February 12, 2011

"Bread and Butter Revolution: Egypt’s Workers Mobilize for a New Future"

Michelle Chen in "In These Times": "They weren't the first to make headlines in Tahrir Square, but Egypt's labor movement made an impressive debut this week in cities around the country. Workers from an array of industries launched demonstrations and wildcat strikes, shaking up some of the country's key industries and defying the state-run union system."

"Egypt's working class has historically been contained by the government-controlled the Egyptian Trade Union Federation, which is known for undermining autonomous workers' movements. But independent labor organizing has become a vital presence in Egypt's streets in recent years, and the movement that erupted with the January 25 demonstrations, while not explicitly labor-led, continue the populist legacy of past labor actions.

A manifesto posted by the independent labor advocacy group Center for Trade Unions and Workers’ Services hails a united front for basic rights and freedoms long denied Egyptians from all walks of life:

For years, we have been demanding for decent wages that are enough ... to meet our children’s needs for decent humane housing, the right for medical treatment and medical care that cures and does not kill .. and for them (the leaders) their ears no longer function (they cannot hear us anymore)...."

Read article here
February 11, 2011