CAIRO: Textile workers at Shebeen El-Kom said their sit-in was attacked by thugs early on Tuesday, which then prompted military police to crack down on the demonstrators, arresting 12 and leaving 20 injured.
Around 700 demonstrators were protesting outside the governorate building when an unknown car hit a female protester, who later died.
The workers were protesting against an administrative decision to suspend 43 employees who belong to the company’s independent trade union, because they spoke to the media about dire working conditions.
They said their sit-in in front of the Menufiya governorate building was infiltrated by thugs who started trouble, then left when military police began arresting protesters.
“They [military police] took our coworkers and we just don’t know where they are. Thugs were pulling females inside the building,” said Hala Abdel Hamid, member of the company’s independent union.
According to Abdel Hamid, the governor refused to meet representatives from the demonstrators outside the headquarters of the governorate building.
“The investor of our company, Mega Textile in Sadat City, is a Turkish man,” said Abdel Hamid, who explained that the company’s administration suspended the 43 employees because they spoke out.
She added that once journalists who were on the scene left, thugs attacked them leading a crack down by military police on the protesters.
“Thugs used to come to our company and threaten us that if we don’t leave the independent union they will kill us,” said Abdel Hamid.
Various labor groups have complained that the company’s investors have threatened employees who are part of the independent unions.
