More from the Basra workers' conference

Resolutions and recommendation of the first broad conference of Workers of Basra-FWCUI 26.Nov.2004

On November 26, 2004 the first broad conference of the Federation of Workers’ Councils and Unions in Iraq-Basra branch was held. The conference tackled many topics on the role of workers in deciding the political destiny of the society, freedom of unionist struggle and the unity of the Working class. The discussions reflected the view of the FWCUI for the workers’ movement in Iraq in its entirety as part of the working class worldwide. Therefore the Federation believes that the concepts, conclusions, and theoretical framework of the conference must be turned into resolutions and demands as the summery of theses and the discussions of the conference.

The list of the resolutions and recommendations of the conference:

First: guaranteeing intervention of workers and their unions in deciding the state’s structure and participation in taking decisions.

1. Direct participation in legislating laws and endorsing the constitution.

2. Workers unions must be independent of the state and the workers’ right to form unions without the authorization of the government.

3. All resolutions, laws and regulations passed by previous regimes and the current authority, which negate the rights and freedoms of workers, must be abolished.

4. Formation of workers’ bodies to watch the authority in regard to workers’ rights and freedoms.



Second: Recognition in law that workers’ organizations are the affair of workers themselves and authority must not interfere toward restricting workers’ rights and unionist freedoms.

1. Prohibition of passing any resolution which legalize a workers’ organization or federation and not others and regard it the legitimate and legal representative of the unionist movement in the country.

2. Financial support must not be limited to the union authorized by government and unions, which do not belong to the state, must not be deprived from such support.

3. Prohibition of restricting unionist freedoms whether through direct legal ways or through exerting negative and detrimental morale influence.

4. Abolishing all resolutions, which contradict with unionist freedom including resolution number 16, which violates unionist freedoms .

Third: The concept of working class’s unity is the alignment of workers around their fundamental and most important objectives and interests.

1. Workers’ organizations must be a tool at workers’ hands to achieve their objectives and interests

2. Prohibition of making workers organization tools at the hands of authority or forces, which oppose workers.

3. A wide segment of working class-women are not represented in the unionist movement, which is a major weakness point in unionist movement and its credibility in defending the entire working class. Women must be allowed to participate actively in unionist work.

Federation of Workers’ councils and Unions in Iraq

November 26, 2004