The head of the Egyptian State Council on Tuesday issued a decision suspending 47 of its employees and deducting half of their salaries, said a judicial source.

He also referred them to the prosecution to investigate the proceedings of their strike which included storming into the halls of the council and preventing judges from holding hearing sessions.

The State Council employees started an open-ended strike at the end of April, demanding an increase in their health insurance, overtime pay and incentives, in order to be on equal footing with employees of other courts.

During their five-day, the workers also demanded banning nepotism and setting the same working hours to all employees without discrimination. 

They striking employees asked that no employee be transferred until after interrogation and proven conviction.