Dozens of workers of the Egyptian Company for Metro Management and Operation staged a sit-in on Thursday to protest the resignation of company head Mohamed al-Sheimy. The strike led to passengers being overcrowded in metro stations around Cairo.
Eyewitnesses said that around 200 workers, including drivers and technicians, staged a sit-in that caused the Helwan-El Marg metro line to stop running.
Sheimy, who had been in his position since 2009, submitted his resignation to Transport Minister Ali Zine al-Abidine on Wednesday, who accepted it.
Protesters called on Abidine to reject Sheimy's resignation and demanded their salaries be raised.
Shubra-Giza line stations also witnessed overcrowding on their platforms and passengers lamented the slow pace of metro activity.
Sheimy resigned two days ago, but workers are demanding his return, Ahmed Darweish, deputy head of the Metro Union Committee, said.
Mahmoud Mohamed, a metro driver, said that Sheimy was pressured to resign. “We do not accept his resignation,” he said.
Al-Ahram's website reported that protesters are insisting on continuing their sit-in and suspending work until Prime Minister Essam Sharaf reappoints Sheimy.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
