Lights that were switched off some time ago are turned on anew and life revives again in CTUWS’ premises which were locked for a long time. The Center for Trade Union and Workers Services “CTUWS” announces the conclusion of a bitter chapter in its eventful volume, and writes the last glorious line with victory and hope. The CTUWS presents bouquets of roses for all who supported it in its dark cloudy days and acknowledges with appreciation their solidarity.
Throughout the past fifteen months the CTUWS suffered various kinds of unacceptable and unjustifiable distress and hardships. Nevertheless, the CTUWS did not change its position and did not accept trade offs for its values and principles. The CTUWS did not change its ideas, priorities or discourse. In all its stances, the CTUWS emphasized the following:
•Our country is in dire need of real democratic reforms which, in principle, allow for a civil society independent from the state and give a sufficient space for diversified initiatives and efforts.
•The concept of democracy, as it is globally conceived nowadays, is not limited only to the representative institutions (such as parliaments) or the right to elections. The concept has become deeper and richer with the civil society organizations, non governmental organizations, social movements and all other sorts of organization where people participate and express their interests in a direct manner.
•Our society aspires for actual stability which enables it to attain growth and development. There is no alternative for social dialogue and societal bargaining concerning the interests of the different categories. Though this dialogue people can participate in policy making or at least can play an effective role to amend them. These necessities can only be realized not only by negotiations but also through different forms of lobbying and pressure led by the civil society organizations.
•Activating social dialogue and societal negotiations may be the only salvation from disturbances, violence and extremist attitudes or in other words the imbalance of the Egyptian society in the absence of the necessary mechanisms for dialogue and negotiations between the different categories of the society. … the mechanisms of organization, lobbying and negotiations which are best exercised by the civil society organizations and which are necessary for participation in policy making.
•The successive protests witnessed by the Egyptian society during the last twenty months, especially between the workers, are but the expression of actual crises and serious demands. The only motive for them is the difficult living conditions of a vast portion of the population especially the salaried workers. The first step to confront these crises is to admit that they exist instead of seeking a motivator or a justification for them. Workers in Egypt, similar to the workers anywhere in the world, do not need someone to incite them to go in strikes. Strike is still the mechanism that imposes itself when negotiations are impossible. It is the other face of the negotiation table. It could be a means to negotiations, to magnify their benefits or to activate or resume them when they are stopped.
•The objective reading of the events at the workers arena refer to the big problem of the workers. They lack the trade union organizations which represent them, adopt their demands and negotiate for them. … they lack the mechanisms which is necessary for collective bargaining. Thus, negotiations are made impossible. Strike becomes the only possible means to call for the workers rights.
•Some parties insist to monopolize the right of expression and confiscate the rights of the others. This approach is no longer valid in shade of the current situation of our society and of the whole world around us. The Egyptian Trade Union Federation (ETUF) insists to uphold the law which deprives the Egyptian workers the right to establish autonomous trade unions outside ETUF and relies on the authority of the state as the sole source for its legality. But this is no longer feasible.
•It is high time to get rid of this totalitarian ideology which declines dialogue unless it is a one-side monologue. The domination by the state of all the aspects of the society blocks the way for social dialogue and societal bargaining which are necessary for social balance and development.
The CTUWS had organized its campaign using all the available tools and means: legal defence, lobbying, protest demonstrations and delegations to the executive bodies. The CTUWS managed to win more friends and allies and to broaden the circle of its supporters inland and abroad depending on its strengths as follows:
•The CTUWS is a big organization which is acting since 18 years ago.
•The CTUWS enjoys a high degree of credibility everywhere and particularly amongst the international labour and trade union organizations.
•It is the winner of the French Award for Human Rights in 1999 as well as several other awards.
•Working on the ground amongst the workers and other categories of the population broadened its circle of supporters and provided it with a large corona of activists who uphold their identity as affiliates of the CTUWS.
These strengths enabled the CTUWS to remain and continue in spite of the hardships which it has confronted:
•The CTUWS was and will remain the genuine expression of the democratic current of the labour movement. In this sense its roots are far deeper than places and premises.
•Closure of places and premises cannot terminate the ideas or prevent their development and movement. On the contrary, it may be a propeller to push it forward.
•CTUWS’ activists and supporters remained steadfast with it.
•The vitality and mobility of the Egyptian society will revive the new powers and make them stronger.
•CTUWS ideas and concepts during the past years enjoy legitimacy and credibility and are worthy of respect.
The CTUWS suffered all sorts of arbitrary measures during the last year: its premises were closed, its activities were stopped and even its general coordinator was sentenced for one year imprisonment in a publication lawsuit. He was to be bailed by one thousand Egyptian Pounds to cease the enforcement of the court sentence. The court of appeal annulled the sentence in its decision issued on 27th February.
