A Brief History - Egyptian Musician Workers Union:

In the mid 1940s, and following the end of the Second World War, a movement was begun for the establishment of a Musicians Syndicate. This resulted in the establishment of a Trade Union under the Ministry of Social Welfare. The new union was headed by the singer Mohamed El Kahlawy and Sayed El Gandol. However, this new union did not last for long.

Most of the music activity at the time was conducted through the cafes ( pl. kahawi ) within Mohamed Ali Street, along with the cafes at Bab El Shaereyya and the Arabic Music Club.

Afterwards, a union was formed that included all who worked within the music industry, and was headed by Om Kolthoum and (she became the first chairman of the Musicians), and the governing committee included figures like El Kasabgi, Sheikh Zakariya Ahmed and Mahmoud El Sharif. This newly formed syndicate also belonged to the Ministry of Social Welfare.

In 1954, a new union law was passed, which designated the musicians union as a Workers Union, and a general election followed at the Ezbakeya Garden Theatre, where Mohamed Abdel Wahab and Farid El Atrash were the most prominent candidates. Mohamed Abdel Wahab was declared the winner, and (he became the second chairman of the Musicians Workers Union in 1954).

The current chairman for the Musicians Workers Union elected in 2015 is Hany Shaker.