Sisi on Labor Day: A Stick Without a Carrot

Statement by the Revolutionary Socialists

While President Sisi was delivering his speech during the Labor Day celebration on Sunday, the investigative authorities were simultaneously interrogating a worker from the Egyptian Telecom Company in Alexandria, accusing him of inciting protests. This scene reflects the growing hostility of the ruling capitalist power towards the working class.

The representative of ruthless capitalism did not respond to any of the critical demands of Egypt’s workers—fair wages, permanent employment, a law guaranteeing union freedom, and reopening halted companies. Instead, he made it clear without leaving any room for doubt that workers should expect even darker days ahead.

In his speech, surrounded by labor intermediaries and union representatives, Sisi told the workers that the government would continue pushing forward with what he called economic reforms. But this really means more work without rights and accepting entirely anti-worker legislation.

Sisi also warned workers to expect even more terrible inflation, stressing that the security forces are ready to deal with anyone who resists or demands even a morsel of bread to fend off hunger or permanent employment in a country groaning under the weight of unemployment. He clarified that workers should expect arrests and detentions without justification or support.

This is the formula Sisi keeps repeating: price hikes, repression, and workers left without rights. And as always, he used the threat of terrorism to call for more unity and solidarity among workers.
But the question remains: Why is solidarity and sacrifice always demanded only from the workers? Why haven’t progressive taxes been imposed? Why are capital gains still untaxed? Why are business people given free rein to fire and lay off workers while more laws are passed that strip away even more of their rights?

Despite these authoritarian laws, Egypt’s working class continues its path of resistance. Over the past eleven months, there have been 744 protests demanding better living conditions from May 2016 until the end of April 2017. Around 186 workers were arrested and prosecuted during this period, while 2,691 others were fired or suspended for protesting. The repressive measures have significantly contributed to reducing labor protests, which have decreased by 44% compared to last year (2015–2016), when there were 1,117 protests.

All forces aligned with socialism and democracy must support the workers’ struggle, for in their fight, they are fighting for democracy for society as a whole. We must continue our efforts to unite and resist the counter-revolutionary parliament that is on the verge of passing labor laws designed to strip workers of their right to organize, cement the dominance of the government-controlled unions, and grant further privileges to business people and investors at the expense of workers’ rights.

Just as the workers’ struggle was critical in toppling Mubarak, their current fight will be one of the forces that dismantle tyranny and restore democracy.