The following report from Khalud Jasim Muthana, President of the Construction Workers' & Carpenters' Union was given at the recent Conference of Iraqi trade unions organised by the ICFTU in Amman, Jordan to discuss the application of ILO Conventions in Iraq and the development of a labour code for the Iraqi constitution.
"After the fall of the Saddam regime, we began to organise in the construction industry. I was appointed as the President of the preparatory committee, which by 28th June 2004 comprised 42 workplace committees."
"Our first conference was held at Baghdad central railway station and was attended by 250 workers – men and women. The main theme of the conference was to build a new trade union centre. The second theme was for the reinstatement of workers victimised by Saddam’s regime because of union activity. Conference then elected a leadership of 15."
"Since the conference we have managed to form another 18 union committees. We have demanded that the Oil Ministry ensures that oil supplies are maintained to the factories where we organise. We have organised to protect from sabotage, the electricity supplies to workplaces where our members work. We organise in both the public and private sectors."
"We now have about 54 workplace committees, elected by rank and file members. These committees include about 25 women and our policy is to maintain good relations with all Iraqis, whatever their background."
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