Repression of workers by Iraqi authorities
The Federation of Workers' Councils and Unions in Iraq is trying desperately to form Workers' Councils to defend workers' rights in Iraq. All they want is the right to organize and the right to strike. One such initiative was met with gunfire by the US-backed authorities. The FWCUI appeals to the international community for support.
Organized, dedicated, their ideals set on protecting workers' rights in Iraq and forming workers' councils to discuss questions of common interest, the Iraqi workers are as repressed in certain areas of the country as they were under the former regime.
The movement needs the support of the international community urgently and launches an appeal to all workers' movements, trade unions and political parties which respect and fight for workers' rights to contact the FWCUI to see how they can support the workers of Iraq in their quest to fight for their rights.
More than 350 delegates participated in the last conference in Basra, which as a great success, bringing together members of trade unions and workers' councils from all over Iraq. A united leadership was created to coordinate the rights of workers in southern Iraq.
The FWCUI is now trying to organize the second workers' conference in Baghdad in February, so as to set up a similar united body to coordinate the centre of the country.
"Our second conference is going to be another major step towards uniting workers around a clear progressive platform", declares the Federation, explaining that "It will facilitate the struggle of the workers of Iraq to impose their just demands on the pro-US administration".
Rather than fight the administration, the Federation intends to form strong and independent unions on a nationwide scale to protect the rights of Iraq's workers which are being trampled on by the repressive pro-US regime, as they were under the Ba'ath government.
The Federation intends to form a united working class front but to do so, it is fighting against considerable opposition by the authorities and suffers from a critical lack of funding and international support.
"We desperately need your help and solidarity. Concretely, we are asking for donations - large or small - to help make sure this vital working class gathering can go ahead" (FWCUI).
The Federation needs support to accommodate workers participating in the conference who come from outside Baghdad, to pay for the rent of the venue, transportation, security and food.
Contacts: Aso Jabbar and Houzan Mahmoud- FWCUI
E-mail: asojabbar@yahoo.com (Switzerland), houzan73@yahoo.co.uk (Britain)
Tel: Aso Jabbar (0041 78 882 55 89) , Tel: Houzan Mahmoud (00 44 79 56 88 3001)
Saturday, January 29
Wednesday, January 26
Leather Industry workers organize a large sit-in and dissolve Alhaq association
Workers of the General Company of Leather Industry in al-Karada a suburb in Baghdad started a sit-in inside the company on 17 January 2004 in protest against the way the Ministry and administration handle the workers salaries and allowances. They accused the administration of corruption. The sit-in demands included; replace the administration and the accounting and planning managers in particular. Identify those behind the company’s losses as the administration claims and identify those responsible for the company’s debts from the former regime’s era and stop punishing workers on these debts by stopping their allowances or through putting mental pressure on them by holding the responsible for these debts. Pay workers’ allowances on due dates. Replace those who represent workers before the administration and hold new elections under the supervision of the Federation of Workers’ Councils and Unions in Iraq. Recognize the right of workers to obtain pieces of product to be distributed on them after each production cycle. The delegation of the FWCUI headed by Samih Ashor, the deputy secretary of the federation in attendance of Qasim Hadi, head of the Union of Unemployed in Iraq met a group of workers. The delegation emphasized that workers’ organizations is the affair of workers themselves and that the administration must understand that the workers are the actual producers while its task is organize the production.
It is worth mentioning that the company’s production exceeded 120% of the maximum production planned previously. The delegation of the FWCUI met the administration and informed it about the workers demands. The administration promised to answer the workers’ demands next Wednesday and claimed it agrees with these demand. The Alhaq association established by al-Sadr group was dissolved on demand from the workers and was replaced with a branch for the FWCUI.
Recently various Iraqi cities witnessed a large wave of strikes and workers’ protests and the FWCUI play a key role in organizing and leading these protests as was the case with the protest of workers of energy in Baghdad and Nasiryiah, electricity in Basra, construction workers in Nasiryiah and petrochemical manufactures in Baghdad.
The Ela Alammam reporter learnt that a conference is to be organized for representatives of Iraqi workers in the end of January or early February in Baghdad under the supervision of the FWCUI.
FWCUI
17. Jan 2005
It is worth mentioning that the company’s production exceeded 120% of the maximum production planned previously. The delegation of the FWCUI met the administration and informed it about the workers demands. The administration promised to answer the workers’ demands next Wednesday and claimed it agrees with these demand. The Alhaq association established by al-Sadr group was dissolved on demand from the workers and was replaced with a branch for the FWCUI.
Recently various Iraqi cities witnessed a large wave of strikes and workers’ protests and the FWCUI play a key role in organizing and leading these protests as was the case with the protest of workers of energy in Baghdad and Nasiryiah, electricity in Basra, construction workers in Nasiryiah and petrochemical manufactures in Baghdad.
The Ela Alammam reporter learnt that a conference is to be organized for representatives of Iraqi workers in the end of January or early February in Baghdad under the supervision of the FWCUI.
FWCUI
17. Jan 2005
Monday, January 24
Nadia Mohmood of OWFI on Iraq's elections
Women constitute more than half of the society in Iraq. However, they are locked up inside their houses. It is hard to see them in the streets, which is a truth reported by media outlets abroad. This phenomenon has become so usual that it is taken as self-evident since the US war and the emergence of the political Islam parties.
