى عبداللاه صالح الكعكى بـ 83 مليون جنيه بالتقسيط على ثلاث سنوات برغم أن القيمة الفعلية للشركة 500 مليون جنيه!!
إن دار الخدمات النقابية والعمالية تطالب كافة أجهزة الدولة بالتحرك السريع لمواجهة صلف وتعنت المستثمر السعودي، حيث أنه قد ضرب عرض الحائط بكافة القوانين المصرية بل والأعراف المتبعة، فلم يبدى أى احترام لوساطة بعض المسئولين الحكوميين وعلى رأسهم أعضاء مجلسى الشعب والشورى عن الدائرة ووزيرة القوى العاملة.. وترى أن ما زال هناك العديد من الوسائل الأخرى للضغط على المستثمر السعودى وعلى رأسها التقدم من الجهات المعنية ببلاغ إلى النائب العام للحجز على الشركة وفاءا لمستحقات العاملين، والنظر بجدية لاستعادة الشركة وفسخ عقد البيع مع المستثمر، حيث أنه قد خالف بشكل واضح شروط عقد البيع بالحفاظ على حقوق العاملين باعتراف الشركة القابضة للصناعات الكيماوية والتى قامت برفع دعوى قضائية عليه.
وتناشد الدار الاتحادات والمنظمات النقابية التضامن مع عمال شركة طنطا للكتان فى إضرابهم من أجل تحقيق مطالبهم العادلة.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Demo in Solidarity with the Worker-Activists of Tanta & El Mahalla
Around 200 Kefaya activists, students, workers, and professionals staged a protest demo outside the Journalists' Syndicate in solidarity with the (sacked and punitively relocated) worker-activists from the Tanta Linen Company and the Mahalla Textile Company - on Monday night, December 1.
Meanwhile the worker-activists (from these two companies) who were sitting-in/sleeping-in at the headquarters of the Egyptian Trade Union Federation decided to suspend their protest - pending further negotiations.
A number of these same worker-activists took part in the protest demo outside the Journalists' Syndicate.
During this demonstration numerous activists held up placards and banners calling for - the reinstatement of the twelve workers from Mahalla and Tanta, the right to establish free and independent labor unions, improved wages, and a cessation of privatizations.
Other activists held up signs calling for the release of the imprisoned Bloggers Mohammad Adel & Mohammad Khairi; while others carried placards demanding the release of Egyptian activists who were arrested (weeks earlier) while organizing humanitarian aid convoys to the besieged Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile the worker-activists (from these two companies) who were sitting-in/sleeping-in at the headquarters of the Egyptian Trade Union Federation decided to suspend their protest - pending further negotiations.
A number of these same worker-activists took part in the protest demo outside the Journalists' Syndicate.
During this demonstration numerous activists held up placards and banners calling for - the reinstatement of the twelve workers from Mahalla and Tanta, the right to establish free and independent labor unions, improved wages, and a cessation of privatizations.
Other activists held up signs calling for the release of the imprisoned Bloggers Mohammad Adel & Mohammad Khairi; while others carried placards demanding the release of Egyptian activists who were arrested (weeks earlier) while organizing humanitarian aid convoys to the besieged Gaza Strip.
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