Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
85ALEXANDRIA547
1985-07-02 11:26:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Alexandria
Cable title:
MORE ON LABOR STRIKE IN ALEXANDRIA
how-toR 021126Z JUL 85 FM AMCONSUL ALEXANDRIA TO SECSTATE WASHDC 5370 INFO AMEMBASSY CAIRO
C O N F I D E N T I A L ALEXANDRIA 00547
DEPT FOR S/IL AND NEA/RA - HOLLY
DEPT PLS PASS DEPT OF LABOR
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PGOV PINS ELAB EG
SUBJECT: MORE ON LABOR STRIKE IN ALEXANDRIA
REF: ALEXANDRIA 524
C O N F I D E N T I A L ALEXANDRIA 00547
DEPT FOR S/IL AND NEA/RA - HOLLY
DEPT PLS PASS DEPT OF LABOR
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PGOV PINS ELAB EG
SUBJECT: MORE ON LABOR STRIKE IN ALEXANDRIA
REF: ALEXANDRIA 524
1. (CONFIDENTIAL - ENTIRE TEXT.)
2. SINCE SUBMISSION OF REFTEL, ANOTHER LOCAL SECURITY
OFFICIAL HAS CONFIRMED TO US THAT A LABOR STRIKE OCCURRED
IN MID-JUNE AT THE NEARBY ABU KIR ENGINEERING INDUSTRIES
FACTORY, RESULTING IN AUTHORITIES' CLOSING IT FOR TWO
DAYS--JUNE 19-20. THE OFFICIAL CONFIRMED THAT POLICE
INTERVENED TO BREAK UP THE STRIKE, BUT LIKE THE SECURITY
CONTACT CITED IN REFTEL, SAID HE KNEW NOTHING OF ARRESTS
OR INJURIES. INTERESTINGLY, THE LATTER SOURCE INDICATED
THAT CONTRARY TO OUR UNDERSTANDING, THE ABU KIR FACTORY
IS RUN BY THE MILITARY, ALTHOUGH THE WORKERS ARE
CIVILIAN. WHILE DENYING THE OCCURRENCE OF A SECOND
STRIKE, AT THE MOHARREM BEY DEFENSE PLANT, HE DID SAY
THAT, AS PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE, FOLLOWING THE ABU KIR
INCIDENT, SECURITY POLICE WERE DEPLOYED AROUND THE
MOHARREM BEY FACILITY.
3. IN ADDITION TO THE NATIONAL PROGRESSIVE UNIONIST
GROUPING PARTY'S WEEKLY, AL-AHALI, ANOTHER OPPOSITION
JOURNAL, THE SOCIALIST LABOR PARTY'S ASH-SHAAB, ALSO
REPORTED ON ALEXANDRIA'S LABOR TROUBLE. ACCORDING TO
ASH-SHAAB, IT WAS AT THE INSTRUCTION OF THE GOE'S
MINISTER OF STATE FOR MILITARY PRODUCTION, GAMAL IBRAHIM,
THAT THE ABU KIR PLANT WAS CLOSED FOR TWO DAYS, IN
REACTION TO THE STRIKE OVER NON-PAYMENT OF WORKERS'
BONUSES.
-
4. WITH OUR SECURITY SOURCES REPORTING THAT ALL IS NOW
BACK TO NORMAL AT THE ABU KIR FACTORY, THE OPPOSITION
PRESS ALSO SEEMS TO CONSIDER THE MATTER CLOSED: NEITHER
ASH-SHAAB NOR AL-AHALI CONTAINED A FOLLOW-UP STORY ON
THE INCIDENT IN THEIR LATEST EDITIONS, JUNE 25 AND 26,
RESPECTIVELY.
5. COMMENT: THE INCIDENT AT THE ABU KIR FACTORY SEEMS
TO FIT THE PATTERN OF THE FEW LABOR STRIKES THAT OCCUR
IN EGYPT: A BRIEF FLARE-UP OF WORKER UNREST, CONFINED
TO A SPECIFIC FACTORY, AND FOCUSED ON BREAD-AND-BUTTER
ISSUES. WHAT IS NOT TYPICAL ABOUT THIS STRIKE IS THAT
IT APPARENTLY INVOLVED THE DEFENSE INDUSTRY, WHICH WOULD
ACCOUNT FOR THE B BWPID RESPONSE BY THE AUTHORITIES--AT
BOTH THE ABU KIR AND MOHARREM BEY SITES. END COMMENT.