Women veil prevailed. To worsen things, little girls would rarely be seen walking to school unveiled. Gun opens would be pointed at the women who refuse to put the veil on. This is a very well known truth except in Kurdistan, which has not been affected by the war aftermath.
One would enquire, whilst looking at Saddam’s pictures being replaced by the ones of the mullahs and reading their elections Fatwas mixing politics with religion, what rights and status might the would-be parliament guarantee in Iraq?
What status would women get in this scenario in which the parliament seats are divided among the Islamic council, Muqtada Assadir and ethnocentric Kurdish parties that ignore women rights in their constitutions? Would this parliament represent the greater half of the society and what status would women have in a country whose president is married to three women at the same time?
If women are hardly seen out in streets practicing their everyday activities such as schooling, working, shopping, and having fun in public places since the breakout of the war, and they are subject to threats of the same militias that are running for the elections, how, out of the blue, have their votes become a vital political issue and they should participate in the elections?
Women are threatened to death if they raise a demand. Hence, would one be able to say they have enough space of freedom to express their political will?
When Yanar Mohammed, the chairperson of the Organisation of Women’s Freedom in Iraq- OWFI, demanded a secular constitution, she has received death threats from the same political Islam parties, which are now so excited about the coming elections. Could one talk about freedom while the OWFI has been banned from opening branches in many cities up from the north down to the south of Iraq due to political Islam terrorism? Could one talk about women being able to elect their representatives to the parliament?
Thus, Who would women vote for? Is it the Supreme Islamic Council or Muqtada, who set their courts to confiscate women’s rights, violate their dignity and be treated as second-rate human beings? These courts legalized polygamy, inheritance shares, as women gets half the share of the men, killing for having free sex relations, banning women from traveling unless accompanied by a custodian, and least but not last banning women from assuming any tangible positions in the government bodies.
Well, they are after women’s votes that are now as precious as gold- as they wrote it on the walls- . Then, they would be condemned if they raise any demand. This is a bad bargain. Women have nothing to do with this. The would-be parliament would not represent women’s will since they are out of the game because they are “women” in a society where they destined not to speak out, rule, and be under the custody of men according to Islam, the religion of the state.
What kind of constitution would the parliament enact? The first two articles would be; Iraq is an Arab state, and Islam is the official religion of the state. All laws would be enacted according the Islamic Sharia and religion. They will not come up with a new constitution, so why and to whom would women in Iraq vote?
Women and their libertarian movement stand out and against this false political game, which deprives the masses from their free will. Free vote starts with the end of the occupation. It starts with freeing the political arena from political Islam and its terrorist militias. Free vote is applicable only when equal citizenship is materialized for each and every person in Iraq, when Iraq is no more taken as an Arab and Islamic state, and when a secular government is established to separate religion from the state. These are the prerequisites for the women in Iraq to secure their equal rights and their true humane dignity, not an Islamic parliament or constitution which is designed and based on sexual segregation against women.
Women’s struggle for a society where their rights and freedoms are materialized has been running for decades. They demand a secular constitution, the end of the occupation, the end of Islamic movements influence, and equal rights with men. Women are running a fierce struggle to achieve these rights and demands. This struggle would not go ahead unless united and aligned with vast ranks of the masses aiming at true freedom of choice and equality. The Worker-communist Party of Iraq is the forerunner of this movement.
Women veil prevailed. To worsen things, little girls would rarely be seen walking to school unveiled. Gun opens would be pointed at the women who refuse to put the veil on. This is a very well known truth except in Kurdistan, which has not been affected by the war aftermath.
One would enquire, whilst looking at Saddam’s pictures being replaced by the ones of the mullahs and reading their elections Fatwas mixing politics with religion, what rights and status might the would-be parliament guarantee in Iraq?
What status would women get in this scenario in which the parliament seats are divided among the Islamic council, Muqtada Assadir and ethnocentric Kurdish parties that ignore women rights in their constitutions? Would this parliament represent the greater half of the society and what status would women have in a country whose president is married to three women at the same time?
If women are hardly seen out in streets practicing their everyday activities such as schooling, working, shopping, and having fun in public places since the breakout of the war, and they are subject to threats of the same militias that are running for the elections, how, out of the blue, have their votes become a vital political issue and they should participate in the elections?
Women are threatened to death if they raise a demand. Hence, would one be able to say they have enough space of freedom to express their political will?
When Yanar Mohammed, the chairperson of the Organisation of Women’s Freedom in Iraq- OWFI, demanded a secular constitution, she has received death threats from the same political Islam parties, which are now so excited about the coming elections. Could one talk about freedom while the OWFI has been banned from opening branches in many cities up from the north down to the south of Iraq due to political Islam terrorism? Could one talk about women being able to elect their representatives to the parliament?
Thus, Who would women vote for? Is it the Supreme Islamic Council or Muqtada, who set their courts to confiscate women’s rights, violate their dignity and be treated as second-rate human beings? These courts legalized polygamy, inheritance shares, as women gets half the share of the men, killing for having free sex relations, banning women from traveling unless accompanied by a custodian, and least but not last banning women from assuming any tangible positions in the government bodies.
