250 workers from the Mansoura-España Garments Company went on strike an hour ago, after the security banned Adel Hassaballah, the deputy head of the Factory Union Committee from entering the compound. The trade unionist had been fired earlier by the United Bank, charged with allowing journalists into the factory to speak to the workers.
UPDATE 9:30am: A number of the strikers are leaving the factory, on their way to demonstrate in front of the Daqahliya Province Governorate HQ in Mansoura
UPDATE: 12noon: Central Security Forces surrounded the factory. State Security officers are threatening strikers with arrests.. Fire truck opened water canons on the strikers.
UPDATE: 5:30pm: I was out most of the day, but I’ve been twittering the strike. I hope you were following my Twitter account. The strike was suspended under pressures from the police and labor ministry officials. The troops siege was only lifted when the workers were allowed to leave the factory compound by 4pm.