Egypt clamps down on independent union

Independent trade unionists in Egypt are facing a new campaign of intimidation and legal threats.

Kamal Abu Eita, president of the independent Tax Collectors’ union, was summoned for questioning on 4 September.

He was accused of “spreading false information that has hurt the reputation of Egypt and its official trade union system”.

The tax collectors formed the country’s first independent union following a successful national strike.

“The campaign against our independent union has been going on for a while”, Abu Eita told the Centre for Socialist Studies in Cairo.

“This is part of a widespread crackdown against trade union rights.”

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