Well, they are after women’s votes that are now as precious as gold- as they wrote it on the walls- . Then, they would be condemned if they raise any demand. This is a bad bargain. Women have nothing to do with this. The would-be parliament would not represent women’s will since they are out of the game because they are “women” in a society where they destined not to speak out, rule, and be under the custody of men according to Islam, the religion of the state.
What kind of constitution would the parliament enact? The first two articles would be; Iraq is an Arab state, and Islam is the official religion of the state. All laws would be enacted according the Islamic Sharia and religion. They will not come up with a new constitution, so why and to whom would women in Iraq vote?
Women and their libertarian movement stand out and against this false political game, which deprives the masses from their free will. Free vote starts with the end of the occupation. It starts with freeing the political arena from political Islam and its terrorist militias. Free vote is applicable only when equal citizenship is materialized for each and every person in Iraq, when Iraq is no more taken as an Arab and Islamic state, and when a secular government is established to separate religion from the state. These are the prerequisites for the women in Iraq to secure their equal rights and their true humane dignity, not an Islamic parliament or constitution which is designed and based on sexual segregation against women.
Women’s struggle for a society where their rights and freedoms are materialized has been running for decades. They demand a secular constitution, the end of the occupation, the end of Islamic movements influence, and equal rights with men. Women are running a fierce struggle to achieve these rights and demands. This struggle would not go ahead unless united and aligned with vast ranks of the masses aiming at true freedom of choice and equality. The Worker-communist Party of Iraq is the forerunner of this movement.
Friday, January 21
Stan Crooke's report of Cambridge TUC's discussion on the murder of Hadi Salih
The January meeting of Cambridge Trades Union Council (CTUC) passed the following motion: "Cambridge Trades Council condemns the murder of Iraqi trade unionist Hadi Salih, the murderers of Hadi Salih, and the apologists for the murder and murderers of Hadi Salih."
"Cambridge Trades Council resolves to produce and circulate a further leaflet calling for support for Iraqi trade unionists which covers: the attacks on, and murders of, Iraqi trade unionists and workers; recent developments in the Iraqi trade union movement; support for Iraqi trade unions from UK unions." When the motion had been passed by a local Amicus branch a fortnight earlier for forwarding to CTUC a branch member had commented how "uncontroversial" the motion was.
But when the motion was discussed at the CTUC meeting, it proved to be anything but "uncontroversial". It was passed only on the casting vote of the chairperson!
The SWP/Respect/Stop the War Coalition bloc led the opposition to the motion, backed up by the isolationist wing of the British trade union movement ("Iraq? Let sleeping dogs lie.").
"Hadi Salih was a member of the Communist Party." But how do his political affiliations excuse his murder? Are all Communist Party members in Iraq 'legitimate targets'?
"The Communist Party collaborates with the puppet government." In one form or another, most Iraqis could be accused of 'collaboration' (e.g. intending to vote in this month's elections). Are most Iraqis therefore 'legitimate targets?
"Hadi Salih was not elected to his union position of international spokesperson." So Owen Tudor, Hadi Salih's counterpart in the TUC, is a legitimate target as well? (He holds an un-elected position.) "How can trade unions operate under conditions of occupation?" Perhaps like the Japanese unions who organized a general strike under the post-war American occupation?
"We should be condemning Falujah and the 100,000 deaths caused by the Americans." But why counterpose condemnation of the US (and the British) to condemnation of the anti-working class 'resistance'?
"The French resistance killed a lot of people as well." But many socialists at the time were critical of both the politics and the tactics of the French resistance. In any case, the 'resistance' in Iraq has more in common with the Nazis who occupied France than with the French who opposed them.
A proposal that the first sentence of the motion be deleted and replaced by a condemnation of Falujah and the American occupation was floated but not pursued.
Instead, when the vote was called, the 'anti-imperialist' bloc voted outright against the motion another glorious chapter in the annals of the British socialist movement!
And one which gives the lie to the claims of the Stop the War Coalition that it condemns the murder of Hadi Salih.
"Cambridge Trades Council resolves to produce and circulate a further leaflet calling for support for Iraqi trade unionists which covers: the attacks on, and murders of, Iraqi trade unionists and workers; recent developments in the Iraqi trade union movement; support for Iraqi trade unions from UK unions." When the motion had been passed by a local Amicus branch a fortnight earlier for forwarding to CTUC a branch member had commented how "uncontroversial" the motion was.
But when the motion was discussed at the CTUC meeting, it proved to be anything but "uncontroversial". It was passed only on the casting vote of the chairperson!
The SWP/Respect/Stop the War Coalition bloc led the opposition to the motion, backed up by the isolationist wing of the British trade union movement ("Iraq? Let sleeping dogs lie.").
"Hadi Salih was a member of the Communist Party." But how do his political affiliations excuse his murder? Are all Communist Party members in Iraq 'legitimate targets'?
"The Communist Party collaborates with the puppet government." In one form or another, most Iraqis could be accused of 'collaboration' (e.g. intending to vote in this month's elections). Are most Iraqis therefore 'legitimate targets?
