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Al-Ahram Weekly 13 - 19 May 1999 Issue No. 429 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 13 - 19 May 1999 Issue No. 429
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Profile Books Travel Sports People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Diversity in the face of adversity
by Fatemah FaragThe Alexandria Cigarette Rollers Union was the first in Egyptian history. A little over one hundred years later, labour activists met on 7 May at a one-day workshop organised by the Centre for Human Rights and Legal Aid (CHRLA) to discuss the present crisis of the trade union structure and alternatives for the future.
"A labour union should be a democratic organisation based on voluntary membership, independent of the government and political parties or religious affiliations," asserted veteran trade unionist Attia El-Sirafi. The formula may seem simple enough, but the twists and turns of history have left the politics of labour in Egypt much more clouded.
The first half of the century witnessed a growing labour movement that ultimately organised its own unions. After the 1952 Revolution led by Gamal Abdel-Nasser, and within the framework of a populist regime that co-opted the independent movement of various interest groups in the name of national unity, the trade union structure was unified and corporatised -- effectively becoming an arm of the state. The result was that on the one hand workers were given legal rights and benefits (a formula described as the 'social contract'), while on the other hand the workers were deprived of the right to independent organisation.
At the time, many defended the integration of the trade union movement into the state, claiming that national unity was more important than the 'limited' interests of labour and that the new structure served to unify the working class.
Today, many trade union activists argue that the old formula no longer works. They point to the ongoing structural adjustment of the economy and the growth of the private sector occurring at the same time the General Federation of Trade Unions (GFTU) is ossifying as evidence that it is time to bring about changes.
To push the discussion forward and beyond ideological ruts, last Friday's workshop began with the presentation of problems faced by trade union committee members from Minya to Cairo.
"From where I come from the basic human rights of workers are no longer being satisfied by the trade union," explained Mohamed Abdu of the General Union of Land Transport who came to Cairo from the Upper Egyptian town of Malawi. "It is a sad thing to see, especially as it was my father who established the union committee in our town." Abdu recounted that although he endured severe pressure, including harassment by state security police, before he was finally elected to the union, he was to find out that within the union structure itself there was much resistance to his efforts for change.
"Unfortunately the government labour office does not have the ability to interfere with problems within the trade union structure. For example, I presented documentation that proved that the formation of my committee was illegal because two members are not in Egypt and one has been sentenced by a court. Yet, they could do nothing about it. Then I got documentation in 1996 that proved grave financial irregularities and gave it to the General Federation. No action has been taken," he grumbled. "Is it possible that you have a union that would spend LE7,000 on New Year's gifts and LE15,000 on telephone calls but refuses to pay for a worker's blood transfusion?"
Adel Awad of the Greater Cairo Bus Drivers Union's Committee also attested to the unresponsive nature of the present trade union structure. "I have to be a member of the National Democratic Party (NDP) [the ruling party]! Why? So that I can get people the things they need," he explained. "Everyone is the master of his own decision. A minister is the master of his, but the General Federation controls us, and if we try and do anything we are subject to harassment. We are treated in a way that no law, custom or religion would find acceptable," he complained.
The issue of harassment is a particularly sensitive one. Mustafa Sultan, a former employee of the Helwan Iron and Steel Factory, commented on the phenomenon, citing his own experience. "After distributing a legal magazine, Ahali El-Tibeen, which is published by the Tagammu Party, I was brought before a disciplinary committee, and threatened that if I did not accept transfer to another company and immediately file for early retirement, I would be thrown out of my apartment which is owned by my company. What could I do? I had 24 hours to give my answer, and I have four sons."
According to participants, management -- in both the public and private sectors -- used a variety of tactics to circumvent workers' rights. Salah El-Deeb, from the Plastics Company of Alexandria, cited his company's case as an example. "After the company was sold on paper, the General Federation told us we no longer existed as a union committee. Well, fine, but what about the workers who still had unresolved issues on the table? How do you make them disappear?"
Even press workers had complaints. "We tried to establish a union committee at our paper Al-Arabi [a bi-weekly issued by the Nasserite Party], and we collected 50 signatures," recalled Essam Abdel-Hamid, a reporter on the paper. "The General Federation never got back to us, and then Sayed Rashed [head of the General Federation] told me that we needed 250 signatures to get a committee. What small establishment can have that many people? Are they to remain without union protection?" he asked.
Throughout the presentations, participants would make comments such as: "Your experiences are no different from ours. We know exactly what you are talking about." The unanimity created a feeling of camaraderie. However, as Abdu commented, "We are laughing now, but no one can imagine how we feel inside."
There was also room for some insightful self-criticism. "We are committing a crime because we never care about elections and trade union rights except when it is nomination time," said Mustafa Abdel-Ghaffar of the Misr-Helwan Spinning and Weaving Company. "Otherwise, all we worry about is running after a medical paper or a leave-of-absence request. We have to understand the new realities. Laws like number 203 of 1981 have created trade union members who have direct interests with the state because they have become members of the boards of holding companies. We must tackle issues such as these all the time."
His comments were supported by Awad who commented heatedly, "The issue here is for us to stand together. It is not important for us to win the election. The important thing is for us to create a new reality."
However, there seemed to be no simple answer to how to bring about this 'new reality'. Questions remaining on the table included: Is it possible to reform the present union structure or should new structures be built and how? Should new legislation be proposed, and should this take the form of a new law or amendments to the last one?
A comment by El-Deeb, however, probably summarised the basic sentiment of those present. "We need a one-article law that should provide for the freedom of trade union activity and formation," he said.
