The Egyptian media claims that workers strikes are unethical

[UltraWright]

The workers in Egypt are carrying strikes right now to redeem their rights and to challenge the law issued by the army criminalizing strikes and protests. The Egyptian media is trying to turn the layman against those workers by claiming that those strikes are unethical because they selfishly interfere with the lives of other people and because they are a sign of disrespect towards the state's law system.

Is the aforementioned claim legit or not? How can one argue with/against it?

I myself believe that the workers have the right to strike as long as their jobs are not critical (e.g. medical services), but I can not argue for my opinion.

[jake williams]

The state's "law system" is a neocolonial hack job constructed out of the remnants of British rule, modern imperialist subjugation, and military jingoism. Constitutionalism is a dead end.

The strikes are a continuation of the sort of mass organization by the working class that overthrew Mubarak, and the only potential method by which they can throw out the "Mubaraks after Mubarak", the new stooges of imperialism which the liberal kiddies on Twitter helped bring to power. It's an uphill battle and there's a significant chance it won't succeed, but unfortunately, it'll probably be ugly either way.

Under significant press repression, which still exists, it's extremely difficult to build class consciousness (it's difficult in any society). While I don't have a good eye on the current situation for workers on the streets of Cairo or Alexandria, I would imagine that it's also difficult not to be crowded out by liberal triumphalism and military nationalism.

These strikes are absolutely ethical. They're the main means available to the Egyptian working class to fight for a government which will at least begin to act in its interests.

[dernier combat]

What's funny is that I could recall, back when shit started to stabilize in Egypt, a few RevLefters (I can't name anyone or what the thread was titled as my memory is somewhat blurry, but it's likely somewhere in the Arab world protests subforum) basically acting as cheerleaders for the new military junta in Egypt.

[Ocean Seal]

This is one thing that I despise. I was speaking to a man about a general strike. And he told me that it would be unethical because it would bleed the system... <--- Thinking in terms of the boss is a truly terrible symptom of capitalist rule. Some people actually believe that the government is being honest in saying that it doesn't have the money to change things. If the system is failing we shouldn't keep it alive we should destroy it and create something new.

[Chambered Word]

What's funny is that I could recall, back when shit started to stabilize in Egypt, a few RevLefters (I can't name anyone or what the thread was titled as my memory is somewhat blurry, but it's likely somewhere in the Arab world protests subforum) basically acting as cheerleaders for the new military junta in Egypt.

Any idea which ones?


I myself believe that the workers have the right to strike as long as their jobs are not critical (e.g. medical services), but I can not argue for my opinion.

Bollocks, everyone has the right to strike.

[dernier combat]

Any idea which ones?
As I said, my memory is hazy.

[Thirsty Crow]

Bollocks, everyone has the right to strike.
Nobody "has" a "right to strike". But I'd sure as hell agitate among my fellow workers for whatever it takes to force the state to produce a law which would enable all workers' involved in a strike not to fear the pig's baton. Workers shoud fight for the expansion of potential situations resulting in a strike which won't get them arrested and beaten up.

Now we come to the greatest bit.
Workers' strikes are unethical? Boy, what a joke, you really got me there. "National interests" and "ethics" will, of course, be summoned like putrid corpses of "national heros" in such situations. How about our dear old class system, is that ethical? Is exploitation ethical? Are social discrimination and oppression ethical?
Anyone arguing along these lines is pro-capitalist. The best way to argue against such a position is to reach out to fellow workers and members of other oppressed groups and explain how all of us are knee deep in shit together and how sectoral struggles do not conflict with each other inherently. Workers on strike should, by all means necessary, connect with others who face similar situations.

[Chambered Word]

Yeah, I realize that there are no actual materially inherent 'human rights'. I use the term as an expression a lot (when I probably shouldn't).