1 00:00:21,001 --> 00:00:23,001 22 years. 2 00:00:23,101 --> 00:00:26,001 How much do you think they're paying me? 3 00:00:27,003 --> 00:00:30,003 Abdul Latif, worker, Bticino-Legrand Co. 4 00:00:32,003 --> 00:00:35,003 Take a guess. How much do you think, after 22 years? 5 00:00:35,203 --> 00:00:37,003 927 Pounds. (115 Euro) 6 00:00:37,005 --> 00:00:40,005 22 years of service, in this factory. 7 00:00:40,006 --> 00:00:44,006 If you have daughters or sons in college, how can you support them? 8 00:00:46,006 --> 00:00:50,006 I mean - you either steal... or you beg! 9 00:00:50,808 --> 00:00:54,308 Bticino-Legrand - Workers who love Egypt. Demand: Hold corrupt management accountable. 10 00:00:54,589 --> 00:00:56,609 Fixed contracts for temporary labor. 11 00:00:56,809 --> 00:01:00,929 Minimum wage - A share in profits - A dignified life for every worker. 12 00:01:02,129 --> 00:01:06,509 Save us from administrative and financial corruption. 13 00:01:08,010 --> 00:01:10,010 The workers have so and so demands, 14 00:01:10,012 --> 00:01:14,512 They tried going to a meeting in Cairo with management, and came back completely hopeless. 15 00:01:15,013 --> 00:01:17,813 So we held a sit-in, 16 00:01:18,013 --> 00:01:22,044 Those on daily contracts went to work, one shift operated, 17 00:01:22,244 --> 00:01:26,215 while the other two shifts stood outside, waiting for their demands to be fulfilled. 18 00:01:27,015 --> 00:01:29,816 They were given nothing... take it or leave it. 19 00:01:29,916 --> 00:01:32,816 After those three days, we went on a full strike. 20 00:01:32,960 --> 00:01:36,960 Daily and shift workers, eating, sleeping and living in the factory. 21 00:01:37,018 --> 00:01:42,200 We work and persevere, demanding our rights, but no one's listening or responding. 22 00:01:42,400 --> 00:01:45,019 They cut off the power supply in the labor office here. 23 00:01:45,219 --> 00:01:49,019 Ms. Hanan, the director of the labor office, was here, 24 00:01:49,021 --> 00:01:53,421 The power got cut off while she was here, and she testified to this in a report we have. 25 00:01:53,621 --> 00:01:57,022 So the work stoppage occurred due to the management, not the workers. 26 00:01:57,222 --> 00:02:01,222 We were working, and they went and cut the electricity, stopped the machines, 27 00:02:01,422 --> 00:02:03,324 And announced there would be no work 28 00:02:03,560 --> 00:02:07,560 that the next two days would be off, 'till they could deal with this problem. 29 00:02:07,624 --> 00:02:09,660 And of course the workers couldn't trust this. 30 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:14,026 The workers had no guarantee that the management would respond during the days off, 31 00:02:14,226 --> 00:02:19,260 so they stayed in the factory. And we've been here for 36 days. 32 00:02:19,560 --> 00:02:22,027 In the beginning we had one demand: 33 00:02:22,028 --> 00:02:29,000 For them to adjust shift allowances, for those who are shift workers. 34 00:02:30,031 --> 00:02:32,031 So of course, they declined. 35 00:02:32,032 --> 00:02:42,132 After their refusal, and our sit-in, Alexander, the foreigner, came and met with us here. 36 00:02:42,332 --> 00:02:45,032 He brought us 2 pounds. 37 00:02:45,033 --> 00:02:49,000 One guy pulled out a 1 pound coin and showed it to him: 38 00:02:49,100 --> 00:02:52,400 "What are we supposed to do with 2 pounds?" 39 00:02:52,634 --> 00:02:56,036 Night, day, morning, afternoon, dawn... we're awake. 40 00:02:56,037 --> 00:03:00,037 We can't sleep, by day or by night. 41 00:03:00,038 --> 00:03:06,838 Unable to eat or drink. And all this comes around and reflects negatively on us. 42 00:03:07,138 --> 00:03:12,638 We're working all night, when I leave the factory in the morning - I'm completely disoriented. 43 00:03:12,838 --> 00:03:14,838 Don't know where I'm going. 44 00:03:15,039 --> 00:03:17,039 I forget my kids' names. 45 00:03:17,216 --> 00:03:22,416 They are three, not ten, and I confuse their names - because of being up all night. 46 00:03:22,640 --> 00:03:26,040 And they, the company, they're not giving us any rights, 47 00:03:26,042 --> 00:03:30,042 And based on what? Based on the law that's in effect. 48 00:03:30,043 --> 00:03:35,043 Who put that law in place?! Isn't it the oppressors? 