"Hadi Salih was not elected to his union position of international spokesperson." So Owen Tudor, Hadi Salih's counterpart in the TUC, is a legitimate target as well? (He holds an un-elected position.) "How can trade unions operate under conditions of occupation?" Perhaps like the Japanese unions who organized a general strike under the post-war American occupation?
"We should be condemning Falujah and the 100,000 deaths caused by the Americans." But why counterpose condemnation of the US (and the British) to condemnation of the anti-working class 'resistance'?
"The French resistance killed a lot of people as well." But many socialists at the time were critical of both the politics and the tactics of the French resistance. In any case, the 'resistance' in Iraq has more in common with the Nazis who occupied France than with the French who opposed them.
A proposal that the first sentence of the motion be deleted and replaced by a condemnation of Falujah and the American occupation was floated but not pursued.
Instead, when the vote was called, the 'anti-imperialist' bloc voted outright against the motion another glorious chapter in the annals of the British socialist movement!
And one which gives the lie to the claims of the Stop the War Coalition that it condemns the murder of Hadi Salih.
TUC Conference on Iraqi Trade Unions
TUC Solidarity Conference
Congress House London WC1
10:30am to 5pm
Monday, 14 February 2005
Trade unions in Iraq: what British unions can do to help
Iraqi trade unionists need our help to rebuild their movement and cope with
the problems of violence, unemployment and privatisation. They need money
for equipment, leaflets and organisers. They want training on collective
bargaining, promoting women inside the union, and dealing with labour law.
The TUC Aid for Iraq Appeal is raising money, British unions and providing
material support and courses. But we¹ve only just started and we¹re only
scratching the surface.
This conference is about how we go beyond a good start and really begin to
make a difference. Unions are encouraged to send delegates who will return
with ideas, information and a renewed commitment.
Speakers from the key Iraqi and Kurdish trade union confederations and
sectoral unions will explain what challenges trade unionism faces in Iraq
and what it¹s like being an Iraqi trade unionist. People already working on
solidarity projects will explain what they¹re doing. And there will be
workshops discussing what we can do to help Iraqi unions.
The registration fee includes a donation to the TUC Aid for Iraq Appeal, but
there will also be a collection at the conference.
Registration fee - £30 including VAT. Cheques should be made payable to "TUC
Aid"
Please return the attached form to: Pat Brown, EUIRD, TUC, Congress House,
Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3LS (tel: 020 7467 1226 - fax: 020 7436
2830 email: pbrown@tuc.org.uk)
Congress House London WC1
10:30am to 5pm
Monday, 14 February 2005
Trade unions in Iraq: what British unions can do to help
Iraqi trade unionists need our help to rebuild their movement and cope with
the problems of violence, unemployment and privatisation. They need money
for equipment, leaflets and organisers. They want training on collective
bargaining, promoting women inside the union, and dealing with labour law.
The TUC Aid for Iraq Appeal is raising money, British unions and providing
material support and courses. But we¹ve only just started and we¹re only
scratching the surface.
This conference is about how we go beyond a good start and really begin to
make a difference. Unions are encouraged to send delegates who will return
with ideas, information and a renewed commitment.
Speakers from the key Iraqi and Kurdish trade union confederations and
sectoral unions will explain what challenges trade unionism faces in Iraq
and what it¹s like being an Iraqi trade unionist. People already working on
solidarity projects will explain what they¹re doing. And there will be
workshops discussing what we can do to help Iraqi unions.
The registration fee includes a donation to the TUC Aid for Iraq Appeal, but
there will also be a collection at the conference.
Registration fee - £30 including VAT. Cheques should be made payable to "TUC
Aid"
Please return the attached form to: Pat Brown, EUIRD, TUC, Congress House,
Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3LS (tel: 020 7467 1226 - fax: 020 7436
2830 email: pbrown@tuc.org.uk)
CPD (USA) Statement on the murder of Hadi Salih
OPPONENTS OF THE OCCUPATION CONDEMN
ATTACKS ON IRAQI TRADE UNIONISTS
We, who opposed the U.S.-led war on Iraq and who call for an immediate end
to the occupation of that country, are appalled by the torture and
assassination in Baghdad on January 4, 2005 of Hadi Salih, International
Officer of the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU). There are also
disturbing reports of intimidation, death threats and murders targeting
other IFTU members, trade unionists in general, and political activists.
We utterly condemn the assassination of Hadi Salih. We call upon all sides
in the conflict in Iraq to respect the rights of non-combatants as required
by international law and to recognize the rights of workers to organize
freely, without threat or harm, in trade unions of their own choosing in
accordance with International Labor Organization (ILO) standards.
We believe that the physical targeting of trade unionists is in no way
politically or morally acceptable, even though we disagree strongly with
the IFTU's support of UN Resolution 1546, which supports the U.S. military
presence in Iraq. This resolution has been used by the Bush Administration
to justify keeping U.S. troops in the country.
We also oppose the victory of those elements of the resistance whose agenda
is to impose a repressive, authoritarian regime on the Iraqi people,
whether that regime is Baathist or theocratic-fundamentalist. We do not
know whether such authoritarian elements have gained decisive control over
the resistance to the U.S. forces and their Iraqi and international allies.
