Today’s Al-Masry Al-Youm had a detailed report by Ali Zalat on the “Night of Rumors and Horrors”, where he described the picture in the factory, the night before yesterday, when there were signs Mubarak’s troops were about to storm the compound to break the 27,000 strong strike.
Bloggers continue their trips to Mahalla to report on the 27,000 strong strike, in the Middle East’s biggest textile mill. Nora Younis and Salma were there on Friday. Here are some of the entries on Nora’s Twitter:
Security around factory was relaxed. about 7 hours ago from txt
We spoke to tens of workers all seemed very united. Insisted to show us well kept machines with high sense of ownership! about 7 hours ago from txt
Wondering if we could get chairman on camera too! about 7 hours ago from txt
We are heading back to cairo. Shot footage and salma took good photos. about 7 hours ago from txt
Workers main chant: wa7ed, etnein, hosni mubarak fain. about 9 hours ago from txt
Thousands of workers prayed friday inside factory then protests erupted against gov, chairman, and corruption. about 9 hours ago from txt
Workers who voted for mubarak ask him to return favor. about 9 hours ago from txt
In mahala factory. Thousands of workers and families continue their strike. about 9 hours ago from txt
The International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers Federation has sent Hosni Mubarak the following letter:
Egyptian Government Urged to Intervene to Protect Rights of Striking Textile Workers
FOR THE PRESS
Egyptian Government Urged to Intervene to Protect Rights of Striking Textile Workers
For immediate release: September 27, 2007
The Egyptian government been urged to act immediately to protect the rights of thousands of workers at one of the country’s biggest state-owned textile factories.
In a letter to President Hosni Mubarak, the Brussels-based International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers’ Federation expressed concern at the Misr Helwan Spinning and Weaving Company in El Mahalla el Kubra, where workers have been on strike since Sunday demanding improvements in their wages and working conditions.
Said ITGLWF General Secretary Neil Kearney in his letter: “We have noted and fully agree with the statement of the General Board of the International Confederation of Arab Trade Unions (ICATU) endorsing these demands, calling for a halt to retaliatory action against the workers including those at the forefront of the strike, condemning the uncaring stance of the company towards the plight of the workers and demanding that the Egyptian government ensure that workers rights are fully respected and that the fair, just and legal demands of the workers at the Misr Spinning and Weaving Company in El Mahalla el Kubra are met, thus contributing to the economic and social stability of Egypt”.
“We believe it is vital that the government of Egypt act immediately to protect the rights of all textile workers in El Mahalla el Kubra and agree and to enforce their demands”, concluded Mr. Kearney.The International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers’ Federation is a global union federation bringing together 220 affiliated organizations in 110 countries with a combined membership of 10 million workers.
For more information, contact:
Neil Kearney (General Secretary) at 32/475932487 (mobile) or nkearney@itglwf.org
ITGLWF Secretariat at tel: 32/02/511.26.06, fax: 32/02/511.09.04 or office@itglwf.org
Visit our website at www.itglwf.org
Great!