workers archives — Page 375 of 484

ITUC denounces crackdown on Egyptian labor activists

Posted on 18/10/200730/12/2020 By 3arabawy

INTERNATIONAL TRADE UNION CONFEDERATION (ITUC)
ITUC Online
175/111007
Egypt: prison sentence for defender of worker’s rights
Brussels, 12 October 2007 (ITUC OnLine): Kamal Abbas, General Coordinator of the Center for Trade Unions and Workers Services (CTUWS) and his lawyer, Muhammad Helmy have been sentenced one year’s imprisonment by an Egyptian court. A law suit for alleged “slander and defamation of character” against Kamal Abbas was filed by Muhammad Ibrahim, chairman of the board of directors of a youth center in 15 May City and member of the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP). According to Kamal Abbas, this is no coincidence. “It is all part of the government’s general crack-down on civil society” he said. Abbas and his lawyer were taken to court after publishing a report in the CTUWS magazine Kalam Sinai’ia (Workers’ Talk) about an investigation into financial and administrative irregularities in the running of the youth center. The allegations of corruption against Mr Ibrahim were in fact corroborated by an internal investigation conducted by the Youth Center, whose Board of Directors was subsequently dissolved by the Governor of Cairo.
The ITUC and Solidar strongly condemn the prison sentences that follow a long tradition of repression of the CTUWS, an independent civil society organization committed to defending trade union and other workers right in Egypt. “We are very concerned about this latest attack on the CTUWS” declared Guy Ryder, ITUC General Secretary, “This organization has earned
itself great esteem in the international trade union movement for its active role in providing support to Egyptian workers struggling for the respect of fundamental labor standards in their country.” he added. The sentences, which come in a wave of prosecutions against journalists for publishing offences, are also an attack on the freedom to publish information and the freedom of expression, which are guaranteed by the Egyptian constitution.
In a letter to the Egyptians authorities, The ITUC and Solidar urge President Hosni Mubarak to ensure that the CTUWS is not persecuted in its work and ask that he review this particular case.
Founded on 1 November 2006, the ITUC represents 168 million workers in 153 countries and territories and has 305 national affiliates.

Industrial action report: 1st two weeks of Sept

Posted on 16/10/200714/01/2021 By 3arabawy

I received a report from the Egyptian Workers and Trade Unions Watch, citing 41 industrial conflicts in the first two weeks of Septemeber.

UK activists: Congrats to Mahalla

Posted on 12/10/200709/02/2021 By 3arabawy

Activists in Britain sent a congrats message to Mahalla:

Dear comrades,
We have been following the recent strike actions in Egypt with great interest and wish to give our complete solidarity to those involved. Congratulations to those who have already won and best wishes to those who continue to fight.
Yours in solidarity,
Reading Grassroots Action.
(Reading Grassroots Action is an anti-capitalist group based in Reading, England.)

Thanks to all those who are following the news of the industrial struggle and spreading the word about it. Your solidarity counts for a lot. The Mahalla workers in the Nile Delta need to feel they are not alone, and that they are part of a bigger global class. What is a better way to explain internationalism to a worker in Mahalla than to tell him there are people like him or her in another continent, yet they are following what you are doing and they say they are on your side and that you inspire them. No matter how small your group or union is, a short letter of solidarity does boost the morale, as it did with the statements and letters received during the strike.