CAIRO: Cairo's International Airport was a scene of chaos yesterday as air traffic control workers went on strike, leaving about 200 flights delayed and thousands of passengers stranded. Workers decided to strike after airport administration announced that it was canceling long-promised bonuses of LE 3,000 for air traffic control workers. The strike started on Thursday afternoon and lasted for about five hours. Workers ended their strike when they reached a preliminary deal with Lotfy Mostafa Kamal, the Minister of Civil Aviation, on Thursday evening. Incoming flights were rerouted to Sharm el-Sheikh, Borg al-Arab and Alexandria airports to avert the Cairo airport for the day. The strike comes amidst a recent outpouring of workers strikes in Egypt, as workers stand firm to demand fair pay and working conditions. Some fear that Egypt's ailing economy does not have the capacity to absorb worker's demands. Egyptian Labor Minister Ahmed El-Boraie warned this week that Egypt's “losses are growing day by day,” in a statement to Egypt's Al-Masry al-Youm newspaper. “Either we band together and change the current situation, or let Egypt be destroyed,” he went on. Besides financial demands, airport controllers are protesting what they call “corrupt” practices within the airport administration. Workers in all sectors across Egypt have rallied over the last few months to demand higher salaries, more jobs, transparency, and greater accountability in company policies. Earlier last June, airport workers went on strike, protesting a rumored decision that airport administration was set to lower worker salaries. BM