49 00:03:35,044 --> 00:03:37,744 It's the law of the oppressors that's in place. 50 00:03:38,244 --> 00:03:43,044 An apartment in Sadat city rents at 350 pounds. 51 00:03:43,045 --> 00:03:46,045 A studio apartment - one room, one reception - rents at 350 pounds. 52 00:03:46,046 --> 00:03:49,046 So out of 700 pounds, what does that leave? 350 pounds. 53 00:03:49,048 --> 00:03:54,548 No household can possibly be supported with 350 pounds. No one can live on that. 54 00:03:54,948 --> 00:03:59,949 This factory we're in, we've got no rights as workers. They treat us like we're slaves. 55 00:04:00,050 --> 00:04:04,050 In everything. Even medical insurance, the most basic thing, 56 00:04:04,250 --> 00:04:08,250 Do you go for a check-up in rebellion or because of illness? Illness. 57 00:04:08,450 --> 00:04:12,051 There's no medical insurace. There's nothing. 58 00:04:12,052 --> 00:04:15,052 One would wish there was any change after the revolution. 59 00:04:15,054 --> 00:04:19,053 We conquered a corrupt system in the government - we need to conquer the same system in the factory. 60 00:04:19,055 --> 00:04:21,855 This situation we're in is due to the management. 61 00:04:22,055 --> 00:04:23,855 Our primary demand now, even before the material ones, 62 00:04:24,055 --> 00:04:27,955 is for the corrupt management to be held to account. 63 00:04:28,057 --> 00:04:30,557 They fired a lot of people, because of this sit-in. 64 00:04:30,760 --> 00:04:34,360 We're here to demand our rights, and those of our colleagues. 65 00:04:34,560 --> 00:04:38,557 We are all united. If anyone is subjected to harm, we'll sit-in again. 66 00:04:38,659 --> 00:04:42,159 We want anyone who comes to work here to feel secure. 67 00:04:42,259 --> 00:04:46,260 Any young person who comes to work here should not find themselves fired after six months. 68 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:49,060 We want a law to protect against this precarity. 69 00:04:50,062 --> 00:04:52,062 I work here on a six month contract, 70 00:04:52,262 --> 00:04:56,980 meaning after six months they can hand me my papers and tell me to leave. 71 00:04:57,062 --> 00:05:03,062 Last year, we reached an agreement between the syndicate committee and the management, 72 00:05:03,064 --> 00:05:09,964 That any temp worker, after 18 months, has the right to a fixed and open contract. 73 00:05:10,064 --> 00:05:21,064 They fired me and 85 other youths like myself one day before we'd hit the 18-month mark. 74 00:05:21,065 --> 00:05:26,065 They took me to the labor office. I had two options, 75 00:05:26,067 --> 00:05:31,867 I either take my paperwork and leave, or sign a waiver of the 18-month deal they'd reached. 76 00:05:32,067 --> 00:05:36,067 I work eight hours a day, plus two in the morning on my way here, 77 00:05:36,080 --> 00:05:38,080 and another two on my way home in the evening. 78 00:05:38,280 --> 00:05:40,969 We work six days a week, one day off. 79 00:05:41,069 --> 00:05:44,069 I earn 600 pounds. 80 00:05:44,071 --> 00:05:52,071 600 pounds... I'm scared to get engaged, and find myself fired the next day. I'd be destroyed. 81 00:05:52,072 --> 00:05:55,972 It's very difficult to find another job elsewhere. 82 00:05:56,072 --> 00:06:01,072 The company said that once they were qualified by ISO, everyone would be better off. 83 00:06:01,074 --> 00:06:04,974 Just to focus on securing their customers and production. 84 00:06:05,074 --> 00:06:09,074 What about workers? - Just wait till we get the ISO, they said. 85 00:06:09,076 --> 00:06:13,876 Then they got the ISO, and so great, they have a certified product now. 86 00:06:14,076 --> 00:06:19,076 But labor isn't certified! Working in this factory, is not certified. 87 00:06:19,077 --> 00:06:26,077 After this, what will we turn to? Thuggery, robbery, murder... everything! 88 00:06:26,079 --> 00:06:30,155 I need to eat. I need a dignified livelihood, me and my kids 89 00:06:30,355 --> 00:06:33,355 - so if my son falls ill, I can take him to a doctor. 90 00:06:33,555 --> 00:06:36,079 These laws were in place to serve businessmen only, 91 00:06:36,081 --> 00:06:39,081 The parliament was entirely made up of businessmen. 92 00:06:39,281 --> 00:06:43,160 Any law that was passed was in favor of businessmen. 93 00:06:43,360 --> 00:06:48,083 The private sector has turned into feudalism. A purely feudal system. 