We do know, however, that the continuing occupation of Iraq, which grows
more brutal with every passing day, only strengthens these elements,
increases their influence over the resistance and makes their ultimate
victory more likely.
We further oppose the occupation because it is part and parcel of an
imperial U.S. foreign policy that shores up undemocratic regimes like those
of Saudi Arabia and Egypt, gives one-sided support to Israel against the
Palestinians, and promotes unjust, inequitable economic policies throughout
the world. Not only in Iraq but throughout the Middle East and globally
U.S. foreign and military policy either directly or indirectly subverts
freedom and democracy.
ATTACKS ON IRAQI TRADE UNIONISTS
We, who opposed the U.S.-led war on Iraq and who call for an immediate end
to the occupation of that country, are appalled by the torture and
assassination in Baghdad on January 4, 2005 of Hadi Salih, International
Officer of the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU). There are also
disturbing reports of intimidation, death threats and murders targeting
other IFTU members, trade unionists in general, and political activists.
We utterly condemn the assassination of Hadi Salih. We call upon all sides
in the conflict in Iraq to respect the rights of non-combatants as required
by international law and to recognize the rights of workers to organize
freely, without threat or harm, in trade unions of their own choosing in
accordance with International Labor Organization (ILO) standards.
We believe that the physical targeting of trade unionists is in no way
politically or morally acceptable, even though we disagree strongly with
the IFTU's support of UN Resolution 1546, which supports the U.S. military
presence in Iraq. This resolution has been used by the Bush Administration
to justify keeping U.S. troops in the country.
We also oppose the victory of those elements of the resistance whose agenda
is to impose a repressive, authoritarian regime on the Iraqi people,
whether that regime is Baathist or theocratic-fundamentalist. We do not
know whether such authoritarian elements have gained decisive control over
the resistance to the U.S. forces and their Iraqi and international allies.
We do know, however, that the continuing occupation of Iraq, which grows
more brutal with every passing day, only strengthens these elements,
increases their influence over the resistance and makes their ultimate
victory more likely.
We further oppose the occupation because it is part and parcel of an
imperial U.S. foreign policy that shores up undemocratic regimes like those
of Saudi Arabia and Egypt, gives one-sided support to Israel against the
Palestinians, and promotes unjust, inequitable economic policies throughout
the world. Not only in Iraq but throughout the Middle East and globally
U.S. foreign and military policy either directly or indirectly subverts
freedom and democracy.
Wednesday, January 19
Why we boycott the so called Election in Iraq and are calling on people to defeat it?
0rganization of Women’s Freedom in Iraq (OWFI) -UK representative:
Will hold a seminar in London to discuss issues around the so called election in Iraq and women’s question:
· the catastrophic political consequences of legalizing the ethno-religious based parties in power
· the constitution writing process to be handled by the most reactionary groups
· the insecurity, humanitarian disaster and daily death toll
· the importance of boycotting it by the progressive and secular masses inside and outside Iraq
Join us to know more about the ways in which you can support a bright alternative for the people and the women in Iraq.
Venue: ULU -Malet Street
Room 3D London WC1E 7HY
Nearest tube station is Goodge Street
Date & Time: 27/01/2005 at (6.30.00-9.30.00PM)
Speakers:
Yanar Mohammed: Chair of OWFI and a renowned leader known internationally for her activism for women’s rights in Iraq.
Muayad Ahmed: Member of Political bureau of Worker-communist party of Iraq and a co-founder of federation of Workers councils and unions in Iraq.
For more information please contact the organizer:
Houzan Mahmoud E-mail: houzan73@yahoo.co.uk Tel: 079 56 88 3001
Will hold a seminar in London to discuss issues around the so called election in Iraq and women’s question:
· the catastrophic political consequences of legalizing the ethno-religious based parties in power
· the constitution writing process to be handled by the most reactionary groups
· the insecurity, humanitarian disaster and daily death toll
· the importance of boycotting it by the progressive and secular masses inside and outside Iraq
Join us to know more about the ways in which you can support a bright alternative for the people and the women in Iraq.
Venue: ULU -Malet Street
Room 3D London WC1E 7HY
Nearest tube station is Goodge Street
Date & Time: 27/01/2005 at (6.30.00-9.30.00PM)
Speakers:
Yanar Mohammed: Chair of OWFI and a renowned leader known internationally for her activism for women’s rights in Iraq.
Muayad Ahmed: Member of Political bureau of Worker-communist party of Iraq and a co-founder of federation of Workers councils and unions in Iraq.
For more information please contact the organizer:
Houzan Mahmoud E-mail: houzan73@yahoo.co.uk Tel: 079 56 88 3001
Tuesday, January 18
Urgent appeal for financial support for the workers conference in Baghdad
To all unions, labour organizations, political parties and individuals -
support the forthcoming conference of workers in Baghdad!
Dear comrades and supporters of the struggle of workers in Iraq:
The federation of workers councils and unions in Iraq (FWCUI) is preparing
its second workers' conference in Iraq. This event will take place in
Baghdad in February 2005. As you are aware, we have already held a
successful conference in Basra that attracted more than 350 representatives
of workers from various unions and factories and from different cities in
south Iraq. These participants created a united leadership to move towards
a more coordinated struggle of workers across the south. This has provided
a model for workers in other parts of Iraq and now - responding to the
demands of workers in Baghdad and other cities in central Iraq - FWCUI is
preparing this second conference.
