Communications Workers back Iraqi unions

The following motion in support of the new Iraqi labour movement was passed by the Executive of the Communication Workers’ Union on 24/02/05.
This Executive notes the election results in Iraq and the timetable for a future constitution for the country. We are concerned that recent attacks on trade unionists in Iraq including
* the kidnapping and beating of transport workers
* the mortar and grenade attack on the headquarters of the Transport and Communication Workers Union
* the attempted murder of Nuzad Ismael,President of the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions in Kirkuk
* the murder of Hadi Salih, the International Secretary of the IFTU on the 4th January
* the kidnapping of Talib Khadim, President of the Iraqi Mechanics, Metalwork & Printing Union
are serious setbacks for the building of any democratic future for Iraq and must be condemned.
Further we also condemn
* death threats to Yanar Mohammed, chair of the Orgnisation for Womens Freedom in Iraq
* the rape, kidnapping and organised intimidation of women in several areas of Iraq under "Resistance" rule
* the declaration of several "Islamicist" groups that they wished to disrupt elections in order to prevent Iraq from "becoming homosexual"
We reaffirm our opposition to the occupying forces and their agenda of military repression and economic exploitation of the people and resources of Iraq. We also oppose the reactionary forces of the "Resistance" who are hostile to the Iraqi working class organisations and democratic and secular forces in Iraq.
We call for the support of all trade union organisations in Iraq (including the Kurdish trade unions) and the Federation of Workers Councils and Unions in Iraq, currently denied recognition by the interim Government. We also support the campaign by trade union organisations in Iraq for democratic labour laws.
We believe it is a priority for the UK labour movement to offer solidarity to the labour movement in Iraq in their attempt to rebuild their country.