CAIRO: Students, workers and staff of the American University in Cairo went on strike Sunday to protest against the increase of tuition fees, deterioration in the quality of education and low salaries.
“We thought AUC is a place that respects human rights but it’s not; there is no social justice whatsoever,” said Mohamed Abdallah, who has been working at the university for three years. He was carrying a banner listing the demands of the campus’ security officers.
Around 170 security officers joined the strike, along with Desert Development Center (DDC) workers and the housing staff, all with one major demand: salary increase.
The list of demands of the security workers includes: a minimum wage of LE 2,000; an hour-long break or compensation; risk compensation; limiting working hours to eight a day; and appointing all workers on daily wages.
The list of DDC workers demands includes a daily compensation of LE 20 for a meal; a minimum wage of LE 2,000; a two-day weekend; overtime; and a change of uniform.
“After the revolution last January and the security [problem], they brought security dogs that they pay LE 15,000 for,” said Saeed Abdel Kader, an AUC worker of three years.
AUC security officers are paid around LE 1,300 but with deduction due to health insurance, pension and other expenses they are paid an average of LE 900 a month, with a five percent annual increase.
“What kind of workplace makes us carry the expenses of health insurance?” workers said.
The security staff was taking shifts alternating between securing the campus and participating in the Sunday demonstration.
“We know our duties; no place is left without a security officer … we don’t want to disrupt anything,” said Abdallah.
President of the AUC Student Union Ahmed Alaa said they met with the university president Lisa Anderson to express two demands: a cap on tuition fees and to cancel this year’s 9-precent increase.
The administration’s response at the time was that these demands can’t be met as there is a budget deficit.
“We haven’t had any response yet from the administration,” Alaa told DNE at around 4:30 pm. Asked about the next step in case of a no-response, he said, “We are here and we won’t leave.”
Protesters around him were chanting “Come down or we’ll come up” to President Anderson.
The strike started at around 10 am when students and workers converged at the center of the campus carrying banners with demands. At the same time, students went to the gates to declare a “free-parking” day.
“After all the money we pay and the increase in tuition, which came after the financial aid deadline had passed, we also have to pay more than LE 1,000 for parking,” explained Youssef El Karma, student senator and one of the strike’s organizers.
The various clubs on campus also moved their booths to the location of the strike.to show their solidarity, in what was dubbed the “booth march.”
At around 1:00 pm the Folklore Troupe started leading the pack of hundreds of students, playing the drum and tambourine, going from class to class, trying to encourage students to leave class and join the march as they stood outside classrooms chanting “Come out.”
Mohamed Ashour, a student, was handing bottles of water to the workers as a gesture of support. He carried around a sign reading: “Egyptian law [stipulates] LE 1,200 minimum wage.”
Last year, a court ordered the government to stipulate a reasonable minimum wage, estimated at the time to be LE 1,200. This year, the government said it would apply a LE 700 minimum wage.
“I joined the protests around 1 pm today… Dr Lisa Anderson stood there in the window looking at us and she did absolutely nothing. No statement, nothing. Perhaps if she had at least said something then I wouldn’t be out here,” said Ashour.
The strike is “gaining momentum,” he added. “I am concerned about the rise in tuition this year and the workers’ wages. …Where is the money going?”
In a statement released at 4 pm, the university administration said, “Regarding the student and staff protest, AUC has a general freedom of expression policy which allows all members of the AUC community the right to express their viewpoint as long as this doesn’t infringe on the rights of others or university policy.
“The administration is working together with student leaders from the Student Union and staff representatives to discuss issues that have surfaced regarding tuition and staff salaries where possible in light of the current economic condition. The university has accommodated several requests and continues to engage in collaborate discussions.
“AUC appreciates all members of its community and strives to create a positive work and learning environment for them.” –Additional reporting by Erin Biel.
