Egipto

Labor strikes and other workers protests
continued across Egypt

Al-Masry Al-Youm, Cairo, 06/09/11

Protesting for a realistic minimum wage

Temporary workers of the cities of Toukh and Al–Qanater public cleaning authorities staged a vigil before the cabinet building to demand better wages and permanent contracts. They were joined by employees of the Supreme Council of Antiquities who had the same demands.

Meanwhile, more than 2000 temporary workers of the Ministry of Agriculture’s mechanization department also staged protests demanding permanent contracts. Minister of Agriculture Salah Youssef rejected their demands. “You will not twist my arm,” he told them.

Also, temporary workers of the military production factories protested before their ministry building to demand permanent contracts.

In Daqahliya, hundreds of fishermen staged protests before the governor’s office. They say Lake Manzala is so polluted that they are unable to fish in it.

In Mansoura, 2000 workers of the Misr Oil and Soap Factory stopped all production lines and requested higher bonuses. Their counterparts in the Zagazig branch joined them to express solidarity.

Also in Zagazig, temporary workers of the irrigation directorate staged protests demanding permanent contracts. In Ismailia, temporary workers of the Fayed city council protested for the same purpose.

In Luxor, workers at the butane gas factory demanded higher wages and better working conditions, while in Sohag, workers of the Milling Company also staged protests for the same reason.

Workers from the High Dam Electrical and Industrial Co. staged protests

Sep 03, 2011.– Labor strikes and other single–issue protests continued across Egypt on Monday, with students and employees from various state–run bodies demanding institutional changes and improvements in working conditions.

Workers from the High Dam Electrical and Industrial Company staged protests before the Council of Ministers in Cairo, demanding better wages. Meanwhile, law school graduates demonstrated before the Supreme Court, protesting against nepotism within the judicial system.

Workers of the General Electrical Projects Company also staged protests, requesting the Ministry of Electricity cancel the privatization of the company and retain its ownership. In Alexandria, 500 workers from 36 state–owned bakeries held demonstrations to demand better wages.

In Beheira, residents of Edku blocked the village highway in protest at the government fencing off some 125 acres of land with barbed wire, in preparation for its allocation to British Petroleum for the construction of a gas facility. The armed forces removed the wire from the site, after which the residents assaulted the headquarters of the company. The residents say the factory is hazardous to the environment.

Meanwhile, in several other governorates, Egypt Post employees continued their strike, and refused to disburse pensions to the senior citizens who were queueing outside post office branches. Assistant Finance Minister for Social Security Mohamed Moeit said the money has already been transferred to Egypt Post for dibursal. “It is too late for us to provide alternative means to disburse that money,” he said.

He added that Egypt Post officials told him they would send mobile ATM machines to the locations where strikes are taking place in order to help pensioners draw their pensions. “This is too risky, as the money could be stolen, given the lack of security in the streets,” he warned.

The Egypt Post employees are demanding the resignation of their chairman and the transformation of the postal authority into a financial institution rather than a service provider. Other demands included better salaries and bonuses, and the establishment of Saturday as a paid holiday like in other government institutions.

Medinat Sadat workers strike

Jun 05, 2011.– Workers of EgyptAir Ground Services Company on Wednesday went on a partial strike at Cairo Airport, serving only five flights per hour out of ten. They demand better salaries and bonuses.

Employees of the Urban Communities Authority, meanwhile, staged protests, demanding the dismissal of Housing Minister Fathy al–Baradei and other leaders they called corrupt.

Workers of the privatized General Company for Electrical Projects also staged protests, demanding that the ownership of the company return to the Ministry of Electricity.

Temporary teachers of Gamal Abdel Nasser experimental schools held demonstrations, demanding permanent contracts, and those at Sharm el–Sheikh Hospital demanded the same.

In Alexandria, employees of the Environment Control Authority demanded better salaries.

In Suez, workers of Misr–Iran Spinning and Weaving Company protested for better incentives, while in Damietta, residents protested for the removal of petrochemical factory.

In Daqahlia, workers at the Oil and Soap Company continued to strike for the third day in a row to demand better wages, while in Sharqiya, workers of the Mercedes Benz Company staged protests against increased working hours – by an hour and a half per day – to increase production.

Preachers in Beni Suef also staged protests for better salaries, while in Minya, residents of the Beni Gafez Village blocked the Cairo–Aswan highway after a villager was hit by a car.

Workers start Ramadan with labor protests in key cities

Aug 01, 2011.– The first day of Ramadan saw a continuation of industrial action in various sectors around the country, with protests reports in Cairo, Alexandria and Minya.

In Cairo, workers of the National Distribution Company called for the removal of the company’s president for impeding production.

“The man stopped the supply of raw materials,” said Nabil Farouq, a protester. “We sit around all day without any work.”

In Alexandria, temporary teachers staged demonstrations, demanding permanent contracts with the Ministry of Education.

In the city of Minya, state television workers staged protests demanding better wages and working conditions.

Labor protests block streets in three Egyptian cities

Labor protests calling for better financial conditions continued in several cities on Sunday, with demonstrators blocking main roads in Assiut, Luxor and Cairo.

In Assiut, farmers blocked the Assiut–Cairo highway, protesting against increased fertilizer prices. They clashed with police and pelted them with stones, forcing them to withdraw from the area.

In Luxor, residents blocked the Luxor–Aswan highway, protesting against the local authorities cutting off utilities from their homes, while Governor Khaled Fouda said their houses were unlicensed.

Meanwhile, in Cairo, workers from the Egyptian Radio and Television Union staged protests on the Maspiro Corniche, demanding better wages and the dismissal of Information Minister Osama Heikal.

Sugar factory workers protest in Naga Hammadi

Jul 05, 2011.– More than 3000 workers of the Nagaa Hammadi Sugar Factory went on an open–ended strike on Tuesday  to demand better wages and working conditions, accusing the management of ignoring their demands.

The workers are demanding a monthly bonus of 200 percent of their basic salaries, the payment of hazard allowances and the appointment of workers with temporary contracts.

Meanwhile, in 6th of October City, 200 workers at the Swiss Company for Stainless Steel Sinks also went on strike, demanding wage increases and more bonuses.