UNI supports striking Egyptian postal workers
A letter was hand delivered to the Egyptian Embassy in London on Wednesday by UNI Post & Logistics World President, Billy Hayes, Deputy Head of Department, Stephen DeMatteo, and Organising and Policy Officer, Sarah Ryan, to highlight the problems which Egyptian postal workers are facing in getting their agreed holidays.
Workers at Egypt Post have taken several days of strike action following the company's refusal to implement an agreement giving them Fridays and Saturdays off. The agreement was struck in September after national industrial action, with the company promising to provide a two-day weekend for employees beginning in January 2012. Though this was implemented, Egypt Post is now trying to force workers back to work on Saturdays, leading postal workers to stage a number of walkouts and now a full scale strike.
Egypt Post responded to strike action by investigating several union reps and the situation has not improved.
Billy Hayes said: "As World President of UNI Post & Logistics, I'm urging the Egyptian government to work with independent postal unions in Egypt to foster secure and decent work for postal workers. It's important to show solidarity with our fellow trade unionists in Egypt Post who are being badly treated."
The delegation had the opportunity to present their concerns to a diplomat at the Egyptian Embassy and to explain the worrying information that UNI had received from Egyptian postal unions about the treatment of those taking strike action.
Stephen DeMatteo commented: "The diplomat has assured us that he will personally deliver our letter to the Egyptian Ambassador today. He took on board our concerns and asked several questions which was encouraging. It was certainly a good opportunity to raise the concerns of Egyptian postal workers."
"Meeting the diplomat was an important part of UNI's campaign to support members of the independent Egyptian postal union who are struggling to maintain a two-day weekend with Saturdays off and no penalty in compensation, as per the signed agreement" said Sarah Ryan.