Military police at Alexandria Shipyard – picture via revsoc.me on Facebook

Leading trade unionists from the port cities of Portsmouth, home to some of the UK’s historic naval dockyards, and Piraeus in Greece are backing the campaign in solidarity with the Alexandria Shipyard workers in the run up to their military court hearing on 18 September. A group of 26 workers from the Shipyard have been put on trial in a military court by Egypt’s generals for demanding better pay and conditions at work. Trade unionists and activists from South Korea, Greece, the UK and USA will be spreading word about the case on social media on 16 September.

Jon Woods is the Secretary of Portsmouth’s Trade Union Council. He told Egypt Solidarity:

Portsmouth Trades Union Council is supporting the solidarity campaign and will be writing a letter of protest to Egyptian President Sisi condemning the regime’s attacks on workers’ rights and calling for the release of the Alexandria Shipyard workers. We are encouraging our member unions to take part in the international solidarity action for the workers on 16 September. It is an outrage that our fellow workers in Alexandria have been put on trial for demanding their rights, and even worse that this is taking place in a military court.”

Meanwhile in Greece, Antonis Dalakogeorgos, president of the Greek Seamen’s Union (PENEN) and Yannis Tsalimoglou, member of the steering committee, Piraeus Dockers Union among twenty leading trade unionists who have announced their support for the international solidarity campaing for the Alexandria Shipyard workers. The appeal for solidarity by Egyptian trade unionists has been translated into Greek and circulated widely among the Greek trade unions. Those backing the solidarity campaign include Nasos Bratsos, member of the General Council, Federation of Journalists Unions, Zanneta Lysikatou, member of the general Council, Federation of Hospital Doctors, (OENGE), Spyros Revithis, president of the Athens Metro workers Union and Grigoris Kalomoiris, member of the executive committee, National Confederation of Civil Service (ADEDY) (See the full list of Greek signatories below).

What you can do:

• Take part in the international day of social media action for the Alexandria Shipyard workers on 16 September. Sign up for the Thunderclap here.
• Circulate the solidarity calls and statements [English] [한국어] [ελληνικά] [français] [Español] [português]
  
• Download a poster, take a solidarity picture and share online
• Write a letter of protest to the Egyptian authorities – addresses and more information online here

Greek trade unionists in solidarity with the Alexandria Shipyard workers

1. Christos Argyris, member of the steering committee, health workers union, G. Genimatas Hospital, Athens
2. Zanneta Lysikatou, member of the general Council, of the Federation of Hospital doctors, (OENGE)
3. Yannis Theoharis, member of the steering committee, Federation of Metal Workers Unions
4. Panagiotis Kalfagiannis, President of Federation of TV and radio workers unions (POSPERT)
5. Kostas Katarahias, chair, health workers union, Athens cancer hospital Aghios Savvas
6. Christina Lada, chair, Primary school teachers union, Messinia department
7. Yorgos Botsides, member of the steering committee, Evros Labour Centre
8. Nasos Bratsos, member of the General Council, Federation of Journalists Unions
9. Margarita Papamina, member of the steering committee, Chania department of the Confederation of Civil Service Unions
10. Costas Pittas, secretary, Federation of civil servants unions in the Ministry of Development
11. Spyros Revithis, president, Athens Metro workers Union
12. Vasilis Sylaidis, member of the steering committee, INTRACOM workers union
13. Costas Vorgias, member of the steering committee, INTRACOM workers union
14. Yannis Tsalimoglou, member of the steering committee, Piraeus Dockers Union
15. Nikos Hatzaras, secretary, Local government workers union, Ampelokipi, greater Salonica
16. Alexandros Martzoukos, member of the steering committee,   Actors Union
17. Thanasis Diavolakis, member of the steering committee, Federation of Teachers Unions in Private Education
18. Stella Tzanini, chair, Local government workers union, Aghia Paraskevi, Greater Athens
19. Grigoris Kalomoiris, member of the executive committee, National Confederation of Civil Service (ADEDY)
20. Antonis Dalakogeorgos, president of the Greek Seamen’s Union (PENEN)