Our second conference is going to be another major step towards uniting
workers around a clear progressive platform. It will facilitate the
struggle of the workers of Iraq to impose their just demands on the pro-US
administration. Crucially, it will also be a boost to the formation of
strong independent unions across Iraq, fighting workers' organizations that
are independent and opposed to the US's repressive machinations against our
class. The reason workers are gathering around our federation is because
of its intransigent commitment to independent working class principles and
its defense of workers' rights. All of this was evidenced in recent
successful wave of strikes lead by FWCUI.
The workers of Iraq are determined to hold their conference in Baghdad, the
capital of their country. This conference will be an essential organizing
tool to strengthen the many local initiatives that are taking place in the
field of trade union struggles as well as to forge a united working class
front with the struggles that are taking place the length and breadth of Iraq.
But we desperately need your help and solidarity. Concretely, we are asking
for donations - large or small - to help make sure this vital working class
gathering can go ahead.
The FWCUI's budget for this conference is $10,000
We need this money In order to accommodate workers coming from different
parts of the country as well transport, security, food, publicity, renting
hall, etc.
Please rush your donations to FWCUI - help make sure that this historic
step forward for working people in Iraq actually takes place.
In solidarity
Aso Jabbar and Houzan Mahmoud- FWCUI
For more information please contact:
Aso Jabbar
Houzan Mahmoud
E-mail:
asojabbar@yahoo.com (Switzerland)
houzan73@yahoo.co.uk (Britain)
support the forthcoming conference of workers in Baghdad!
Dear comrades and supporters of the struggle of workers in Iraq:
The federation of workers councils and unions in Iraq (FWCUI) is preparing
its second workers' conference in Iraq. This event will take place in
Baghdad in February 2005. As you are aware, we have already held a
successful conference in Basra that attracted more than 350 representatives
of workers from various unions and factories and from different cities in
south Iraq. These participants created a united leadership to move towards
a more coordinated struggle of workers across the south. This has provided
a model for workers in other parts of Iraq and now - responding to the
demands of workers in Baghdad and other cities in central Iraq - FWCUI is
preparing this second conference.
Our second conference is going to be another major step towards uniting
workers around a clear progressive platform. It will facilitate the
struggle of the workers of Iraq to impose their just demands on the pro-US
administration. Crucially, it will also be a boost to the formation of
strong independent unions across Iraq, fighting workers' organizations that
are independent and opposed to the US's repressive machinations against our
class. The reason workers are gathering around our federation is because
of its intransigent commitment to independent working class principles and
its defense of workers' rights. All of this was evidenced in recent
successful wave of strikes lead by FWCUI.
The workers of Iraq are determined to hold their conference in Baghdad, the
capital of their country. This conference will be an essential organizing
tool to strengthen the many local initiatives that are taking place in the
field of trade union struggles as well as to forge a united working class
front with the struggles that are taking place the length and breadth of Iraq.
But we desperately need your help and solidarity. Concretely, we are asking
for donations - large or small - to help make sure this vital working class
gathering can go ahead.
The FWCUI's budget for this conference is $10,000
We need this money In order to accommodate workers coming from different
parts of the country as well transport, security, food, publicity, renting
hall, etc.
Please rush your donations to FWCUI - help make sure that this historic
step forward for working people in Iraq actually takes place.
In solidarity
Aso Jabbar and Houzan Mahmoud- FWCUI
For more information please contact:
Aso Jabbar
Houzan Mahmoud
E-mail:
asojabbar@yahoo.com (Switzerland)
houzan73@yahoo.co.uk (Britain)
Friday, January 14
JOHN LLOYD (Editor FT Magazine) on why trade unions offer vital hope for Iraq (from Labour Friends of Iraq website)
Hadi Salih was killed on Tuesday last week. He had tried to get some independent trade union activity going in Iraq under Saddam - who had regarded trade unionists, as the good pupil of Stalin's that he was, as an extension of his Ba'ath Party and his state's power: 'transmission belts' to carry the orders and ideology from top to the masses. Once the Ba'ath tyranny was removed, he was able to operate freely once more. He thought.
I had met him once, when he came to London on a tour of Europe to garner support for the establishment of the post-dictatorship unions. He was reserved, slow moving, dignified; he spoke no English, and so conversation was stilted. He thought he could get unions going among the oil workers in the south; among state employees; in transport. He thought there would be a lot of support for the idea. But, he added - according to the notes I took at the time - "people are still frightened. It will take time to end that".
Murder, not time, ended him. He was murdered because the work he was
involved in was an attempt to give to working people what unions did when they were first created in the early 19th century: a sense of solidarity in labour, and a strength to bargain with employers and the state which otherwise would have too much power over them, if viewed only as individuals. Unionism at its best was not anti-, but pro-individualist. It sought to allow people who might be - were - treated as mere factors of production to gain some basis for a life outside toil; what we now call private life, or leisure - that which makes an individual more fully an individual.
