Kiev Communard
3rd March 2011, 18:03
While all the attention seems to be focused on Libya, some rather interesting developments are taking place in Egypt, including the formation of new independent trade union federation and the first attempts at workers' party's foundation:
There are two reports in the Daily News (http://www.thedailynewsegypt.com/egypt/workers-leftists-to-form-new-parties.html) and Al Masry Al Youm of a meeting of labour activists who decided on the formation of a new workers party, the Labour Democratic Party. In its first statemen (http://www.e-socialists.net/node/6566)t it states:
The Egyptian labor movement is the first line of defense for the Egyptian revolution and the spearhead of the revolution. The continuation of this movement and its development is the only guarantee for the success of the revolution and to prevent counter-revolution brought by the former regime from behind the scenes, but the labor movement needs to reorganize and unify their struggle to be able to achieve its objectives and the elimination of enemies. We need darkening of the wave of strikes and sit-ins and deepen and expand in the public sector and private sectors. We need to establish strike committees and independent trade unions everywhere. We need to establish an independent Federation of Egyptian Workers and the ultimate elimination of the Federation of recent Mubarak era. We need a political party, the voice of workers and a forum for all toilers and the exploited and oppressed in Egypt. We need to establish committees to defend the revolution in popular neighborhoods, labor and the workplace in all parts of Egypt
The statement also spells out their demands including:
The social justice demanded by the workers, which constitute one of the most important goals of the revolution means the overthrow of the General Union and the trial of its corrupt and fraudulent leaders and symbols of the Union and the establishment of new independent trade unions noble and expressive of the democratically elected against the demands and aspirations of the Egyptian workers. Social justice means setting a minimum wage is not less than 1500 pounds and a maximum wage is not more than ten times the minimum. Social justice means the overthrow of the governing bodies of companies and corrupt terrorists and those who accumulated billions from the sweat and blood of the workers. Social justice means the re-nationalization of companies and institutions that have been privatized at the cheapest prices for a handful of business leaders and placed under the democratic control of workers. Social justice means to control prices and eliminate the monopoly of greedy traders. Social justice means the unemployment allowance to unemployed youth and the establishment of projects of public employment to eliminate unemployment.
(The statement is in Arabic and this is an online translation.)
The Daily Press article and Al Ahram (http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/6466/Egypt/Politics-/New-Leftist-party-being-assembled-in-Egypt.aspx) also report on the establishment of another leftist party.
http://www.egyptworkersolidarity.org/?p=281
Workers declare Independent Labor Union
By Tamim Elyan /Daily News Egypt March 3, 2011, 11:00 pm
CAIRO: A number of independent workers' syndicates announced Wednesday the official launch of the Independent Labor Union as an alternative to the official state-controlled Egyptian Trade Union Federation (ETUF).
The independent union, established by the independent syndicates of real estate tax workers, health technicians, teachers and a pensioners union, also held its first general conference.
Ten workers unions, including Mahalla Textile, Labor University, Telecom Egypt and 10th of Ramadan factory workers, joined the union during the conference held at the Journalists Syndicate, while others are expected to join soon.
Workers demanded the closure of the ETUF and bringing its head, Hussein Megawer, to court over corruption accusations.
"The ETUF has manipulated our rights and worked on spoiling workers protests, and now they are trying to conform to the revolution. But today, we are announcing their fall," Kamal Abu Eita, head of the independent syndicate for real estate tax workers.
The ETUF said Wednesday that it supports syndicate freedoms and will allow the establishment of independent labor unions.
Kamal Abbas, general coordinator of the Center for Trade Unions and Workers Services, said that the newly appointed minister of manpower and former treasury keeper at the ETUF, Ismail Fahmy, was assigned to protect the ETUF.
"He has a task of preventing the General Auditing Agency reports on the ETUF from reaching the prosecutor general and ensuring that they receive LE 78 million from the ministry annually which goes to its leaders' pockets," he said.
Workers and sector protests swept across Egypt demanding better wages and the appointment of workers on temporary contracts.
The new independent union received solidarity messages from a number of international organizations like the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).
http://www.thedailynewsegypt.com/human-a-civil-rights/workers-announce-independent-labor-union.html
It seems there is much potential for independent working class actions in the events to come...
