Egypt's new labor federation demands higher minimum wage, right to strike

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/features/egypt-s-new-labor-federation-demands-higher-minimum-wage-right-to-strike-1.347352

* Published 01:53 06.03.11
* Latest update 01:53 06.03.11


For the first time since Mubarak's ouster, the recently-announced Egyptian Federation of Independent Labor Unions convened and added a higher minimum wage to the list of democratic demands
By Amira Hass

CAIRO - Hundreds of members of four unions that have organized (illegally ) over the past three years, as well as workers' rights activists, attended a planning meeting of the Egyptian Federation of Independent Labor Unions last Wednesday evening. The new labor federation is demanding a minimum monthly wage of 1,200 Egyptian pounds - about $200 - (in contrast to the rarely enforced current minimum of 400 pounds ) and new legislation guaranteeing the right to strike. Some activists appearing on Egyptian television talk shows have also raised the idea of instituting a maximum wage.

The meeting reflected a widely shared belief that strikes over the dozen years preceding the recent popular uprising, as well as the unionization of independent workers, played a key role in the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak and the shaping of demands for democratization. Until about two months ago, anyone who took part in political activity such as this in the workplace, universities, high schools and the organization of new political parties became a target of surveillance and persecution by the state security apparatus.

http://www.haaretz.com/polopoly_fs/1.347372.1299378274!/image/3265828542.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_295/3265828542.jpg
A child playing outside the Presidential Palace in Cairo. The policy of aiding the poor bears close resemblance to the Muslim Brotherhood’s “charity” philosophy.
Photo by: Reuters


A prosperous former businessman, an activist in the broad movement that spearheaded the popular revolt, told Haaretz that "without changes in socioeconomic policies, this revolution cannot progress." He emphasized that "most of us say that social justice is our top priority. In the face of tremendous poverty and the deterioration of social services, I, for example, cannot oppose taxing the wealthy, or instituting genuinely free education. Everyone is talking left-wing, including those who do not define themselves as left."

The army, the Egyptian business community and officially-sanctioned unions have demanded that workers stop the strikes and protests that have continued even after February 11 (the day of Mubarak's ouster ). The fact that the strikes were not suppressed by force is also indicative of the power of workers in the broader democratic movement.

According to the activist and former businessman cited above, the demand to end strikes is out of place. "Legislation permitting the establishment of independent labor unions must be enacted soon, and will negotiate with employers and the state, he said."

FULL story at link.