Workers of the World, Unite Against Racism and Capitalism

Statement by the Revolutionary Socialists

Today marks the global anniversary of the class struggle against exploitation and tyranny—a day commemorating the fight to improve workers’ economic and social conditions. While free societies celebrate this holiday with demonstrations, strikes, and festivities, it passes quietly in Egypt, subdued by the enforced silence of security forces.

This quiet, however, conceals a roaring anger over unbearable conditions: rampant inflation, mass layoffs, the fierce attack on independent labor organizations, and oppressive laws.

Despite the dire situation of workers, a significant feature of today is their persistent resistance. This determination has manifested in forty sit-ins and strikes over the past four months, demanding better wages, healthcare, and permanent employment, alongside ongoing efforts by some workers to establish or maintain independent unions.

Though not numerically overwhelming, these protests are impactful because they occur under a dominant security grip in a climate of fear. They are influential as they also contribute to breaking tyranny and seizing democracy in tandem with the intellectual struggles of workers such as lawyers and journalists.

Today, we raise our voices alongside the working class to demand fair wages, union freedom, and laws supporting the weaker party. We stand with the hardworking people to call for increased food subsidies, greater in-kind support for the poor, a halt to price-raising policies, and the release of labor leaders imprisoned in Sisi’s jails, including the public transport leader Mohamed Hashem, accountant and member of the Permanent Conference of Egyptian Workers, Wisam Salah, and former Damietta veterinary syndicate leader Ahmed Amasha.

On Labor Day, we tirelessly echo the global socialist call: Workers of the world, unite—regardless of color, be it white, black, or yellow, and regardless of religion or country. Unite against exploitation and tyranny. Unite against the hateful racism that weakens our strength and our ability to struggle, for united workers are invincible.

Today, we also keep chanting: We hear the hum of the machines saying, “Enough humiliation.” The same voice in Germany says, “Stay strong, Algeria.” The same voice in Helwan says, “Stay strong, Mahalla.”
Every year, workers in Egypt and around the world continue to fight for socialism—the path to the self-liberation of the working class.