Egypt's Suez Canal workers stage sit-in
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Board members of Egypt's Suez Canal Trade Union and a group of workers staged a sit-in at the canal's authority headquarter in Ismailia on Tuesday, demanding an increase of their wages.
"We will continue our sit-in until the Suez Canal Authority chairman responds to our demands," said one of the protestors, according to state-run MENA agency.
The protestors promised that their sit-in will not affect the navigation process of the strategic waterway, MENA added.
The Suez Canal is one of the world's most important waterways connecting the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea. The canal's revenue is crucial for Egypt, along with tourism, oil and gas exports.
The workers' sit-in came as the country is struggling against the impacts of the political turmoil, which toppled the 30-year rule of former President Hosni Mubarak.
Various labor strikes occurred across the country after the 18- day upheaval, mostly demanding pay increase.
Egyptian Supreme Council of the Armed Forces warned on Tuesday that further spread of strikes across the country will be disastrous, urging an end to all strikes.
Egypt's Suez Canal revenues in 2010 amounted to 4.77 billion U. S. dollars, increasing by approximately 484 million dollars compared to 2009, according to the Suez Canal authority.
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