Press Syndicate council member and Commissioner of Freedoms Committee Khaled El-Balshy suggested Friday a journalists strike on 10 June, to protest arbitrary dismissals and unfair salaries. El-Balshy's call has seen increasing support from journalists. El-Balshy said the suggestion will be an attempt to create a group within the media community to defend the social and economic rights of journalists, according to a statement on his Facebook page. El-Balshy, who is also editor-in-chief of Al-Bedaiah newspaper, said if 300 journalists sign the suggestion, it will be turned into a definite call for a strike. Over 30 journalists have so far signed the suggestion. Dismissing journalists, as well as cutting and delaying their salaries, has been an ongoing phenomenon in the past two years, as media outlets claim financial hurdles. The latest of these cases occurred last week, when prominent daily Al-Shorouk dismissed 18 journalists, while Dotmasr sacked 71 in February. "If the suggestion was agreed on, the day will be an opportunity to pick representatives inside media institutions who will form a committee to for further escalating procedures," El-Balshy said.
