Security Forces Undermine Labor Elections with the Weapon of Widespread Disqualification… Let’s Resist Security Arbitrariness and Support the Struggling Labor Leaders

Statement by the Revolutionary Socialists

In continuation of the regime’s effort to forcibly control all representative institutions, whether presidential, parliamentary, or student bodies, hundreds of candidates for the labor union board elections were shocked to find their names disqualified by security authorities from the candidate lists.

The mass disqualification, which is taking place in the labor elections being held for the first time since 2006, was preceded by various obstacles designed to prevent independent unions from regularizing their status.

Thus, the ruling authoritarian capitalist regime continues its series of silencing voices by preventing millions of wage workers from choosing their representatives. This comes just before the first round of elections, scheduled for the following Wednesday and Thursday. Anyone who was once caught defending their rights and those of their colleagues has been disqualified.

The requirement is for the Ministry of Manpower and security officials to take the forefront, as the moment has become suitable for the return of those aligned with the old regime, particularly those involved in the violent clashes during the 2011 Egyptian revolution, known as the Battle of the Camel, to dominate the Egyptian labor movement, against the backdrop of the counter-revolutions victory.

However, the working class, now fighting a new battle to defend its right to choose its representatives to protect its plundered interests, has always been capable of inventing forms of organizing its protest movements outside the official union structure when the state tightens its grip on it.

For example, following the last labor elections held in 2006, which also witnessed the disqualification of thousands of workers, there was a vast wave of protests led by labor leaders from outside the official union organization and those disqualified in the elections.

Today, all democratic forces must support the workers in their democratic and social struggle against security arbitrariness, providing all forms of support and assistance to candidates who adopt a program that reflects the hopes and aspirations of Egypt’s workers for wage increases, job security, confronting privatization, gender discrimination among workers, and combating union monopolization that has resurfaced.

Certainly, the ability of the struggling labor leaders, with the support of all democratic and leftist forces, to challenge the business people state’s plan and to bring a number of their candidates to the union committees is an important step towards stopping the broad attack on wage workers’ rights. This comes after arbitrary dismissal has become a weapon hanging over the heads of protesting workers, wages, bonuses, and profits have been reduced, and temporary work has become the norm, in line with the prescriptions of international institutions. It also paves the way for organizing a collective and organized resistance to policies of high prices and impoverishment.

So, workers of Egypt, step forward!