The Tora Cement workers strike enters its fifth day, as negotiations continue with union leaders on their hospital beds. Muhammad Abdel Monsef, the union leader at the factory, together with his deputy Muhammad Ramzi, and two other union officials, Shaaban Ezzat Abdel Qader and Karam el-Sayyed Allam–all have been on a hunger strike since 1,000 workers laid down their tools and stopped production at the Tora Cement factory, demanding their 4.75 months bonus from their Italian management. The recent offer from the management to pay 3.5 months was turned down by union leader Abdel Monsef as he was transferred to Salam Hospital. Abdel Monsef denied, in an interview to Al-Masry Al-Youm, the false statements by the Italian management which claimed workers receive monthly salaries of LE4,500 on average. Abdel Monsef said his fellow workers were receiving between LE1,000 and LE1,500 a month.
