Alexandria bus and tram workers strike (Photo:Ahram)
Public transport workers in Egypt’s Alexandria suspend strike on Tuesday until the end of April as their demands have been partially met.
“Workers are giving the government a delay to respond to their demands to increase allowances," Tarek Al-Beheri, from the public transport independent union told Ahram Online.
Workers’ decision to suspend the strike came after a meeting between workers’ representatives, the Alexandria governor and leaders of the northern military zone.
The government said it would restore the end of service indemnity of two months for each year of service as well as provide a monthly bonus of LE200 ($28.5).
Hundreds of bus and tram drivers and workers of the Mediterranean city have been on strike since 8 March, as workers who retired this year didn't receive their end of service indemnity.
Prime minister, Ibrahim Mehleb gave a speech to Greater Cairo public transport workers during a ceremony that took place at Cairo governorate headquarters where 40 new public buses were delivered.
A similar strike took place in late February by Greater Cairo public transport workers, demanding higher wages and better buses.
The Greater Cairo strike ended with government promises to meet their financial demands, topped by application of the national minimum wage.
Some 42,000 workers in the public transport sector receive between LE600 ($86) and LE1400 ($200) in monthly wages.
Strikes have spread throughout Egypt since January as workers and employees in the public sector are demanding wage increases in line with the LE1,200 per month (approx. $170) minimum wage for employees in public administration.
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