Nevertheless, the CTUWS remained all the time upholding its rights and calling with full confidence to dialogue. It reiterated its discourse to all the rational and democratic powers of the society.
At last, the Administrative Court issued on 30th March 2008 its judgment in CTUWS claim No. 38381/61 to annul the decision that was issued to close its premises.
The CTUWS called for the immediate enforcement of the court sentence so as to be registered and to open all of its premises and practice its activities without conditions. The CTUWS called for the solidarity of all the democratic powers, civil society organizations and institutions and political parties. It emphasized that a society which lacks justice cannot enjoy stability nor advocate for loyalty and participation in development.
At last, CTUWS’ campaign succeeded, thanks to the efforts of its members and its supporters. The government responded to the court sentence and welcomed its enforcement. This was apparent in the ceremony which CTUWS organized for this occasion and it was attended by the Minister of Social Solidarity and the Minister of Manpower. While the CTUWS welcomes the positive step of the government, it hopes that will be a good and non-exceptional indicator towards a better approach and a more open and more democratic relationship with the civil society and NGOs particularly the Rights organizations. In conclusion of its campaign, the CTUWS is keen to emphasize the following points and remarks:
•The CTUWS, similar to other NGOs, was always calling for dialogue and societal negotiations. It has always criticized the government and the executive bodies because they turn their backs to dialogue.
•Dialogue and negotiations assume, by nature, that their parties are equal and that they have the necessary tools for pressure and negotiations especially the right of the will and the right to choose and the actual power to act without legal or administrative constrains.
•The rational approach of the government represented by the Ministry of Social Solidarity and the Ministry of Manpower is in fact – even though it is unusual – is in fact a right for the CTUWS which is overdue and a response to a judiciary sentence which is enforceable.
•While the CTUWS is regaining its rights for which it has called for a long time, it announces that it returns to its premises and exercises its activities upholding its principles, ideas and priorities. This is the right of its activists, friends and its loyal public. It is the right of the Egyptian workers to find support and solidarity for the calls for their democratic rights particularly the right to have their own independent and active trade union organizations.
While the CTUWS is regaining its long sought rights, it welcomes the last approach of the government towards its fair cause. It also welcomes with appreciation the tangible efforts exerted by the National Council for Human Rights and all the human rights organizations, the civil society organizations and the defenders of democracy and the right of expression in Egypt and abroad and in particular the international labour and trade union movements for their support to the CTUWS during its last crisis.
Friday, 25th July 2008.
Throughout the past fifteen months the CTUWS suffered various kinds of unacceptable and unjustifiable distress and hardships. Nevertheless, the CTUWS did not change its position and did not accept trade offs for its values and principles. The CTUWS did not change its ideas, priorities or discourse. In all its stances, the CTUWS emphasized the following:
•Our country is in dire need of real democratic reforms which, in principle, allow for a civil society independent from the state and give a sufficient space for diversified initiatives and efforts.
•The concept of democracy, as it is globally conceived nowadays, is not limited only to the representative institutions (such as parliaments) or the right to elections. The concept has become deeper and richer with the civil society organizations, non governmental organizations, social movements and all other sorts of organization where people participate and express their interests in a direct manner.
•Our society aspires for actual stability which enables it to attain growth and development. There is no alternative for social dialogue and societal bargaining concerning the interests of the different categories. Though this dialogue people can participate in policy making or at least can play an effective role to amend them. These necessities can only be realized not only by negotiations but also through different forms of lobbying and pressure led by the civil society organizations.
•Activating social dialogue and societal negotiations may be the only salvation from disturbances, violence and extremist attitudes or in other words the imbalance of the Egyptian society in the absence of the necessary mechanisms for dialogue and negotiations between the different categories of the society. … the mechanisms of organization, lobbying and negotiations which are best exercised by the civil society organizations and which are necessary for participation in policy making.
•The successive protests witnessed by the Egyptian society during the last twenty months, especially between the workers, are but the expression of actual crises and serious demands. The only motive for them is the difficult living conditions of a vast portion of the population especially the salaried workers. The first step to confront these crises is to admit that they exist instead of seeking a motivator or a justification for them. Workers in Egypt, similar to the workers anywhere in the world, do not need someone to incite them to go in strikes. Strike is still the mechanism that imposes itself when negotiations are impossible. It is the other face of the negotiation table. It could be a means to negotiations, to magnify their benefits or to activate or resume them when they are stopped.
•The objective reading of the events at the workers arena refer to the big problem of the workers. They lack the trade union organizations which represent them, adopt their demands and negotiate for them. … they lack the mechanisms which is necessary for collective bargaining. Thus, negotiations are made impossible. Strike becomes the only possible means to call for the workers rights.
