Tag: megawer

Independent Union constitutional, says lawyer

Posted on 20/01/200909/04/2015 By 3arabawy

The Independent General Union of Real Estate Tax Collectors has refuted suggestions made by Hussein Megawer, head of the Egyptian Federation of Trade Unions (EFTU), that the Independent Union was created in violation of the law.
Al-Masry Al-Youm quotes anonymous sources as saying that Megawer has sent a letter to Finance Minister Youssef Boutros Ghali requesting that the Finance Minister not acknowledge the Independent Union, and that he deal exclusively with the General Union of Employees of the Banking, Insurance and Financial Sectors.
This official union is one of the 23 unions created under the umbrella of the state-controlled EFTU.
Workers in various sectors — including real estate tax collectors — are strongly critical of state-controlled trade union bodies which they allege represent the state’s, rather than workers’ interests.
In December 2008 real estate tax collectors announced the formation of the Independent Union.
The union grew out of the committee formed to represent tax collectors’ interests during the successful three-month strike and sit-in they led outside the Finance Ministry at the end of December 2007.
Haitham Muhammadein, the union’s official lawyer, told Daily News Egypt that Megawer made his comments after Ghali sent a letter to the Independent Union.
“The Independent Union sent two letters to the Finance Minister in which it listed various demands,” Muhammadein said.
“Last month Ghali wrote back addressing his letter to ‘the Independent Union’ – thereby acknowledging its existence.
“This acknowledgment made Megawer worried and prompted him to address this demand to Ghali.”
Muhammadein maintains that there is no basis in law for Megawer’s suggestion that Egyptian legislation prohibits the creation of trade unions outside the framework of the official trade union.
“Various treaties ratified by Egypt such as ILO Convention 87 on freedom of association and the right to organize provide for workers’ right to form their own trade union bodies.
“Egyptian Law 35 issued in 1976 meanwhile states that workers have the right to form a trade union body, but within the framework of the EFTU.
“Law 35 is arguably unconstitutional because it conflicts with both Article 56 of the Egyptian Constitution [which provides that ‘the creation of syndicates and unions on a democratic basis is a right guaranteed by law’] and the treaties ratified by Egypt.
“Once ratified, these treaties are incorporated into, and become part of, domestic law.”
Muhammadein suggests that Ghali has no choice but to deal with the Independent Union.
“This organized force is what really represents the real estate tax collectors: the official trade union has consistently shown itself to be ineffective,” Muhammadein explained.
“Tax collectors stand behind the Independent Union – Ghali has no choice but to deal with it.
“Megawer is unable to challenge the Independent Union so he’s gone to the Finance Minister, but if [Megawer] is unable to represent workers’ interests adequately, that’s the EFTU’s problem, not ours.”

Renewed crackdown on Ghazl el-Mahalla workers

Posted on 30/11/200809/01/2021 By 3arabawy

The crackdown on Ghazl el-Mahalla activists continues.

The govt-appointed CEO Fouad Hassan ordered today the transfer of five more women workers away from their departments. As I’m writing, a Mahalla delegation has arrived at the General Federation of Trade Unions HQ in Galaa St, to protest the crackdown and is trying to see Hussein Megawer the Federation’s boss (and the head of Mubarak’s National Democratic Party parliamentary bloc). The Federation officials say Megawer is not present, and the delegation members are currently showered with phone calls from state-backed union officials begging them to leave the building.

UPDATE: The Ghazl el-Mahalla workers are staging a sit-in at the Federation’s hall, chanting against privatization, corruption. We need photographers, bloggers and journalists to go there urgently. Here is also a report from Afaq.

Updates on the Tax Collectors: SS interrogates Bani Sweif trade unionist

Posted on 04/09/200811/01/2021 By 3arabawy

State Security police interrogated yesterday Abdel Nasser Abdallah, one of the December 2007 Tax Collectors’ strike leaders, whose efforts are central to the establishment of the new independent union committee in Bani Sweif.

Abdel Nasser was contacted several times by SS officer Hisham of Bani Sweif, requesting he showed up for interrogation. After refusing to show up for days, Abdel Nasser went yesterday to the SS office in Bani Sweif, and was interrogated from 9pm to 11:45pm.

It turned out that the state-backed union officials reported the independent trade unionist to the SS, claiming he was fund raising for an “illegal trade union” and agitating for a strike. It goes to show once again what sort of people those General Federation of Trade Unions officials are… They are not representatives of the workers. They are not campaigners for labor rights. They are nothing but a bunch of police informers and cronies.

In a great show of solidarity, Abdel Nasser’s colleagues accompanied him, and assembled outside the SS building waiting to see if he would come out safe or get detained.

Inside the building, SS officer Hisham started the interrogation by threats, ordering Abdel Nasser not to leave Bani Sweif without taking prior permission from SS. Abdel Nasser refused.

“They say you are raising funds,” said SS officer Hisham.
“Not yet, but we will,” answered Abdel Nasser.
“For what?”
“For our union”
“What union?”
“We are building a free union, away from those who reported me,” Abdel Nasser said. “You and I know they are thieves and do not represent us in negotiations or get us our rights.”
“Yes, I know they are thieves. But they say you are raising funds for another strike.”
“No, I’m raising funds for our retirement sandouq and for our welfare. We are doing this in public and we have nothing to hide. The Minister of Finance knows it. The head of the Real Estate Tax Agency knows it. We meet with them regularly as the legitimate representatives of the civil servants. You can ask them yourself.”
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“I need you to pass by me and tell me everything you do,” Officer Hisham said. “If you’ll meet [the head of the General Federation of Trade Unions] Hussein Megawer or the minister or you decide anything, I have to know.”
“I’m sorry I’m not an informer! If the Higher Strike Committee tells me I come to you, then I’ll come. If not, then sorry I can’t come and tell you what we are doing. If we’ll do a public event, then I’ll come to let you know. It’s going to be public anyways, so everyone will know. I don’t mind then telling you. But I can’t come here every day to tell you we are doing this or we are doing that.”

The interrogation went on till around 11:30pm, and Abdel Nasser was very courageous and assertive in his answers, showing no grain of fear.

“You can do whatever you like to do as long as it’s legal,” continued Officer Hisham. “I like and respect what you are doing, but I will not allow any strikes. You can do whatever you want, but no strikes. What happened last year cannot be repeated again.”
“We are not planning any strikes,” said Abdel Nasser. “We want to negotiate at the present time. But we strike when we do not find any channels of communications and when we find all the doors closed in our faces. We have no choice then but to strike to get our rights.”
“Ok, I know your friends are waiting outside. I don’t want them to think I detained you. You can go.”

Abdel Nasser left the SS building around 11:45pm, to be showered with hugs and kisses from his comrades who’d been waiting for him with concern outside… ending the night with shisha and cups of tea at the Qahwa in front of the SS building.