The Solidarity Center supports the emergence of free and independent trade unions in Egypt.
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Women package cotton medical gauze at Ghazl al Mahalla, the largest textile and garment factory in Egypt and in Africa. |
Since 1952, Egyptian workers have been subject to an autocratic government backed by the military establishment, and little protection for basic civil liberties and human rights, including freedom of association. While approximately 25% of the formal workforce in Egypt is unionized within 23 general labor unions, the government of Egypt restricts freedom of association by not allowing any new trade unions to form outside the Egyptian Trade Union Federation (ETUF), whose leadership has very close ties to the ruling party. The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) considers this a restriction of a primary tenant of freedom of association, and has denied ETUF’s application for affiliation.
In 2006, demanding their rights as workers, intense protests surged against the authoritarianism, corruption and lack of transparency that tarnishes both the government and the Egyptian labor movement. Initiated by the textile sector and expanded to include workers in transport, food service, construction, and a wide range of private and public sectors, and this surge of collective action has recently included the white-collar professions as well.In April 2009, history was made when the Real Estate Tax Authority Union (RETA) submitted its application to the Egyptian government for recognition as Egypt’s first independent trade union. RETA was subsequently accepted as an affiliate of Public Services International (PSI).
This success represents the broader incidence of agitation for trade union independence found at the worksite committee level. Workers have begun to advocate for more involvement in the union committees at their worksites, to create more representative and effective institutions. The restriction of human freedoms in Egypt forces activists to operate on the margins. Many labor activists are elected officers of trade union committees at the shop floor level. These activists have turned to informal and formal Labor Support Organizations (LSOs) led by former trade unionists and labor lawyers for support. Since 2005, the Solidarity Center has recognized the critical role that LSOs play in Egypt, and is proud of the democratic change they are championing.
Egyptian Workers Honored with Meany-Kirkland Human Rights Award. On August 3, 2010, the AFL-CIO awarded the 2009 Meany-Kirkland Human Rights Award to the workers of Egypt. The award was received on behalf of Egyptian workers by Mr. Kamal Abbas, the Director of the Center for Trade Union and Worker Services (CTUWS) and Mr. Kamal Abu Eita, the President of the Real Estate Tax Authority Union (RETA) – the first independent union in Egypt in 50 years.
Egyptian Workers Clash with Police During Protest. On May 23, 2010, security forces attacked and arrested workers demonstrating in front of the Egyptian Parliament, forcing the workers to end their protest and a two-week-old sit-in. Police also barred journalists from filming the demonstration and interviewing the workers, even confiscating cell phones to prevent any videos or photographs of the attack. Journalists were told to leave the immediate area.
Egyptian Workers To Receive Meany-Kirkland Award. The AFL-CIO Executive Council has awarded the Egyptian union movement the 2009 George Meany-Lane Kirkland Human Rights Award. The award will be formally presented later this year. The latest Solidarity Center report, Justice for All: The Struggle for Worker Rights in Egypt, tells why Egyptian workers in the thousands are holding an unprecedented number of strikes over a wide range of worker rights abuses.
After 16 Days, Egyptian Workers End Sit-In. On February 23, 2010, the workers of the Tanta Linen, Flax and Oil Company ended their 16 day sit-in in front of the Egyptian Cabinet after an agreement with Minister of Manpower and Migration was reached. The workers were demanding the reinstatement of several workers who have been fired, an increase in their meal allowance, and payment of back wages and bonuses that they are owed.
Happy Birthday to Egypt's First Trade Union. More than 2,500 trade unionists, political and human rights activists, and government representatives gathered in a Cairo suburb to celebrate the first anniversary of the 37,000-member Real Estate Tax Authority union (RETA), Egypt’s first independent union.
Egypt’s Tax Collectors on Strike. More than 1,000 property tax collectors are staging a sit-in in downtown Cairo, demanding job reforms and a halt to what they called a crackdown on their independent union. Read blog by Hossam el-Hamalawy. Watch a video
Independent Egyptian Union Under Stress. The newly formed Real Estate Tax Authority independent union is being undermined by the government and the official union federation, says RETA Chairman Kamal Abu Eita.
History Made as Egyptian Public Workers Form First Independent Union. The 270,000-member Real Estate Tax Authority Union will become Egypt's first independent union, reports the Center for Trade Union and Workers Services, a Solidarity Center partner.
Egyptian Journalists End Hunger Strike But Continue Protest. Egyptian journalists continued their sit-in following a five-day hunger strike, protesting the Journalism Syndicate's refusal to grant them membership.
Wage-Price Differential Driving Grassroots Movement, Say Egyptian Labor Activists. The main engine behind the new independent union movement is the huge differnce between wages and prices of consumer goods and services, in addition to the ever-growing gap between rich and poor.
Court Decision Restores Egyptian Worker Rights Organization. A decision by the Egyptian Administrative Court has overturned the government's refusal to allow operation of the Center for Trade Union and Workers Services, a Solidarity Center partner.
Solidarity Center Publications
Learn More
- "Postponing the Military Court Hearing for the Eight Workers of the Military Factory #99 to Next Saturday," CTUWS press release, August 25, 2010
- "Eight Workers Stand Military Trial for Protesting Poor Safety Conditions," Daily News Egypt, August 23, 2010
- "Egypt: Critical Take on a Model Reformer," by Bob Davis, The Wall Street Journal, August 3, 2010
- "Calls for better pay in Egypt getting louder," by Yolande Knell, BBC News
- Interview with Kamal Abbas, head of the Center for Trade Union and Workers Services on AFL-CIO Now, the weblog of the AFL-CIO (April 2007)
- Letter from the ITUC to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, protesting the closure of the Center for Trade Union and Workers Services (April 2007)
- ITUC 2009 Annual Survey of Violations of Trade Union Rights in Egypt
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