The Workers of Chemical and Plastic Industry in Baghdad concluded their Strike successfully and they Established their Council

The workers of Chemical and Plastic Industry in Baghdad concluded their strike successfully after the administration accepted 7 of their 8 demands raised to the administration. The demands were ; Rises in the minimum wage, Abolishment of the obligatory overtime , Payment of the salary for these workers who have been punished by the administration , Prevention of threats against workers in all forms specially against those who are encouraging the protests, Payment of the compensation determined for professional safety and work hazards, Payment of the yearly Gains of this company to the workers, Replacement of technical Manager because of his mistreatment to the workers and misuse of his position and their demand to return worker Alla Salman to his working place who has been dismissed because of his confrontation with the administration.

After the meeting with the leadership of FWCUI, the labour activists and leaders in this company decided to start a protest and strike in the front of the main entrance of the company and to call workers to join the strike. With the begin of official working ,the workers gathered in front of the main entrance and they distributed the statement of the workers which included their demands and copies of this statement have been also distributed in the around factories and companies.

With the broadening of the strike and gathering of more workers, the administration asked the representative of so called Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions- IFTU for negotiation. But the workers declared that this pro government Union represents the interests of the employee and administration and opposes the demands of the workers and they are not representatives of workers. The workers refused that IFTU to represent them and they harassed this - pro government- Union because they are supporting the policies of this administration and many workers accused them for corruption and to stay always as a barrier in front of the struggle of workers to reach their demands .The Workers requested that the administration should negotiate with the representative of FWCUI and independent workers representatives. The workers held a general meeting and established the Worker council of Chemical and Plastic Industry in Baghdad and elected a delegation for negotiation and prevented the pro- governmental union to interfere .The pro governmental union moved away from the protest meeting and hidden themselves from view to avoid the anger of workers against them.

During the negotiation with the administration, Mr. Sameh Ashur and Faleh Maktuf represented the FWCUI with elected representative of workers.

After a successful conclusion of the negotiation and strike, hundreds of workers joined FWCUI.

The workers of Chemical and Plastic Industry in Baghdad concluded a victory which proves the importance and seriousness of unity of workers.

We congratulate workers for this victory and for the establishment of the Worker Council of Chemical and Plastic Industry in Baghdad which could be a model of what could be concluded if the working class unite around our fundamental demands in our society.

Forward for a better, secure and free live

Long-live the unity of working class



Federation of Workers Councils and Unions in Iraq-FWCUI

05.01.2005