Hard times in Egypt stoke labor unrest, showdown lies ahead
Source: Associated Press
Jun. 11, 2016 3:54 AM ET
MAHALLA EL-KOBRA, Egypt (AP) — Labor activist Kamal al-Fayoumi has lost none of his swagger since being fired from the sprawling Egyptian textile plant where he worked for three decades and was known as an agitator.
Striding through a gritty industrial town in the Nile Delta, he proudly points to workers' clubs, cooperative grocery stores, cinemas, a pool and a hospital — all of which have seen better days — and brushes off threats from management and the police.
"Our forefathers built this place, it's in our blood," he said, looking toward the Misr Spinning and Weaving Company, Egypt's largest factory. "We shouldn't be afraid, they should fear us!"
Hard times in Egypt have spurred an increase in labor unrest, even as President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi's government has largely succeeded in quashing political demonstrations over the past two years. Rising prices, low wages and delays in salaries and bonuses have workers vowing more strikes and protests, even at the risk of a violent crackdown.
Read more: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2016-06-11-ML--Egypt-Labor/id-2bc8896b832d428c87d41ee911ad8a0f
