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NEWS & LETTERS, April - May 2008Egypt labor clashThousands of Egyptian workers and supporters fought riot police in the Egyptian town of Mahalla al-Kubra in early April. The clashes grew from a planned nationwide strike against rising prices and low wages. The strike was to begin with a sit-in by 30,000 workers at the Misr Spinning and Weaving Company plant in Mahalla. The plant has been a center of militant labor action in recent years, including factory occupations. Egyptian authorities tried to head off the action by arresting union leaders and telling workers that the strike had been cancelled. Meanwhile they forced production to continue at gunpoint. When a few thousand workers rallied in front of the police station demanding the release of union leaders, they were attacked. This brought more people into the streets in support of the textile workers and resulted in hundreds arrested and injured, and at least five people killed. Authorities used this as an excuse to round up opposition party politicians and bloggers. While the nationwide strike didn't take place in the end, events in Mahalla reflect a deep discontent in Egypt that will be reflected upon all over the country. --G.E. |
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