I was just on the phone with a Socialist activist in Mahalla, who was also part of the December 2006 strike. Here are some quick notes from him.
The strike is solid… from 10,000 to 15,000 workers slept over in the factory. Men, women, and children who came to join the strikers. During daytime the numbers increase and could border on 20,000… “I can safely say it’s much stronger than the December (2006) move,” he said. “The government will have to negotiate. There’s no way they can break this one.”
The activist also confirmed what Kareem el-Beheiri was complaining about regarding the weak solidarity coming from the Muslim Brothers. “They are hardly noticed. But I can virtually see all other political forces present. There’s a good spirit of cooperation among everyone.”