By Salama A Salama The Egyptian Trade Union Federation (ETUF) is fighting for survival. Challenged by a spate of newly formed independent trade unions, the ETUF faces grave charges that are likely to end in its disbanding. Its critics claim that it has failed to represent the interests of Egyptian workers, sided with the government and big business, and took part in the counter-revolution. Few would dispute that the ETUF has never represented the interests of workers. Closely associated with the Arab Socialist Union and then the National Democratic Party, the ETUF was little more than a ploy used by the government and the security forces to keep labour under control. ETUF's main job was to back convenient representatives in parliament and gather the workers to cheer leaders on public occasions, such as Labour Day and election rallies. Usually, the labour minister was selected from among ETUF leaders. The last labour minister we had had little to recommend her, not even a university degree, apart from her friendship with the first lady. She did little to promote the interests of Egyptian labour, and it didn't bother her to see Egyptian workers being sent to work practically as servants in various Gulf countries. During the January Revolution, ETUF's chief sided with the old regime, and he is now under investigation in connection with what came to be known as the Battle of the Camel. ETUF's main task was to control the activities of the workers, keep tabs on their gatherings, and manipulate their subdivisions in factories and companies. In fact, ETUF collaborated with business and was more eager to defend business interests than those of labour. It was natural, therefore, for independent labour syndicates to demand its disbanding. We don't know yet where the government stands on the ongoing dispute between ETUF and the independent unions. I for one would have liked the labour minister to take a clear stand at the International Labour Organisation (ILO) meeting in Geneva, supporting independent syndicates and withdrawing official recognition from ETUF. Instead, ETUF's representative launched a frenzied attack on the minister and the independent syndicates. So far, the labour minister has sided with unionist freedoms. Some 26 new labour unions have been formed of late. These unions should be allowed to replace ETUF, which has manipulated the labour movement for decades and which has engaged in various financial irregularities, especially with regards to allowances and travel. The ETUF delegation to Geneva, to give you just one example, spent more than LE1.5 million to get 36 leaders and journalists to attend the ILO conference at a time when the country suffers from grinding economic and financial difficulties. The reason for ETUF's antagonistic position towards the labour minister, I was told, is that the minister -- in a break with tradition -- did not come from ETUF's ranks. Another reason is that the government has discontinued the annual grant it used to give ETUF. With the creation of independent trade unions, ETUF has lost its raison d'être. And with the NDP out of the picture, its chances of survival are next to nil. Right now, we have no other option but to dissolve ETUF and put its funds and offices under receivership. A new organisation, with freely elected leaders, will have to take its place. Therefore, we need to pass a law allowing independent syndicates to form labour federations to defend workers' interests in keeping with international practices. It is time for a new start. It is time for workers to have genuine unions that speak on their behalf and defend their rights. The above article was first published in Issue 1053 (23-29 June 2011).