His murderers hate such individualism. They are the inheritors of an ideology which demanded either total obeisance to the state or to a version of Islam dictated by men who use the religion, just as brutally as did the medieval monarchs and nobles who tortured and burned their states free of heretics, or individualists, as we would call them now. It is no accident that the missives sent into the airwaves by Osama bin Laden or his lieutenants talk still of
'Crusaders' as, with Jews, their main enemy: the world they wish to recreate is one where faith could be allied to power to exact and retain total obedience, on pain of death.
That is what is at stake in the coming election, and this past week's murder makes that rather more brutally clear than it was before. Focusing on the possibility or not of the elections later this month, we tend to ignore the indispensable partner to free choice of representatives - that is, civil society. And civil society is the warp and woof of individuals' lives when they live together freely in society: the associations, networks, arrangements, private deals, negotiations, local markets, clubs, societies, religions ... and trade unions. Those things which humans all over the world have developed or copied, to give themselves a sense of themselves as more than just atomised individuals or families, with nothing else between them and the state, or them and the state church.
The heirs of Saddam who committed the murder do not just hate America, or the West. They hate the possibilities which civil society brings, once it begins to spring up. Civil society is always subversive of totalitarian or authoritarian power: in democracies, it sets limits on the exercise of legitimate power. It demands diversity, difference, debate. It cannot work without respect for difference, whether that be of sex, of politics, of religion or of race. It does not have to be 'western' in the way it does this: it can draw on Muslim and other
traditions of co-existence. Muslim societies, as Morocco, have (with restrictions) had Jewish communities live among Muslims for centuries - even if, as in Christian countries before modern times, the two peoples were discouraged or forbidden to intermarry.
Is this possible? The signs are not good, at least in Baghdad and in the 'Sunni triangle' all about it. There were many murders this past week, both of Iraqis and of US soldiers. A bomb destroyed part of the office of Iyad Allawi, the Iraqi prime minister, on Monday – which shows with what impunity the insurgents can operate in the capital. Worse, those election officials who had been supposed to oversee the polls in the Sunni areas have resigned in their dozens, fearing that they will be targeted.
Many of the Sunnis seem likely to withdraw - either fearful of the consequences of a vote, or genuinely believing that to vote is to legitimise a US-backed, Shia-majority rule which will make matters worse for them in the long run. The posters calling for an election are themselves Western inspired: one shows a big-eyed, charming baby, and has the slogan 'it's their right to dream of an independent Iraq'.
It doesn't seem to be charming many of the Sunnis: a policeman in the Sunni town of Salman Pak told reporters earlier this week that "everyone [in the town] supports the resistance and everyone rejects the elections because they will prolong the occupation".
The hope must lie elsewhere in the country's south, in the Kurdish north and even with the Sunni groups who still seem determined to take part in, rather than support the wrecking of, the political process. For these Sunnis, and most of the Shias, the prospect of a society which we have come to call 'normal' is less identified with the occupation, more a matter of having a free life, with some security, some material prospects and some possibility of human solidarity beyond family and clan.
Trade unions are, in fact, one of the best means of achieving such solidarity. They have done so in the past - when, as in this country, they brought together Catholics and Protestants in Britain and Ireland who might otherwise have been fiercely opposed; when they organised Muslims and Israelis in Israel, before the Intifada and the Israeli retaliation made it impossible; when they brought in blacks to what had been white unions in the US, before and after the last war. They were always opposed, precisely for these reasons, by groups who wanted the rival ideologies of nationalism, fundamentalism or race superiority to remain in force. They are being opposed again in Iraq, and that opposition has claimed a brave life. It will claim more.
I had met him once, when he came to London on a tour of Europe to garner support for the establishment of the post-dictatorship unions. He was reserved, slow moving, dignified; he spoke no English, and so conversation was stilted. He thought he could get unions going among the oil workers in the south; among state employees; in transport. He thought there would be a lot of support for the idea. But, he added - according to the notes I took at the time - "people are still frightened. It will take time to end that".
Murder, not time, ended him. He was murdered because the work he was
involved in was an attempt to give to working people what unions did when they were first created in the early 19th century: a sense of solidarity in labour, and a strength to bargain with employers and the state which otherwise would have too much power over them, if viewed only as individuals. Unionism at its best was not anti-, but pro-individualist. It sought to allow people who might be - were - treated as mere factors of production to gain some basis for a life outside toil; what we now call private life, or leisure - that which makes an individual more fully an individual.
His murderers hate such individualism. They are the inheritors of an ideology which demanded either total obeisance to the state or to a version of Islam dictated by men who use the religion, just as brutally as did the medieval monarchs and nobles who tortured and burned their states free of heretics, or individualists, as we would call them now. It is no accident that the missives sent into the airwaves by Osama bin Laden or his lieutenants talk still of
'Crusaders' as, with Jews, their main enemy: the world they wish to recreate is one where faith could be allied to power to exact and retain total obedience, on pain of death.
That is what is at stake in the coming election, and this past week's murder makes that rather more brutally clear than it was before. Focusing on the possibility or not of the elections later this month, we tend to ignore the indispensable partner to free choice of representatives - that is, civil society. And civil society is the warp and woof of individuals' lives when they live together freely in society: the associations, networks, arrangements, private deals, negotiations, local markets, clubs, societies, religions ... and trade unions. Those things which humans all over the world have developed or copied, to give themselves a sense of themselves as more than just atomised individuals or families, with nothing else between them and the state, or them and the state church.
