The Textile Workers’ League has given the Labor Ministry an ultimatum, 9th of May, to respond to the workers’ demands, threatening a strike.
You’ll find some press reports circulating, quoting “workers from Mahalla” or whatever statements that supposedly are circulating the factory floor, threatening a strike on the 1st of May. There could be nothing more stupid than this, coz the 1st of May is already a national holiday and the factory is off, so what strike are you talking about?!! (Reminds me also of a Mahalla labor activist who was circulating a statement last year calling for a strike in the factory on the 23rd of July, Revolution Day, which is already a national holiday!!!) Other rumors (and some say they read these in the papers–I haven’t) that a strike is expected to happen on the 10th of May, i.e. one day after the ultimatum is over. That’s not true either. At the moment nothing is confirmed, but the situation remains tense.
State Security police in Mahalla is already embarking on a new round of intimidation, phoning a number of the League’s activists including Kamal el-Fayoumi and Tarek Amin, showering them with threats and summoning activists for interrogation…
Please follow my Twitter account for updates. Keep your eyes on Mahalla. and Helwan, where workers have been occupying the Cement Mills for three days now.
More soon.