Eastern Tobacco workers strike for higher wages, profit share

Ahram Online , Tuesday 18 Dec 2012

Strike for better pay and bonuses at Eastern Tobacco enters second day, workers also demand dismissal of company chairman

Egypt
Inside Easter Tobacco Co., (Photo: Al-Ahram Arabic).

Workers at Eastern Tobacco are on strike for the second day on Tuesday to demand the dismissal of the company's chairman, Nabil Abdel Aziz, and to call for higher wages and bonuses.

On Monday, the workers stalled traffic on one of Greater Cairo's main boulevards, Al-Haram Street, to protest what they said was a meagre bonus payment.

Mohamed Ali, a worker at Eastern Tobacco, told Al-Ahram's Arabic news website that Monday's demonstration was to reject a bonus worth 24 months of basic salary.

"Our company, which made LE700 million and employs approximately 13,000 workers, distributed a 24-month bonus, whereas sugar manufacturing companies, which made LE400 million in profits and employ over 22,000 workers, handed out a 42-month bonus," he added.

Around 4,000 workers participated in the demonstration, Al-Ahram reported.

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