Center for Trade unions & Workers Services (CTUWS), September, 2nd, 2013..

We and many have started to feel optimistic with the names in the 50-member committee to write the Egyptian constitution. As announced yesterday in the presidential decree No. 570/2013, the committee includes good names indicating that Egypt would have a civil and democratic state constitution. Nevertheless, in relation to the labor rights, particularity the right to strike, the selection of labor representatives indicates that the committee would adopt the same trend of the 10 member committee that neglected labors rights.  It is worth noting that none of the referred to representatives have been ever a defender of labors or have been truly selected by them.

The committee includes two labors representatives who are: Gebally Al Maraghy, President of the Egyptian Trade Union Federation (ETUF), and Ahmed Khairy, the President of the so called National Federation for Egypt Workers. The committee has intentionally excluded representatives of the independent unions movement that triggered January 25th revolution and successfully managed to have more that 1800 independent unions in addition to two main independent federations.

The selection of Gebally Al Maraghy, President of the Egyptian Trade Union Federation (ETUF) confirms the intensions to reestablish Mubaraks institutions with the same faces.  Mr. Gebally Al Maraghy was the President of the Road Transportation General Union during Mubaraks era. He is a board member at Mubaraks ETUF, a federation that antagonized January 25th revolution and even participated under the supervision of Mr. Al Maraghy himself in the demonstrations that attacked Tahri rebels and well know for The Camel Battle. He is also one of those who tried to cooperate with the MB régime, and never tried to stand against MB attempts to control the ETUF.

As for the second representative, Mr. Ahmed Khairy, he is the President of the National Federation for Egypt Workers. We are advising those who have selected him to review the federation papers submitted to the Ministry of Manpower, they will then make sure that members of the so called federation do not exceed tens of labors, knowing that he usually refers to himself as a delegate of the Arab League, which has nothing to do with labors.  

The CTUWS declares its refusal to labors representatives in the 50-members committee. We confirm that the independent trade unions movement which has been one of the most important fruits of the January 25th revolution would not set back and would not allow for the predominance of the ruling regime over the Egyptian labor movement. We are calling all independent unions and federations to move and use all possible and legitimate mechanisms to defend the rights they have attained throughout their struggle during Mubaraks regime.

The CTUWS confirms that choosing those who are against unions freedoms to represent labors in the constitution committee is a setback that blocks achievements labor have attained by establishing their independent and democratic free unions. Egyptian labors who have managed to get rid of two regimes I less than three years, would be able fall any system against their rights in respect to the souls of those who died to defend the freedom of our country and called for social justice and human dignity.