Defend the Egyptian revolution!

Solidarity with Egyptian workers

Rally in Trafalgar Square

12 February 2011

The TUC, together with Amnesty International and many others, organised a rally in Trafalgar Square on Saturday 12 February, to express our solidarity with the Egyptian people, who had just the day before toppled their President.

ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow, UCU General Secretary Sally Hunt, ITF General Secretary David Cockcroft and NUJ President Pete Murray joined AI secretary general Salil Shetty and many Egyptian protesters to speak from the main stage, as the Square filled with thousands from across the Arab world and beyond.

Figure 1: Sally Hunt, UCU General Secretary

In their speeches, the trade unionists all drew attention to the need to ensure that what happened next was not merely the replacement of one elite by another. And they drew attention to the key role played by workers and new, independent trade unions in Egypt.

Independent trade unions have been growing in Egypt, and Tahrir (Independence) Square saw the formation of a new Egyptian independent trade union movement just a week into the uprising. The old official trade union movement has reacted badly to this development, and now appears to be seeking to smash the new trade unions.

Figure 2: ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow

But it was strikes by workers in Egypt's textile factories that showed the demand of Egyptian workers for better wages, and one of Mubarak's last desperate acts was to raise public sector wages. That didn't stop workers in the public services, transport and elsewhere coming out on strike to deliver the final blow to Mubarak's regime.

Pete Murray (right) stressed the role played by journalists - and the brunt they bore of the violence meted out by the regime's supporters. He declared that a free media was a key element of democracy, and pledged the support of the global journalists' union for their Egyptian colleagues.

Figure 3: demonstrators in Trafalgar Square

All photos: Mac Urata