Disregards Army warnings:
Egypt strikes continue
Egypt: Egyptian workers continue their nationwide walkouts in
defiance of an order by the country’s Supreme Council of the Armed
Forces to end the pro-democracy protests. Employees of the Misr Spinning
and Weaving textile factory, which account for the country’s largest
worker population with 24,000 people, resumed their strike over low
salaries and poor working conditions, a Press TV correspondent reported.
The workers have also pressed for the resignation of two top managers
of the factory over alleged corruption and ignoring their demands.
The strikes continue a day after the army ordered the laborers to go
back to work and warned that the economic consequence of the walkouts
would be disastrous.
Egyptian unions have promised to begin “dialogue” with workers “to
understand their demands” and asked them to put an end to the strikes.
Workers, however, argue that most unions in Egypt are linked with
former President Hosni Mubarak and cannot be relied on for fulfilling
their demands.
On Tuesday, thousands of protesters gathered outside the headquarters
of the state-controlled Egyptian Trade Union Federation in central
Cairo, demanding the immediate resignation of Hussein Megawer, who heads
the federation, and fellow board members.
Since the initial victory of the Egyptian popular revolution last
week, pro-democracy protesters have been demanding that the military
hand over power to a civilian government as soon as possible, vowing
rallies will continue until they see reforms. Activists have demanded
the release of political prisoners, the lifting of a 30-year state of
emergency and the disbandment of military court.
Egypt’s Health Ministry said Wednesday that around 365 people were
killed during weeks-long protest rallies across crisis-hit Egypt that
led to the ouster of Mubarak.
Thursday, Press Tv |