CAIRO: A number of assistant metro drivers have organized a food strike. Their demands are to work in the first stage of the metro's third line which will be open next October, which extends from Attaba to Abasseya. The metro assistants told Youm7 they have been hired as metro drivers in the Egyptian Metro Company to manage and operate the metro trains. They worked as assistant drivers on the first metro railway line, in hopes they will be transferred to the third railway line after its operation as drivers. However, the company has prepared a new staff to operate the third line and ruled the assistant drivers out. The chairman of the Metro Company, Mohamed Shemi, said the company set conditions for the drivers of the third railway line. He says if the striking drivers met these conditions, the Metro Company would hire them immediately. He demanded the suspension of the strike since this time of year exams are in session and it is important to keep the regularity of the metro.