Egypt: Coalition of Independent Trade Unions and Employers respond to Al-Ahram

EGYPT- In a response to Al-Ahram newspaper article, Coalition of Independent Trade Unions and Employers stressed that Coalition was established under the International Convention ratified by Egypt, and its members of board were elected by free and fair elections.
The Coalition made it clear that following two revolutions, Egypt’s workers are eager to see Egypt as one of the most developed nations that respect human rights, including the right to organize, a matter that prompted workers to vote with “yes” for 2014 constitution, which includes establishment of trade unions and federations on a democratic basis as a right guaranteed by law, and such trade unions shall have a legal personality, operate freely, and contribute to raising level of efficiency among its members, defending their rights and protecting their interests, and the State shall guarantee independence of trade unions and federations, and their boards may not be dissolved without a court order.
The Coalition response was “The Egyptian Trade Union Federation (ETUF) established in order to defend the workers’ rights and then it turned to defend regime whatsoever, even at expense of workers. The history of ETUF has been characterized by giving up the workers, and even collaborating with managements and security services agains workers who are on strike.”