There are two reports in the Daily News (http://www.thedailynewsegypt.com/egypt/workers-leftists-to-form-new-parties.html) and Al Masry Al Youm of a meeting of labour activists who decided on the formation of a new workers party, the Labour Democratic Party. In its first statemen (http://www.e-socialists.net/node/6566)t it states:
The Egyptian labor movement is the first line of defense for the Egyptian revolution and the spearhead of the revolution. The continuation of this movement and its development is the only guarantee for the success of the revolution and to prevent counter-revolution brought by the former regime from behind the scenes, but the labor movement needs to reorganize and unify their struggle to be able to achieve its objectives and the elimination of enemies. We need darkening of the wave of strikes and sit-ins and deepen and expand in the public sector and private sectors. We need to establish strike committees and independent trade unions everywhere. We need to establish an independent Federation of Egyptian Workers and the ultimate elimination of the Federation of recent Mubarak era. We need a political party, the voice of workers and a forum for all toilers and the exploited and oppressed in Egypt. We need to establish committees to defend the revolution in popular neighborhoods, labor and the workplace in all parts of Egypt
The statement also spells out their demands including:
The social justice demanded by the workers, which constitute one of the most important goals of the revolution means the overthrow of the General Union and the trial of its corrupt and fraudulent leaders and symbols of the Union and the establishment of new independent trade unions noble and expressive of the democratically elected against the demands and aspirations of the Egyptian workers. Social justice means setting a minimum wage is not less than 1500 pounds and a maximum wage is not more than ten times the minimum. Social justice means the overthrow of the governing bodies of companies and corrupt terrorists and those who accumulated billions from the sweat and blood of the workers. Social justice means the re-nationalization of companies and institutions that have been privatized at the cheapest prices for a handful of business leaders and placed under the democratic control of workers. Social justice means to control prices and eliminate the monopoly of greedy traders. Social justice means the unemployment allowance to unemployed youth and the establishment of projects of public employment to eliminate unemployment.
(The statement is in Arabic and this is an online translation.)
The Daily Press article and Al Ahram (http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/6466/Egypt/Politics-/New-Leftist-party-being-assembled-in-Egypt.aspx) also report on the establishment of another leftist party.
http://www.egyptworkersolidarity.org/?p=281
Workers declare Independent Labor Union
By Tamim Elyan /Daily News Egypt March 3, 2011, 11:00 pm
CAIRO: A number of independent workers' syndicates announced Wednesday the official launch of the Independent Labor Union as an alternative to the official state-controlled Egyptian Trade Union Federation (ETUF).
The independent union, established by the independent syndicates of real estate tax workers, health technicians, teachers and a pensioners union, also held its first general conference.
Ten workers unions, including Mahalla Textile, Labor University, Telecom Egypt and 10th of Ramadan factory workers, joined the union during the conference held at the Journalists Syndicate, while others are expected to join soon.
Workers demanded the closure of the ETUF and bringing its head, Hussein Megawer, to court over corruption accusations.
"The ETUF has manipulated our rights and worked on spoiling workers protests, and now they are trying to conform to the revolution. But today, we are announcing their fall," Kamal Abu Eita, head of the independent syndicate for real estate tax workers.
The ETUF said Wednesday that it supports syndicate freedoms and will allow the establishment of independent labor unions.
Kamal Abbas, general coordinator of the Center for Trade Unions and Workers Services, said that the newly appointed minister of manpower and former treasury keeper at the ETUF, Ismail Fahmy, was assigned to protect the ETUF.
"He has a task of preventing the General Auditing Agency reports on the ETUF from reaching the prosecutor general and ensuring that they receive LE 78 million from the ministry annually which goes to its leaders' pockets," he said.
Workers and sector protests swept across Egypt demanding better wages and the appointment of workers on temporary contracts.
The new independent union received solidarity messages from a number of international organizations like the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).
http://www.thedailynewsegypt.com/human-a-civil-rights/workers-announce-independent-labor-union.html
It seems there is much potential for independent working class actions in the events to come...