•Some parties insist to monopolize the right of expression and confiscate the rights of the others. This approach is no longer valid in shade of the current situation of our society and of the whole world around us. The Egyptian Trade Union Federation (ETUF) insists to uphold the law which deprives the Egyptian workers the right to establish autonomous trade unions outside ETUF and relies on the authority of the state as the sole source for its legality. But this is no longer feasible.
•It is high time to get rid of this totalitarian ideology which declines dialogue unless it is a one-side monologue. The domination by the state of all the aspects of the society blocks the way for social dialogue and societal bargaining which are necessary for social balance and development.
The CTUWS had organized its campaign using all the available tools and means: legal defence, lobbying, protest demonstrations and delegations to the executive bodies. The CTUWS managed to win more friends and allies and to broaden the circle of its supporters inland and abroad depending on its strengths as follows:
•The CTUWS is a big organization which is acting since 18 years ago.
•The CTUWS enjoys a high degree of credibility everywhere and particularly amongst the international labour and trade union organizations.
•It is the winner of the French Award for Human Rights in 1999 as well as several other awards.
•Working on the ground amongst the workers and other categories of the population broadened its circle of supporters and provided it with a large corona of activists who uphold their identity as affiliates of the CTUWS.
These strengths enabled the CTUWS to remain and continue in spite of the hardships which it has confronted:
•The CTUWS was and will remain the genuine expression of the democratic current of the labour movement. In this sense its roots are far deeper than places and premises.
•Closure of places and premises cannot terminate the ideas or prevent their development and movement. On the contrary, it may be a propeller to push it forward.
•CTUWS’ activists and supporters remained steadfast with it.
•The vitality and mobility of the Egyptian society will revive the new powers and make them stronger.
•CTUWS ideas and concepts during the past years enjoy legitimacy and credibility and are worthy of respect.
The CTUWS suffered all sorts of arbitrary measures during the last year: its premises were closed, its activities were stopped and even its general coordinator was sentenced for one year imprisonment in a publication lawsuit. He was to be bailed by one thousand Egyptian Pounds to cease the enforcement of the court sentence. The court of appeal annulled the sentence in its decision issued on 27th February.
Nevertheless, the CTUWS remained all the time upholding its rights and calling with full confidence to dialogue. It reiterated its discourse to all the rational and democratic powers of the society.
At last, the Administrative Court issued on 30th March 2008 its judgment in CTUWS claim No. 38381/61 to annul the decision that was issued to close its premises.
The CTUWS called for the immediate enforcement of the court sentence so as to be registered and to open all of its premises and practice its activities without conditions. The CTUWS called for the solidarity of all the democratic powers, civil society organizations and institutions and political parties. It emphasized that a society which lacks justice cannot enjoy stability nor advocate for loyalty and participation in development.
At last, CTUWS’ campaign succeeded, thanks to the efforts of its members and its supporters. The government responded to the court sentence and welcomed its enforcement. This was apparent in the ceremony which CTUWS organized for this occasion and it was attended by the Minister of Social Solidarity and the Minister of Manpower. While the CTUWS welcomes the positive step of the government, it hopes that will be a good and non-exceptional indicator towards a better approach and a more open and more democratic relationship with the civil society and NGOs particularly the Rights organizations. In conclusion of its campaign, the CTUWS is keen to emphasize the following points and remarks:
•The CTUWS, similar to other NGOs, was always calling for dialogue and societal negotiations. It has always criticized the government and the executive bodies because they turn their backs to dialogue.
•Dialogue and negotiations assume, by nature, that their parties are equal and that they have the necessary tools for pressure and negotiations especially the right of the will and the right to choose and the actual power to act without legal or administrative constrains.
•The rational approach of the government represented by the Ministry of Social Solidarity and the Ministry of Manpower is in fact – even though it is unusual – is in fact a right for the CTUWS which is overdue and a response to a judiciary sentence which is enforceable.
•While the CTUWS is regaining its rights for which it has called for a long time, it announces that it returns to its premises and exercises its activities upholding its principles, ideas and priorities. This is the right of its activists, friends and its loyal public. It is the right of the Egyptian workers to find support and solidarity for the calls for their democratic rights particularly the right to have their own independent and active trade union organizations.
While the CTUWS is regaining its long sought rights, it welcomes the last approach of the government towards its fair cause. It also welcomes with appreciation the tangible efforts exerted by the National Council for Human Rights and all the human rights organizations, the civil society organizations and the defenders of democracy and the right of expression in Egypt and abroad and in particular the international labour and trade union movements for their support to the CTUWS during its last crisis.
Friday, 25th July 2008.
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