94 00:06:48,284 --> 00:06:53,500 A person works for a daily wage, barely covering breakfast, lunch and dinner. 95 00:06:53,700 --> 00:06:57,786 If I'm a government employee and I work from 8 am till 2 pm, 96 00:06:57,986 --> 00:06:59,486 And they paid me this salary, I'd live fine. 97 00:06:59,588 --> 00:07:03,588 But the worker in the private sector works all day and goes home at night, 98 00:07:03,660 --> 00:07:07,660 or works all night and goes home in the morning. There's no other time - the work day is continous, 99 00:07:07,860 --> 00:07:14,088 10 hours, 2 hours transportation and 8 hours of work. 100 00:07:14,089 --> 00:07:18,089 And these 8 hours of work are physically exhausting... suicidal. 101 00:07:18,091 --> 00:07:21,091 They drain your blood before paying you at the end of the month. 102 00:07:23,291 --> 00:07:27,091 I demand that the government amend these laws that were placed to serve investors, 103 00:07:27,093 --> 00:07:31,093 Investors who were attracted to Egypt because of its security, and really wanted to invest, 104 00:07:31,193 --> 00:07:35,093 knowing that they'd have access to cheap labor, distribution and a wealth of resources, 105 00:07:35,293 --> 00:07:39,295 And that its geographical location is strategically centered amidst all the world's countries. 106 00:07:39,495 --> 00:07:41,496 This is why they come and invest here. 107 00:07:41,696 --> 00:07:44,096 They sell them land at extremely low prices, 108 00:07:44,098 --> 00:07:48,098 And they give them all the possible warrants and benefits in customs and taxes, 109 00:07:48,298 --> 00:07:51,098 So that they'll invest, and create jobs. 110 00:07:51,100 --> 00:07:55,000 So since they give the investors all these benefits, they should pay us a decent wage! 111 00:07:55,100 --> 00:07:58,100 So that we can raise our children and live a dignified life. 112 00:07:58,101 --> 00:08:00,101 After Egypt's revolution, there's no going back, 113 00:08:00,120 --> 00:08:04,120 no one is going to be afraid of expressing themselves - anywhere. 114 00:08:04,320 --> 00:08:08,303 Everyone will express themselves honestly and freely, and no one can intimidate them. 115 00:08:08,503 --> 00:08:12,503 After the downfall of the previous regime, which was oppressing people, 116 00:08:12,703 --> 00:08:14,705 Everyone is now out saying no to oppression. 117 00:08:14,905 --> 00:08:18,905 We are thankful to all those people who brought about the Egyptian revolution in the first place, 118 00:08:19,105 --> 00:08:23,107 And gave us the opportunity to speak. We were unable to say anything before. 119 00:08:23,307 --> 00:08:27,308 We lived with the fear of state security kidnapping anyone who dissented. 120 00:08:27,508 --> 00:08:30,108 Today we can raise our demands, without the fear of being charged. 121 00:08:30,110 --> 00:08:33,110 We demand that the parliament enforce laws for the protection of the people, 122 00:08:33,210 --> 00:08:35,110 Through government by the people. 123 00:08:35,211 --> 00:08:39,211 As well as the enforcement of laws in order to hold the coming government accountable, 124 00:08:39,280 --> 00:08:43,280 to protect the people from the power of the government itself. 125 00:08:44,080 --> 00:08:46,113 We've been robbed of everything - everything! 126 00:08:47,114 --> 00:08:51,114 Our dignity, our livelihoods... All we're asking for is - we want to be able to survive! 127 00:08:51,115 --> 00:08:55,115 We want nothing more than to be able to eat! Where are we - where are the workers... 128 00:08:55,215 --> 00:08:58,115 Our rights are stolen. They were stolen decades ago. 129 00:08:58,116 --> 00:09:01,116 Ever since the beginning of the oppressive regime. 130 00:09:01,118 --> 00:09:04,118 All we want is to be able to live - just like everyone else. 131 00:09:04,119 --> 00:09:08,119 After 37 days of the strike, the workers' demands were partially met and they returned to work. 132 00:09:08,120 --> 00:09:12,120 But Islam and his colleagues still haven't received fixed contracts. 133 00:09:12,220 --> 00:09:16,120 And the management remains the same. And the laws remain the same, in favor of investors. 134 00:09:16,320 --> 00:09:22,120 Let us realize our right to work with honor. Let us demand a change of laws in favor of the people.