New Egyptian trade union federation calls for General Strike tomorrow

[Better Believe It]

International Trade Union Confederation

Egypt: ITUC Supports General Strike Call and Welcomes New Independent Trade Union Federation
January 31, 2011

“This is a hugely important step for all Egyptians, who have for so long been denied the right to democratic representation at work. Independent unions, which the regime refused to recognise, have organised thousands of local strikes, sit-ins and protests in recent years, and have been a moving force behind the massive mobilisation of Egypt’s people that we have been witnessing in recent days,” said ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow.

The new trade union centre, which brings together existing independent unions of health sector employees and tax inspectors as well as worker representatives from the country’s key manufacturing locations, public employees and other sectors, announced its formation at a meeting on Sunday at Tahrir Square in Cairo and immediately issued the general-strike call. It also announced the formation of committees in workplaces across the country to protect workplace infrastructure.

“The union actions will increase pressure for genuine democratic change and respect for human rights. Just as in Tunisia, where the ITUC-affiliated UGTT has been at the forefront of the democracy movement, we salute the courage and determination of Egypt’s working people in standing up to an autocratic and illegitimate regime,” said Burrow.

The ITUC General Council meeting in Brussels this week will decide on measures to assist the Tunisian and Egyptian union movements to press for democratic transition and full respect for workers’ rights.

http://www.ituc-csi.org/egypt-ituc-supports-general-strike.html


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AFL-CIO, Global Unions Applaud New Egyptian Labor Movement
by James Parks
January 31, 2011

Representatives of the Egyptian union movement announced they are forming a new labor federation, the Federation of Egyptian Trade Unions, which will represent workers in more than a dozen industries and enterprises. The federation also plans to set a date for a nationwide general strike for democracy and fundamental rights. Many people believe the labor demonstrations in the past two years played a significant role in giving Egyptian citizens courage to stand up to the government.

In a letter today to Egyptian union leaders Kamal Abbas and Kamal Abu Eita, recipients of last year’s George Meany-Lane Kirkland Human Rights Award, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka praised the workers’ “extraordinary courage and defiance of a ban on free and independent unions.”

Abbas is general coordinator of the Center for Trade Union and Workers Services (CTUWS) and Eita heads the Real Estate Tax Authority Workers (RETA), the first independent trade union in Egypt in more than 50 years. The Egyptian government has not formally recognized RETA, but has ignored its application for recognition.

The Egyptian government tried to silence the CTUWS, closing down two of its regional offices and its headquarters in 2007. Bowing to an Egyptian court decision and international criticism, the government allowed CTUWS to reopen in July 2008.

http://blog.aflcio.org/2011/01/31/afl-cio-global-unions-applaud-new-egyptian-labor-movement/

[Catherina]

1. Workers everywhere! Rec'd You know who really lost out Egypt

The leftist Tajjamu`

This leftist senile group should be relegated to history. It has squandered historic opportunities. It decided to avoid the Day of Anger and now wants to jump at the opportunity and reap the benefits. They are gone: as obsolete as Stalin.

Posted by As'ad at 5:33 AM

[Better Believe It]

2. Egyptian trade union leaders speak out for free trade unions and economic justice in Egypt

Egypt’s Workers Struggle to Keep Unions Free
by James Parks, Aug 9, 2010

This week, the AFL-CIO honored the courageous men and women of the Egyptian workers’ movement with the prestigious George Meany-Lane Kirkland Human Rights Award, the first time the U.S. union movement has honored a workers’ organization from the Middle East.

The award was accepted by Kamal Abbas, general coordinator of the Center for Trade Union and Worker Services (CTUWS) and Kamal Abu Eita, president of the Independent General Union of Real Estate Tax Authority Workers (IGURETA), the first independent trade union in Egypt in more than 50 years.


AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Arlene Holt Baker congratulates Kamal Abbas, left, and Kamal Abu Eita. The two accepted the Meany-Kirkland Award on behalf of Egypt’s trade union movement.

http://blog.aflcio.org/2010/08/09/egypts-workers-struggle-to-keep-unions-free/




Remarks by Kamal Abu 'Eita, Independent General Union of Real Estate Tax Authority Workers (IGURETA)

Ladies and Gentlemen, Brothers and Sisters:

I came from Egypt, part of the Pan-Arab world, Egypt that had the first ever recorded strike in history, by the builders of the pyramids more than five thousand years ago. Given that human history is nothing but a continuing series of circles of communication -- our celebration of International Workers Day on the first of May is the anniversary of a famous strike in Chicago.

With the increasing labor strikes in Egypt, a quantum leap has taken place in terms of the independent workers’ movement! It has become more than just the economic and social demands to the democratic struggle in the hands of the workers themselves away from any tutelage of the political party or group or government at home or abroad. Built by brave workers in property taxes division, the first independent union in Egypt from the womb of a successful general strike led to increase in our income to more than 400%. Members of this union are now 40,000 strong thousand out of 47,000 total work force in this sector. It is the highest trade union representation in Egypt and may be even in the world.

