Middle East

Prison sentence for Egyptian workers' rights activist

Submitted by Ed on Oct 14 2007 17:53

Kamal Abbas, General Coordinator of the Center for Trade Unions and Workers Services (CTUWS) and his lawyer, Mohamed Helmy have been sentenced one year’s imprisonment by an Egyptian court.

Egypt: three strikes and three victories in one week

Submitted by Ed on Oct 4 2007 12:22

Egypt struggled Tuesday to stem a rising tide of industrial action as officials rushed to end the third strike in a week, the latest challenge to President Hosni Mubarak's regime.

The Militancy of Mahalla al-Kubra - Joel Beinin

"For the second time in less than a year, in the final week of September the 24,000 workers of the Misr Spinning and Weaving Company in Mahalla al-Kubra went on strike -- and won." This article by Joel Beinin gives a good overview of the Mahalla al-Kubra's Ramadan strike of September 2007.

Mahalla strikers score victory

Submitted by Ed on Sep 29 2007 16:53

Government negotiators and labor representatives resolved early on Saturday a week-old labor dispute that had paralyzed Egypt’s largest textile factory by largely agreeing to the workers’ demands, the strike committee said in a statement.

Egypt: Mahalla strike update

Submitted by Ed on Sep 26 2007 10:57

Five detained Mahalla strikers were released last night, a mass meeting of the strikers rejected compromise and security forces are beginning to step up their presence around the factory.

Launching statement of the 'Solidarity Committee with Mahalla Workers'

This is the launching statement of the Solidarity Committee with Mahalla Workers from 25th of September 2007. The signatories include a number of workers representing several factories and left-leaning organizations and political parties.

Israel: Unofficial action disrupts flights

Submitted by Marshall on Sep 6 2007 11:27

An unofficial go-slow by airline workers has grounded a number of flights in Israel over the past week.

Revolution betrayed - the Workers Revolutionary Party and Iraq

Submitted by Mike Harman on Sep 2 2007 13:01

Gerry Healy early on, sharing the stage with Ted Grant and Sid Bidwell

Two articles from Solidarity on corruption in the Workers Revolutionary Party and its links with Saddam Hussein and other Middle Eastern governments.

First day of school cancelled in Palestine due to strikes

Submitted by Ed on Sep 2 2007 06:26

Palestinian teachers protest in April 2007

Palestinian children were due to begin their first day back at school on Saturday, however in the West Bank, school was suspended due to a teachers' union strike.