Thousands of Petrotrade Co. (Egyptian Petroleum Trading Service Co.) workers organized a number of sporadic protests at the company’s Cairo branches, joined by workers from Petroment and Syanco petroleum companies.
A number of the protesters demonstrated outside the Ministry of Petroleum in Nasr City to demand salary increases and permanent job assignments.
The protesters chanted “Either Sameh comes down or we go to Tahrir” in reference to Petroleum Minister Sameh Fahmy and in a clear threat that the workers would join the general protest in Tahrir Square if their demands are not met.
The protesters staged sit-ins at the Abdeen, Maadi, Nasr City, Haram and Faisal branches of Petrotrade co., with some 1500 protesters at the Haram and Faisal branches. The workers complained that their monthly salaries of LE500-700 were not sufficient for a dignified life.
The petrol workers said in a statement that they do not receive incentives from the company's annual profits and they demanded their salaries be raised to LE3000-4000 pounds per month.
Meanwhile, one employee said the company's CEO threatened to bring in State Security forces and threatened the laborers on strike with his military connections.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