COOK
DEPT FOR S/IL AND NEA/RA - HOLLY
DEPT PLS PASS DEPT OF LABOR
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PGOV PINS ELAB EG
SUBJECT: MORE ON LABOR STRIKE IN ALEXANDRIA
REF: ALEXANDRIA 524
1. (CONFIDENTIAL - ENTIRE TEXT.)
2. SINCE SUBMISSION OF REFTEL, ANOTHER LOCAL SECURITY
OFFICIAL HAS CONFIRMED TO US THAT A LABOR STRIKE OCCURRED
IN MID-JUNE AT THE NEARBY ABU KIR ENGINEERING INDUSTRIES
FACTORY, RESULTING IN AUTHORITIES' CLOSING IT FOR TWO
DAYS--JUNE 19-20. THE OFFICIAL CONFIRMED THAT POLICE
INTERVENED TO BREAK UP THE STRIKE, BUT LIKE THE SECURITY
CONTACT CITED IN REFTEL, SAID HE KNEW NOTHING OF ARRESTS
OR INJURIES. INTERESTINGLY, THE LATTER SOURCE INDICATED
THAT CONTRARY TO OUR UNDERSTANDING, THE ABU KIR FACTORY
IS RUN BY THE MILITARY, ALTHOUGH THE WORKERS ARE
CIVILIAN. WHILE DENYING THE OCCURRENCE OF A SECOND
STRIKE, AT THE MOHARREM BEY DEFENSE PLANT, HE DID SAY
THAT, AS PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE, FOLLOWING THE ABU KIR
INCIDENT, SECURITY POLICE WERE DEPLOYED AROUND THE
MOHARREM BEY FACILITY.
3. IN ADDITION TO THE NATIONAL PROGRESSIVE UNIONIST
GROUPING PARTY'S WEEKLY, AL-AHALI, ANOTHER OPPOSITION
JOURNAL, THE SOCIALIST LABOR PARTY'S ASH-SHAAB, ALSO
REPORTED ON ALEXANDRIA'S LABOR TROUBLE. ACCORDING TO
ASH-SHAAB, IT WAS AT THE INSTRUCTION OF THE GOE'S
MINISTER OF STATE FOR MILITARY PRODUCTION, GAMAL IBRAHIM,
THAT THE ABU KIR PLANT WAS CLOSED FOR TWO DAYS, IN
REACTION TO THE STRIKE OVER NON-PAYMENT OF WORKERS'
BONUSES.
-
4. WITH OUR SECURITY SOURCES REPORTING THAT ALL IS NOW
BACK TO NORMAL AT THE ABU KIR FACTORY, THE OPPOSITION
PRESS ALSO SEEMS TO CONSIDER THE MATTER CLOSED: NEITHER
ASH-SHAAB NOR AL-AHALI CONTAINED A FOLLOW-UP STORY ON
THE INCIDENT IN THEIR LATEST EDITIONS, JUNE 25 AND 26,
RESPECTIVELY.
5. COMMENT: THE INCIDENT AT THE ABU KIR FACTORY SEEMS
TO FIT THE PATTERN OF THE FEW LABOR STRIKES THAT OCCUR
IN EGYPT: A BRIEF FLARE-UP OF WORKER UNREST, CONFINED
TO A SPECIFIC FACTORY, AND FOCUSED ON BREAD-AND-BUTTER
ISSUES. WHAT IS NOT TYPICAL ABOUT THIS STRIKE IS THAT
IT APPARENTLY INVOLVED THE DEFENSE INDUSTRY, WHICH WOULD
ACCOUNT FOR THE B BWPID RESPONSE BY THE AUTHORITIES--AT
BOTH THE ABU KIR AND MOHARREM BEY SITES. END COMMENT.
COOK