By Tamim Elyan
CAIRO: Financial supervisor at the Labor University and vice president of the Egyptian Trade Union Federation (ETUF), Mostafa Mongi, was dismissed from his post after employees protested Monday in front of the University demanding his resignation.
Tens of university employees that protested in front of its headquarters in Cairo’s Nasr City district said Mongi’s financial policies were unfair and refused to let him leave his office.
The protestors didn’t leave until Hussein Megawer, head of ETUF, discharged Mongi in a meeting with Sayed Abu Al-Magd, board member of the cultural association at the university and decided that each sector would be run by its own manager.
Employees expressed their satisfaction with the decision and ended the protest.
“The university’s revenues decreased by more than 50 percent. The number of enrolled students decreased to only 21,000 which caused strict financial measures, most of which have been at the expense of employees,” said Mo’nes Mohamed, general manager of student affairs at the university.
“Some employees had their incentives cancelled and many were denied their right to request advances which led to their frustration and demanded the resignation of Mongi,” he added.
Kamal Abbas, general coordinator of the Center for Trade Union and Workers Services (CTUWS), said the decision wasn’t enough and demanded investigations into the “corruption” of ETUF board members including Megawer.
“It is time to open corruption files at the ETUF and to investigate the sources of the fortunes of the current board members, especially that they were originally low-paid workers,” Abbas said.
Earlier this week, CTUWS requested a travel ban and asset freeze be imposed on Megawer by the General Prosecutor.
They accused Megawer of exploiting his position as president of ETUF and chairman of the manpower committee in parliament, as well as, combining his post as president of ETUF with his post as a member of the Board of Directors of Suez Cement Company.
“Megawer is part of a regime that has lost its legitimacy during the current revolution. That’s why we are demanding his resignation and investigating the sources of his fortune and his $2 million annual income,” Abbas said.
Abbas said the CTUWS has began establishing an independent trade union in collaboration with a number of labor leaders including the independent syndicates of real estate tax workers, health technicians, teachers and a pensioners’ union.
