Hossam el-Hamalawy
Interviewed:
Egyptian blogger Hossam el-Hamalawy told the BBC World Service he did not think the incident in Cairo would spark unrest, but he thinks the likelihood of protests is growing: “Over the past four years the number of strikes and social unrest has been escalating and everybody is expecting an uprising. What exactly will be the trigger nobody knows. But we all feel it in the air.”
BBC
The American University in Cairo workers went on strike on Wednesday 27 October, 2010 to demand from the administration their legitimate rights to:
1. Receive a gross minimum monthly wage of LE1,200 ( less than LE1000 net) with equal pay for all workers who hold the same position.
2. Have Saturday as an official holiday for the AUC workers as it is for all those employed in the maintenance, service departments and the administration. If one is to work on Saturday they shall receive overtime pay for their work.
3. Receive LE200 as meal compensation (or an adequate meal) in addition to the salary.
4. Receive annual salary raise of no less than 10% on the original wage of each worker. This percentage is subject to be increased by the administration.
5. Receive Social Insurance coverage that includes all the years of service to the AUC.