Egyptian textile workers win victory

The Coordinating Committee for the Trade Union and Worker Rights & LibertiesSpinning & Weaving in El Mahalla News Release #7 on 29 September 2007Summary:• After the increase in Local, Arab and International Solidarity Actions with El Mahalla Spinning & Weaving Workers – the workers succeeded in the negotiations and received the following:• 90 days of the annual profit shares, bonus and achieving the company production implementation plan under the holding of the oversight General Committee meeting; no decrease by the General Committee than 130 days in the minimum wage; creation of a negotiations committee to work on increasing the “nature of work” bonus (i.e. hardship pay) and meal allowances at the Ministry for Investment on Sunday• The acceptance that the days the workers were on strike are considered paid holidays with full pay• Tying the basic bonus with the 7% annual increase• Promise to dissolve the Company’s General Management committee and the firing of El Gebaly, the corrupt company board chairmanAfter the General Federation of Trade Unions in South Africa sent the first Solidarity letter with El Mahalla workers three days ago; the continued messages of support and solidarity kept pouring in to the workers. Then the release of the International Confederation of Arab Trade Unions’ (ICATU’s) solidarity press release with El Mahalla workers which criticized the means by which the Egyptian government was dealing with the strike. This press release was considered a slap in the face of the Egyptian Trade Union Federation (ETUF) and the Minister of Manpower herself whereas this press release truly showed ICATU’s true place and size on the Arab trade union level (arena). In addition, the National Trade Union of Education Workers and the United Workers in South Africa also sent a solidarity statement to El Mahalla workers and they are one of the largest trade unions in South Africa with a membership of 190,000 workers. The statement included the following; “ our dear brothers … we not only support your champion worker struggle, but we lament fully conscious of the reality of political oppression and the difficulties that Egyptian workers live with — on the road to their carrying out their democratic rights to organize, to associate and to strike.”In addition, the Italian unions sent a solidarity message steadfast with El Mahalla workers where they expressed in it their support of the workers’ demands and their refusal of the oppressive/dictatorial procedures that are being conducted against the workers.In addition, the International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers’ Federation (ITGWLF) sent a letter to President Mubarak dated 27 September where they announced their support of the striking El Mahalla workers and their refusal of the steps that being taken to move some of the workers to the General Prosecutor and they announced their worry/anxiety by these steps where then Neil Kearney, the General Secretary of the International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers’ Federation (ITGWLF) stated in his letter to Mubarak, “We have noted and fully agree with the statement of the General Board of the International Confederation of Arab Trade Unions (ICATU) endorsing these demands, calling for a halt to retaliatory action against the workers including those at the forefront of the strike, condemning the uncaring stance of the company towards the plight of the workers and demanding that the Egyptian government ensure that workers rights are fully respected and that the fair, just and legal demands of the workers at the Misr Spinning and Weaving Company in El Mahalla el Kubra are met, thus contributing to the economic and social stability of Egypt”.“We believe it is vital that the government of Egypt act immediately to protect the rights of all textile workers in El Mahalla el Kubra and agree and to enforce their demands”. It is important to note that The International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers’ Federation is a global union federation bringing together 220 affiliated organisations in 110 countries with a combined membership of 10 million workers.In addition, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) sent a protest letter to President Mubarak on 28 September 2007 where they stated: “The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), which represents 168 million workers through its 305 national affiliated trade union centres in 153 countries and territories, strongly protests at the arrest and detention of five workers at the Misr Helwan Spinning and Weaving Company’s factory in Mahalla el Kubra.The ITUC fully supports the demands of the workers of El Mahalla el Kubra and the legitimate exercise of their internationally recognized rights. Egypt has ratified ILO Conventions 87 and 98 on the freedom of association, the right to organise and collective bargaining, and is bound to uphold the principles contained in them. We therefore urge your government to drop all charges against the five workers, ensure the protection of the rights of the textile workers, and take measures to guarantee that their just and legal demands are met as soon as possible.”The Coordinating Committee for the Trade Union and Worker Rights & Liberties thanks all the trade unions, International and Arab federations that have announced their solidarity with El Mahalla workers and those who have sent messages and letters of support for them and for the protests against the actions taken against the workers. The Committee sends with joy the news of the workers’ success in the negotiations whereas a delegation composed of the President of the Egyptian Trade Union Federation (ETUF), President of the General Union of Garment & Textile Workers, President of Holding Company for the Textile Industry went to El Mahalla El Kubra. They met with 20 worker representatives in the headquarters of the Municipality of the city and they began to negotiate at 11:30 pm on 28 September and the negotiations were concluded at 3:15 am in the morning of 29 September 2007 and they agreed on the following items:1- Ninety days of the annual profit shares, implementing plan and bonuses will be paid immediately (as an advance) to the workers. The rest will be determined by the General Assembly of the company, on condition that it will be no less than 130 days, and no ceiling was agreed up on. The workers had already received 20 days, so another 70 will be decreed (so from the initial 40 days offered by the management, the strikers raised it to 90 days instead.)2-The strike days will be considered paid holidays, whose costs will be incurred by the Holding Company3- Instead of giving the management the right to determine the incentives, the latter will be a function of the basic monthly salary, with an annual increase of 7% of the basic salary.4- A cooperative society is to be established, funded by the Holding Company, to provide for the transportation of workers. Labor leader Mostafa Fouda has been assigned to direct it5-No striker will be victimized for taking part in the industrial action. A committee from the strike leaders has been formed to continue negotiating with the Holding Company over increasing the allowances for food and industrial safety.6-The strike leaders were promised that Mahmoud el-Gebaly, the corrupt company board chairman will be impeached, together with his assistants7-Work is to resume on Sunday!!