Egypt’s labor movement under attack

In the first three weeks of June, at least 22 workers and farmers have been interrogated by the military prosecutor and/or referred to military courts, according to the Awlad el-Ard NGO.

On Saturday, 10 am, activists will be holding a protest in front of the State Council, in Dokki, in solidarity with Ali Fetouh, the president of the independent union of public transport workers, who is undergoing trial over charges of “inciting strikes.” Fetouh has also received international support from trade unionists in the UK.

The continued crackdown on the labor movement is taking place while the International Labor Organization is awarding our military junta by taking Egypt off its black list. For the ILO, it seems, military tribunals and anti-strike laws mean nothing other than the Egyptian workers are now free.

2 Responses

1. Yasmine

   June 24, 2011 - 8:03 PM

   I have a question, but I’m not sure I know enough to ask it properly.
   Anyway, my question is how is the workers’ economic struggle going to transition or combine with the political struggle to overthrow the regime? Cuz at the moment it seems the workers r focused on getting better wages and labor protections, forming unions etc. So how or will it become more than this?

   Hope this makes sense.

2. Yasmine

   June 25, 2011 - 8:00 AM

   ACtually now that I think about it, the activists have specific demands but everyone seems content to have the elections sort things out.