Middle Eastern Labour Movements & the Arab Spring

Tracy Walsh and Ian Manborde, co-ordinators of the BA and MA respectively in international labour and trade union studies (ILTUS) at Ruskin College will jointly be delivering a research seminar on Thus 17th November 5.30-7.00pm.

The theme for the seminar will be a focus on the role of labour movements during the Arab Spring and generally as part of uprising across the Middle East seeking democratic reform. Both Tracy and Ian will outline their work with trade unions and NGOs in the Middle East that has been a feature of the protest movements. Tracy will focus on Jordan and her work with the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF). In particular she will discuss her work on gender and leadership with women trade unionists. Ian will focus on work with the Egyptian Centre for Workers & Trade Union Services (CWTUS). Until the Egyptian revolution the CWTUS faced significant state repression and its leader, Kamal Abbas, was brutally assaulted and illegally imprisoned on more than one occasion. Ian will outline the role of the CWTUS in the lead up to the revolution and its current position as supporter of the new Egyptian Federation of Independent Trade Unions (EFITU).

Date: 17 November, 11

Time: 5:30 - 7:00pm

Venue:

Ruskin College
Walton Street
Oxford
OX1 2HE

Contact:

Ian Manborde
E: imanborde@ruskin.ac.uk
T: 01865 759653 / 07900 325379