Workers of DP World celebrate after successful negotiations. (Photo: Mai Shaheen)
DP World, Sokhna port operator in Egypt, acquiesced to all 16 of the workers demands on Sunday night, promising to provide results within days. Sokhna port workers were asked to begin attending their shifts as of Sunday night. The negotiations took place in the Red Sea port of Suez between military representatives, officials from the Red Sea Port Authority, the governor of Suez and DP World's management.
“Mohamed Abdel Qader, head of the Red Sea Ports Authority, has promised that all of our demands will be granted. First and foremost, a union will be established immediately. Hardship allowances will be released very soon. A restructuring of the wage system has also been promised. If any further issues between the management and the workers occur, the governor has guaranteed that his door will always be open to us,” a worker announced to the gathered workers in front of the governorate’s offices Sunday night.
On Thursday, DP World shut down its Ain Al-Sokhna port because of labour strikes that have cost it around LE30 million ($5.02 million) in lost revenue, according to Red Sea port officials.
Dubai World workers began their strike Tuesday, demanding hardship allowances of at least 30 per cent of their full wages, wage restructuring and the dismissal of managers accused of mistreating employees, according to the port workers. Prior to Sunday’s announcement, the managers had been sacked, but the strikers complained that the replacements were no better.
Following Sunday night's announcement, workers were ecstatic, chanting “one hand, one hand” and “bread, freedom and social justice.”
A local sheikh and representative of the governor and an Army official, Captain Shams, stood among the press of workers, urging workers to return to their shifts Sunday night. The port is around 60 km from the governorates' offices.
“They told us to start our 10pm shift, but the earliest we can make it will be around 11pm,” stated a worker. Workers were eager to return to work, stressing that they would uphold their end of the agreement.
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