The workers of Misr Spinning and Weaving in Mahalla, Egypt have taken a courageous stand against poverty and repression. In August 2017, thousands of the company’s workers took part in a two-week strike and several protest marches, demanding the payment of bonuses and allowances which are added to their poverty-level wages. They have taken action despite threats and intimidation from the security forces, and in defiance of the Egyptian authorities who have a shameful track record of arresting and jailing trade union activists in attempts to crush a growing wave of workers’ strikes and protests in response to spiralling inflation following economic reforms demanded by the International Monetary Fund.

We declare our solidarity with the workers of Mahalla and their families. We condemn the victimisation of workers by the Misr Spinning company management, which has locked out a number of workers and reported them to the police on charges of “incitement to strike”, while delaying the payment of wages for the whole workforce. We call on the Egyptian authorities to respect Egyptian workers’ right to strike and organise and to stop arresting and jailing trade unionists. We call on the global trade union movement to mobilise in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Egypt in their struggle for justice.

Petros Constantinou, Councillor, Athens Municipality, Greece

Ian Hodson, National President, BFAWU (Bakers and Food workers’ Union) UK

Tony Phillips, Branch Secretary, UNISON London Fire Authority

Professor Joel Beinin, Stanford University, USA

Abbey Berghaus, Head Steward, United Auto Workers 2865, USA

Sasha Simic, Shop Steward, C133, USDAW (Shop and Distribution workers’ Union)

Professor Bob Brecher, University of Brighton, UK

Professor Alex Callinicos, Kings College London, UK

Linda Gomaa, Regional Organizer, Turkey, International Union League for Brand Responsibility

Michael Thomson, NSW State Secretary, National Tertiary Education Union, Australia
Mike Treen, National Director, Unite Union, New Zealand

Carolyn Egan, President, United Steelworkers Local 8300, Canada

For a full list of signatures go to www.egyptsolidarityinitiative.org/mahallasolidarity