Egypt workers form new union in country's fight for democracy

By PRSD, on Monday, January 31, 2011

Egyptian protests Photo Diary of #Egypt Revolution on 28 Jan 2011 by @SultanAlQassemi #Jan25

The Egyptian people’s pressure to force democratic change in their country looks like it could be realised with David Cameron and Barack Obama talking about an ‘orderly transition’ to a democratic government in the country.

As part of the protests representatives of the Egyptian labour movement have announced the organisation of the new Federation of Egyptian Trade Unions.

The message comes, via the TUC, from an independent trade union organisation, the CTUWS, whose website has been blocked by the Egyptian government as part of the repression of dissent in Egypt.

In 2005 the CTUWS was one of the 25 organisations which monitored Egypt’s parliamentary elections and documented a number of violations, which were covered by at least two TV stations. The organisation’s election monitors also reported problems of the voting in a referendum on amendments to the Egyptian constitution, and has since found itself on the receiving end of ‘an escalating series of threats’.

The protests in Eqypt ‘were reported to have started over police brutality, state of emergency laws, unemployment, desire to raise the minimum wage, lack of housing, food inflation, corruption, lack of freedom of speech, and poor living conditions‘.

The protests have seen the government attempt to crack down on means of communication with internet and mobile phone services disrputed.

For the press release about the formation of the new Egyptian workers’ union, pop over to the TUC.

(image: Photo Diary of #Egypt Revolution on 28 Jan 2011 by @SultanAlQassemi #Jan25 Some rights reserved by kentbye: see the image on Flickr)