Oppressed Egyptian Textile Workers Oppressed More and FIGHT BACK!

Without union support, albeit unnecessary anyway, textile workers in Egypt are fighting back against Mubarak’s government with strikes and rallies.  This particular textile factory is the largest in the Middle East and employs more than 20,000 workers who are now demanding wage increases.  The minimum wage in Egypt has been stagnant at 3.26 Egyptian pounds per month since 1984 therefore the workers are now demanding that it be increased to 112 Egyptian pounds per month.  Mubarak’s reforms which include increasing privatization and the lowering of taxes on business has contributed to economic growth, however inflation is currently at approximately 15%.  Rapidly increasing food prices combined with stagnant wages forces these workers to demand higher pay. 

A strike last month ended with some government concessions on wages but continue to be grossly insufficient in meeting their demands so now workers are again dissenting and expressing their rage.  Sadly, the repression of their dissent has been deadly with a 15-year old boy receiving two bullets to the head and another man succumbing to injuries inflicted at the protests.  About one hundred other protestors have been injured by the brutality of the police and hundreds of others arrested and put in jail.  There have been increasing numbers of strikes in the past few years which have included tax collectors, doctors and teachers as well as many others.  Originally the textile workers fought against the owners but now the anger is directed at Mubarak’s government which is a key ally of the United States.  Furthermore the striking workers are not alone, that is, thousands of others have taken to the streets in support of the workers despite the repeated threats made by the authorities.

"We are tired of promises that only hypnotize workers," said Mahmoud Abdel Whab, who last month protested in front of the Mahalla mill. "I make 300 pounds [about $54] a month and have worked here for nine years. I can only buy food. I can't buy shirts. Next year my oldest daughter will start school. How can I afford those costs?"  The workers have expressed that they want social justice for all workers.

The unrest in Mahallah results from intensifying frustration on the part of workers who are trying to earn a living yet not even being able to feed their families.  Currently 40% of Egyptian families are living below the poverty line of 2 dollars per day.  World food prices have increased considerably over the past year, doubling in Egypt particularly, and so are taking a heavy toil on the working class.  Government-subsidized bread, upon which the poor rely, is also not without its clamoring – fights and bribes abound to access this staple.  Now very recently, in reaction to the strike the government has lowered some of the prices in an effort to create the appearances of a better situation and to appease the rest of the population into not provided support and solidarity to the thousands who are striking and protesting across the country.

Additionally it is important to note that the incredible cheapening of labour for textile workers in other countries such as China and India has led to increased competition among textile companies.  This competition therefore forces a burden on these workers who are earning a tiny bit more than the workers in other countries.  It is absolutely imperative that workers around the world now understand that the cheapening of one worker’s labour power has a direct effect on workers in other countries. 

Fighting for basic subsistence is a current now alive among workers – never mind the ability to have a quality of life, an enjoyment of our existence, rather the attempts to earn wages just to purchase bread for our children, breaking our backs to enrich the few.  This is how the capitalist system works and what it is truly meant to accomplish – the buying of labour as cheaply as possible in order that capital is generated for the ruling classes.  When people are starving we fight and Egypt is a prime example of this catastrophe.  Only with a united front internationally can workers use their power to disarm the capitalists and force change.  Change and emancipation are absolutely necessary for a world where deprivation and oppression are no longer.