I received a message from a Socialist journalist and comrade who is reporting on the Mahalla strikers. Here’s an English translation of some excerpts just to give you an idea what the mood is like there…
After the first day of the strike and sit-in, the picture inside the factory is really amazing. 10,000 people breaking the fast together in Talaat Harb Sq, located inside the company compound. It’s a scene, which I find no words to describe with.
The government has started to present some compromises via the head of the Factory Union Committee Seddiq Siyam, in exchange for disbanding the strike. But the stupid forgot he was asking this (strike suspension) while the workers’ emotions and zeal are running at the highest peak you can imagine.. The inevitable happened.. the dude was screwed. The workers almost killed him, seriously I’m not joking. But he was saved at the last moment by the strike leaders.
My hearts and thoughts go out to the Mahalla strikers. I hope I start seeing some solidarity movement by the Socialist Students in Cairo, Ain Shams, Helwan and Alexandria Universities soon.