Global union calls for government action over Egyptair

Global union calls for government action over Egyptair violence

Global union the ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) today called on Egypt’s government to intervene to protect Egyptair staff from violence and victimisation.

The appeal came after striking staff were threatened with violence today at Cairo Airport. According to their trade union, both Egyptair security staff and police stood by and did nothing to protect them.

Writing to the country’s prime minister, minister for civil aviation, and minister for manpower, ITF general secretary David Cockroft stated:

‘I am writing from the International Transport Workers’ Federation to alert you to our serious concerns over the treatment of our member union, the Cabin Crew Syndicate of Egypt.

As you know, the Syndicate is currently in dispute with Egyptair. Negotiations involving theSyndicate, the airline and your ministry have been under way since 2010, with the union aiming to improve the working conditions of cabin crew, as well as to resolve the issue of some denied rights on working conditions and salaries that had been approved by the company’s regulations as far back as 1996. Regrettably Egyptair failed to agree an acceptable solution to this issue for the airline’s cabin crew, despite the negotiations held under the aegis of your ministry.

As a result, Egyptair cabin crew members felt they had no other course of action but to set a strike for today, 7th September. However, this legitimate expression of their opinions has reportedly been met by rejection and public attacks on the staff’s reputation by the company. These may have played a part in the threats of violence made against cabin crew staff by misinformed passengers today that forced those staff to retreat to the safety of the operations area. Shockingly, according to the Syndicate, this was witnessed by the police, who left the building, and by Egyptair security staff, who made no move to intervene.

In the light of this serious and worrying situation we urge you to act immediately to restrain the company from scapegoating these workers and to ensure not just that negotiations resume, but that the workers of Egyptair receive the normal protection from violence that any Egyptian citizen has the right to expect.’

ENDS

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