This was achieved despite of a fierce war waged by the government to use union-busting tools supported by all non-union factions but the will of independence became a fortress, a fortress that stands in the face of attempts of demolition and containment.

Allow me to convey to you the greetings of all of my colleagues, who are so happy that they have been awarded your Award, as an expression of the struggles of our working people in Egypt and in the Arab world. Be confident that this Award --- is a moral support is of such a high level that will continue to help and support us. The recognition by the Public Services International (Global Union Federation – PSI) of our new trade union and the acceptance of our application of affiliation is another sign of support. In addition, our invitation to the Annual Conference of the International Labour Organization, and our presence was based on deliberations and consensus by our executive board further confirms our legitimacy.

Brothers and sisters. Now, our hands and arms are extended and ready to embrace any noble humanitarian effort that is intended to build a more humane globalization that sets the values of justice and equality as the building blocks, and returns the value to our work. To strive together for decent wages and to build independent trade unions so we can stand together against the savage globalization highly armed, equipped and backed by the multinational companies.

To unite all workers so that workers do not pay the bill for the financial crisis and to ensure that those who created it – PAY! For cleaning it up!

Long live our common struggle for fair and just industrial relations!

Long live the struggle of workers in Egypt, Palestine, Iraq, Lebanon and all the workers in the world -- in order to establish and solidly affirm the values of justice and equality.


Remarks by Kamal 'Abbas, Center for Trade Union and Workers Services (CTUWS)

Ladies and Gentlemen: Dear Brothers and Sisters:

Let me first extend my thanks to the AFL-CIO and express on behalf of CTUWS our deep appreciation for this award and bestowing this prize upon us and for this wonderful message of solidarity to the Egyptian workers movement.

Secondly, please allow me to deliver the message from the Egyptian workers, although I have not been appointed as their official representative. However, I ask you to recognize their message, as they are- in Egypt- sending it clearly and strongly. There they are- now- approaching the future, beating on its doors with their strong hands, raising flags of freedom and chanting songs of hope.

The Egyptian workers movement, which emerged prior to the twentieth century, strived from the beginning to promote the agreed upon gallant values of labour solidarity, and learned how to sustain its independence and develop its democratic unions. This movement that has stood by its historical lessons and concepts despite the years of coercion and obstruction, and has broken the chains, released its feet and started moving along the banks of the Nile.

With every new day - for more than forty-five months- Egyptian workers have delivered a new message; “we are not gears in a machine spoiled by misuse”…. “we are not cheap goods supplied to attract investments, we are not goods accumulated in markets, so their prices are devalued and their esteem debased” … “we are human beings, entitled to a decent living… entitled to freedom, justice and equality. “

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

The Center for Trade Union and Workers Services - my organization- was born from the womb of the Egyptian labour movement as a reflection of a growing democratic trend which adopted the call for Egyptian workers’ right to freedom of association. This trend took the initiative to develop the necessary tools for the movement outside the official trade union organization whose apparent separation from the body of workers was leaving a considerable vacuum and the needs of workers left unfulfilled grew.

Thus, a number of worker activists and leaders of the movements took the initiative-in March 1990- to establish the CTUWS where the workers could find support both individually and collectively. In the following years, this nascent organization developed and expanded to fill the gap produced by the failure of the official trade union federation to become a forum for a democratic workers movement whose primary role is to empower the independent activities of the movement and assist the development of its discourse, concepts and direction. From day to day, the CTUWS came to represent an alternative voice for Egyptian workers and their movement.

Throughout these years, the CTUWS faced a multitude of immense challenges, obstacles and risks which it had to pay as the price for “swimming against the current”. However, despite these challenges it was able to fulfill much of the requirements of the labour movement. It developed its experiences and capacities. Its activities extended from Cairo to the governorates of the Delta in the north and the governorates of Upper Egypt in the south. Its diversified services included training, legal support, and lobbying campaigns; and it gained considerable credibility at both the national and international levels.

The biggest challenge that CTUWS faced came during the early months of 2007, when CTUWS was subject to a series of unprecedented governmental assaults and oppressive measures. All of its offices, located in Helwan, Al Mahalla, Naji Hamady and Tenth of Ramadan City were closed by force. Nevertheless, the CTUWS activists continued throughout this period to work to uphold their rights and demand them with full confidence. They organized large scale campaigns on the national and international levels, using all the tools available to them: such as legal defense, lobbying, protest demonstrations and delegations to influential organizations.
Finally-after 14 months- their campaign was successful and the CTUWS regained its long sought rights; all of its offices were reopened, and it resumed its activities.

Dear Brothers and Sisters:
While I am honored to accept your prize today in the capacity of a representative of CTUWS, I promise that the Egyptian workers, who are inspired by this act of international labour solidarity, will be told about your message of solidarity.

I declare, in the name of CTUWS and its fighter activists, to face the challenges and continue the work for the right of the Egyptian workers to freely organize independent unions.

http://www.solidaritycenter.org/content.asp?contentid=1094

[Better Believe It]

3. Kick

[Better Believe It]

5. Kick

[Scruffy1]

4. Thx for the post K&R

[Omaha Steve]

6. I didn't see this until just now

K&R!