South Tahrir Farmers Stage Sit-In On Campus, Fight For Their Jobs
BY NADINE AWADALLAH
Workers from AUC’s South Tahrir farm staged a demonstration at the New Cairo campus on November 9, calling for the university to keep open their reclaimed desert land facilities in Buheira Governorate.
President Lisa Anderson told the Caravan that the board of trustees had taken the decision to close the farm facilities.
Anderson said that the university attempted to establish a foundation that would take over and maintain the operations at the farm.
“We went to the board of trustees [this October] on behalf of this foundation and they said no, because they did not think it was central to the mission of this university and it was too much of a risk,” Anderson said.
The workers, however, said they would continue their sit-in until their demands to keep the facilities running are met.
The workers gathered in front of the administration building, raising banners, handing out flyers, and talking to various students and staff about their concerns.
“We are here today because we want to put pressure on the university [for the farm operations to resume],” said Sayed Amin who has worked on the farm for the past five years.
They called on the university to either desist from closing the facility or immediately dispense compensation for the workers and staff that will be laid off as a result of the closure.
Despite organizing a similar demonstration last semester, the workers claim that this time their position is critical.
“This time, the farm is going to be closed by February,” said Amr Hassan, an irrigation technician who has worked at the farm for the past 12 years.
“What we ask of you is to use the power of your voice to be able to talk to the people that are responsible and who will listen to you, because the issue is not about money, or otherwise, it is about the work and us wanting to sustain the farm,” Arif Moussa, the speaker of the group and a training assistant at the farm, told Anderson.
According to information provided to the Caravan last spring by former management of the Desert Development Center, which used to oversee operations at the farms, there were as of the year 2012 at least 457 acres of orchards and forage crops; over 50,000 citrus trees; a training center with four dormitories, an extensive nursery, livestock and dairy facilities, and less than 15 acres of undeveloped land being used to process solid waste.
Meetings to discuss the South Tahrir farm’s future will be held throughout the week. A number of students are planning to stand in solidarity with South Tahrir workers.
Meanwhile, the workers appear to be persistent.
“We’re staying here till our demands are heard,” said Hassan.
