Egypt workers strike over pay

[Dominicana_1965]

Anger and defiance are spilling over at Egypt's largest textile company in Mahala in north Egypt, where more than 27,000 workers are entering a fourth day of strike action in a bid to push the owners to bow to their demands.

The workers are asking for a payment of more than $10m they say is owed by the Misr Spinning and Weaving Company and refusing to work until their demands are met.

The protests could spur other employees across the country into following a similar path.

The strike began on Sunday after the workers' bonus demand was rejected by company managers.


It's the second time in two years that employees have walked out, bringing the entire company to a standstill, costing it a loss of $3m a day.


The company owners say they are in no financial position to pay these bonuses, insisting that they are suffering losses.


Pay rise


Mustafa Fouda, the man who is spearheading the strike, said: "We demand pay rises in line with inflation prices, and affordable housing.


"We demand the workers' union board resigns and a new one is elected freely.


"All we want is to be rewarded for our hard work."


Fouda and his colleagues ask, with daily profits in the millions, where is all the money going to?


One worker said hundreds of thousands of Egyptian pounds were being spent on the company's football team.


"Look how much the stadium cost!" he said.


The workers say towels manufactured by the company are sold in the EU and US markets for at least $15 a piece, while they are paid less than $2 per day.


There are reports of a rift within the government, with the ministry of labour said to be in favour of improving workers salaries and the ministry of finance against.

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/F7E...42BFFF8F205.htm (http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/F7ED9823-F42C-457D-97A1-142BFFF8F205.htm)

[Revolution Until Victory]

Thousands of workers have taken control of one of Egypt's biggest state-owned textile factories

Thousands of workers have taken control of one of Egypt's biggest state-owned textile factories in a continuing protest over pay and work conditions.
The workers also want the head of the company to be sacked, and are demanding the release of five representatives who were detained by police on Monday.

The strike at the Misr Helwan Spinning and Weaving Company's factory in Mahalla al-Kubra began on Sunday.

A strike at the plant last year led to a wave of labour protests across Egypt.

The industrial action in December forced the government to back down and meet the workers' demand for annual bonuses equivalent to 45 days' wages.

But representatives for the workers said the textile company did not fulfil its promise despite posting profits of 217m Egyptian pounds ($39m) for the last financial year, and are now demanding a fair share.

Government fears

The protests by an estimated 27,000 workers brought the textile company to a standstill.

Groups of employees beat drums and chanted slogans demanding the dismissal of the chairman of the board, Mohib Salah al-Din, and criticising the management of the government holding company which owns the factory.

They say we are the leaders who have incited 27,000 workers to strike - how, I do not understand

Wael Habeeb


Workers demand raises and rights

They also called for the dismissal of the representatives of the government-approved labour union who visited them on Sunday.

The protests intensified on Monday after the public prosecutor ordered the detention of five of the workers' representatives on charges of inciting the strike, unlawful gathering and destruction of public properties.

"They say we are the leaders who have incited 27,000 workers to strike," Wael Habeeb, one of the five men, told the BBC Arabic Service. "How, I do not understand!"

The BBC's Arab affairs analyst, Magdi Abdelhadi, says the Egyptian government, which does not tolerate dissent, is fearful of the workers' growing self-confidence.

There are fears that labour unrest might spread to other low-paid industries as it did last year, our correspondent says.

While it is much easier to crush a handful of political protesters in Cairo, using police force against thousands of striking workers could prove to be a far more difficult task, our correspondent adds.

BBC (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7013184.stm)

[Cheung Mo]

I wonder how Egypt's pro-American, social fascist, Zionist, "Socialist" International ruling party is going to treat these workers?

[Comrade_Scott]

man i hope these guys turn this into a full fledged riot and kick out the govt because egypt is suffering now and if this govt goes on then the MB will gain more ground and then who knows what will happen (mabey the next polond) is the twin dead yet? trying to impose christianity on the masses and then on the eu and i usually despise the eu FUCK ALL RELEGIONS damn it :ph34r:

[Faux Real]

Ah nice to see some worker action in Egypt, it's been quiet for a while there.

Best of luck to those comrades, and please keep us informed as these strikes unfold!