I visited el-Mahalla el-Kobra on Friday.

Two of the December Ghazl el-Mahalla strike leaders told me that up till now around 6,000 workers have resigned from the government-controlled General Federation of Trade Unions, after the latter’s refusal to impeach the Factory Union Committee. At least 56 resignations a day are sent to the Federation, by registered mail (costing each worker LE2.5 per letter, according to the two labor activists; a huge sum for the workers there believe it or not!).