| Revolution – Freedom – Social Justice Demands of the workers in the revolution O heroes of the 25 January revolution! We, workers and trade unionists from different workplaces which have seen strikes, occupations and demonstrations by hundreds of thousands of workers across Egypt during the current period, feel it is right to unite the demands of striking workers that they may become an integral part of the goals of our revolution, which the people of Egypt made, and for which the martyrs shed their blood. We present to you a workers’ program which brings together our just demands, in order to reaffirm the social aspect of this revolution and to prevent the revolution being taken away from at its base who should be its beneficiaries. The workers’ demands which we raised before the 25 January revolution and were part of the prelude to this glorious revolution are: 1. Raising the national minimum wage and pension, and a narrowing of the gap between minimum and maximum wages so that the maximum is no more than 15 times the minimum in order to achieve the principle of social justice which the revolution gave birth to; payment of unemployment benefit, and a regular increment which will increase with rising prices. 2. The freedom to organize independent trade unions without conditions or restrictions, and the protection of trade unions and their leaders. 3. The right of manual workers and clerical workers, peasant farmers and professionals, to job security and protection from dismissal. Temporary workers must be made permanent, and dismissed workers to be returned to their jobs. We must do away with all excuses for employing workers on temporary contracts. 4. Renationalization of all privatized enterprises and a complete stop to the infamous privatization program which wrecked our national economy under the defunct regime 5. * Complete removal of corrupt managers who were imposed on companies in order to run them down and sell them off. * Curbing the employment of consultants who are past the age of retirement and who eat up 3 billion of the national income, in order to open up employment opportunities for the young. * Return to the enforcement of price controls on goods and services in order to keep prices down and not to burden the poor. 6. The right of Egyptian workers to strike, organize sit-ins, and demonstrate peacefully, including those striking now against the remnants of the failed regime, those who were imposed on their companies in order to run them down prior to a sell-off. It is our opinion that if this revolution does not lead to the fair distribution of wealth it is not worth anything. Freedoms are not complete without social freedoms. The right to vote is naturally dependent on the right to a loaf of bread. 7. Health care is a necessary condition for increasing production 8. Dissolution of the Egyptian Trade Union Federation which was one of the most important symbols of corruption under the defunct regime. Execution of the legal judgments issued against it and seizure of its financial assets and documents. Seizure of the assets of the leaders of the ETUF and its member unions and their investigation. Signed: Employee of the Meteorological Office, Ahmad Kamal Salah Health Technicians Union, Hossam Muhammad Abdallah Ali Nurse, Sayyida Al-Sayyid Muhammad Fayiz Al-Fayyum Sugar Refinery, Ashraf Abd al-Wanis Omar Effendi Department Store, Abd-al-Qadir Mansur Future Pipes Co, 6th October City, Hafiz Nagib Muhammad Egypt – Helwan Textiles Co., Muhammad Hassan Tora Cement, Mahmud Abd-al-Munsaf Al-Alwani Egyptian Commercial Pharmaceutical Co., Ali Mahmud Nagi Hawamidiyya Sugar Refinery, Omar Muhammad Abd-al-Aziz Egyptian Pharmaceuticals, Muhammad Galal Suez Fertilisers Co., Shazli Sawi Shazli Military Factory No.45, Muhammad Ibrahim Hassan Military Factory No. 999, Wasif Musa Wahba General Transport Authority, Gamil Fathi Hifni Cairo General Contractors, Adil Abd-al-Na’im Al-Qanah Rope Co., Port Sa’id, Ali Hassan Abu Aita Information Centre, Hind Abd-al-Gawad Ibrahim Information Centre, Hamada Abu-Zaid Information Centre, Muhammad Khairy Zaid General Authority for Cultural Centres, Hatim Salah Sayyid National Postal Authority, Muhammad Abd-al-Hakim International Ibex Co., Ahmad Islam Military Factory 99, Tariq Sayyid Mahmud Military Factory 999, Nabil Mahmud Trade unionist, Mahmud Shukri Military Factory 999, Ahmad Faruq Military Factory 999, Osama Al-Sayyid Future Pipe Industries, Yasir Al-Sayyid Ibrahim Tannery workers, Mahmud Ali Ahmad Future Pipe Industries, Abd-al-Rasul Abd-al-Ghani Omar Effendi Department Store, Ali Al-Sayyid Property Tax Collectors (RETAU), Kamal Abu Aita Property Tax Collectors (RETAU), Ahmad Abd-al-Sabur Property Tax Collectors (RETAU), Salah Abd-al-Hamid Property Tax Collectors (RETAU), Mahmud Umar Worker, Khalid Galal Muhammad Petrotrade Co., Muhammad Zaki Isma’il Suez Canal Co., Saud Omar Suez Fertilizers Co., Kamal el-Banna |