Political Strikes are Not Illegal Strikes

Brian Langille
Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Last week many newspapers reported on a new development in the protests that have been focussing the world's attention upon Egypt. As the New York Times headline put it, "Protest in Egypt Takes New Turn as Workers Go on Strike". Reporters described how workers in myriad work places had decided to join the protest movement by going on strike. Workers at the Suez Canal, in textile factories, in government departments downed tools, sat in, picketed and otherwise brought normal productive activity to a halt. They did so for the purpose of making common cause with others seeking fundamental political change in their country. 

Labour and the Future of the Egyptian Revolution

Mohammad Fadel
Tuesday, March 1, 2011

ForeignPolicy.com’s Middle East Channel published my latest thoughts on Egypt’s labor movement and its role in Egypt’s future democracy.  The essential argument is that if Egyptians want to establish a successful democracy, they must establish a social democracy along the lines of the Scandinavian countries.  After 20 years of structural adjustment in which the gains from liberalization of trade and privatization of state-owned enterprises were limited to a relatively narrow sector of the Egyptian elite and investments in public goods such as education and health steadily declined, democratic stability will require a strong commitment to redistributionist policies.  Recognition of the rights of independent labor unions in Egypt is an essential step toward achieving this necessary social transformation.

 

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