The Center for Trade Union and Worker Services calls upon all democratic forces in our society..to union personalities and labour leaders everywhere… to human rights defenders and those who demand freedom and social equality.. show solidarity with the workers of the shipyard docks who are accused in Alexandria military felonies court case number 2759 for the year 2016.
Join us in demanding the immediate release of the workers detained pending the trial.
The workers of the shipyard docks have organized a peaceful protest on the 22nd and 23rd of last May after the company management refused to negotiate with them and rejected their demands. The company was shut down and the military prosecution office summoned them for interrogation. Fifteen workers presented themselves for interrogation voluntarily to be surprised with the decision to detain them all with the exception of one female worker who was released on bail pending the case. An arrest warrant was also issued against 11 workers.
Alexandria Military prosecution decided to present the 26 workers accused in Alexandria military felonies court case number 2759 for the year 2016 to a military court on the background of them being accused of the crimes detailed in articles 1,2,3/124 and articles 1, 4/a/124 of the penalty law. As public employees of the Alexandria Arsenal that is a division of the Authority for Naval Industries and Services in the Ministry of Defense, they have instigated workers in various sectors of the company to abstain from work by calling for a gathering and organizing a protest inside the company with the intention of obstructing work and order. They have sought the aforementioned to achieve a dual purpose of achieving their demands that had been clarified in the report of the report of the company’s security sector that is attached to the investigations. This had the effect of causing disruptions to all sectors of the company and public interests”
The trial is being heard in court and postponed for sentencing over and over again while the workers are detained for four months to date and are expected to be detained for a fifth month after the sentencing was postponed to the 18th of October.
The imprisoned workers and their families have no means of livelihood other than their salaries that have not been paid in four months.. Workers behind bars and workers on the run.. Families and children who do not find enough for their basic human needs..Children being punished for no fault of their own and workers who are not guilty of anything other than practicing their constitutional legal rights in peaceful gathering.
The Center for Trade Union and Worker Services demand the immediate release of the workers imprisoned pending the Alexandria military felonies court case number 2759 for the year 2016.
We ask all of you to show solidarity with their families and their children.
Let them hear your voices in solidarity and see your hands reaching out to them.
The Center for Trade Union and Worker Services