The heirs of Saddam who committed the murder do not just hate America, or the West. They hate the possibilities which civil society brings, once it begins to spring up. Civil society is always subversive of totalitarian or authoritarian power: in democracies, it sets limits on the exercise of legitimate power. It demands diversity, difference, debate. It cannot work without respect for difference, whether that be of sex, of politics, of religion or of race. It does not have to be 'western' in the way it does this: it can draw on Muslim and other
traditions of co-existence. Muslim societies, as Morocco, have (with restrictions) had Jewish communities live among Muslims for centuries - even if, as in Christian countries before modern times, the two peoples were discouraged or forbidden to intermarry.
Is this possible? The signs are not good, at least in Baghdad and in the 'Sunni triangle' all about it. There were many murders this past week, both of Iraqis and of US soldiers. A bomb destroyed part of the office of Iyad Allawi, the Iraqi prime minister, on Monday – which shows with what impunity the insurgents can operate in the capital. Worse, those election officials who had been supposed to oversee the polls in the Sunni areas have resigned in their dozens, fearing that they will be targeted.
Many of the Sunnis seem likely to withdraw - either fearful of the consequences of a vote, or genuinely believing that to vote is to legitimise a US-backed, Shia-majority rule which will make matters worse for them in the long run. The posters calling for an election are themselves Western inspired: one shows a big-eyed, charming baby, and has the slogan 'it's their right to dream of an independent Iraq'.
It doesn't seem to be charming many of the Sunnis: a policeman in the Sunni town of Salman Pak told reporters earlier this week that "everyone [in the town] supports the resistance and everyone rejects the elections because they will prolong the occupation".
The hope must lie elsewhere in the country's south, in the Kurdish north and even with the Sunni groups who still seem determined to take part in, rather than support the wrecking of, the political process. For these Sunnis, and most of the Shias, the prospect of a society which we have come to call 'normal' is less identified with the occupation, more a matter of having a free life, with some security, some material prospects and some possibility of human solidarity beyond family and clan.
Trade unions are, in fact, one of the best means of achieving such solidarity. They have done so in the past - when, as in this country, they brought together Catholics and Protestants in Britain and Ireland who might otherwise have been fiercely opposed; when they organised Muslims and Israelis in Israel, before the Intifada and the Israeli retaliation made it impossible; when they brought in blacks to what had been white unions in the US, before and after the last war. They were always opposed, precisely for these reasons, by groups who wanted the rival ideologies of nationalism, fundamentalism or race superiority to remain in force. They are being opposed again in Iraq, and that opposition has claimed a brave life. It will claim more.
The murder of Hadi Saleh – why are you silent? An open letter to the leaders of the Stop the War Coalition (from Labour Friends of Iraq)
We invite anyone who supports the views expressed in this Open Letter, whatever political party they support, to sign it - email us at info@labourfriendsofiraq.org.uk
Signatories include the following and the list is still open.
Harry Barnes MP, Peter Tatchell, Professor Sir Bernard Crick, Meg Munn MP, Wayne David MP, David Aaronovitch, Kawa Besarani (Iraqi political activist), Joanna White (Amicus national political committee), Kate Ahrens (UNISON National Executive, personal capacity), Maria Exall (CWU National Executive, personal capacity), John Mann MP, Dennis Bates (Barnsley Central CLP), Alan Johnson (South Lakeland Stop the War, Research Officer of Labour Friends of Iraq, NATFHE), Jane Ashworth (Chair, Labour Friends of Iraq, Reading East Labour Party, PCS), Gary Kent (Director, Labour Friends of Iraq, also personal capacity TGWU/NUJ), Martin Pagell (Labour Councillor, Manchester City Council), Simon Pottinger (Middlesbrough and East Cleveland Labour Party), David Harry, Dr Jeremy Stangroom (The Philosophers' Magazine, www.philosophers.co.uk), Councillor Clive Furness (London Borough of Newham), Ben Harris, Barry Winter (ILP, North East Leeds CLP, NATFHE personal capacity), Clive Bradley (anti-war activist), Nigel Bunyan, John O'Farrell, Belfast (personal capacity, NUJ), Nick Cohen (writer), Phil Dore (LFIQ and Cardiff North CLP), David Boothroyd (Labour Councillor for Westbourne Ward, Westminster City Council), Debbie Williams (South Lakeland Stop the War, TGWU personal capacity) Sacha Zarb (PCS and Greenwich Labour Party), Dan Paskins (Labour Councillor, Oxford), Paul Anderson. Nathan Yeowell (Battersea CLP), David Toube, K M Tyrie (Community and Public Service Union, CPSU personal capacity), Chris Martin, Stephen Marks (Oxford East CLP), Rich Watts, James Kettle (Westminster & City CLP), John Medhurst (PCS personal capacity), Declan McVeigh (NUJ, London - personal capacity), Graham Lloyd, Norman Geras, Kevin Sturr (Regional Food for Peace Officer, USAID Senegal), William Brown (ILP, Sheffield Central CLP - personal capacity) Anthony Cox (AMICUS member), Oliver Kershaw, Cllr Andrew Brown (Blackheath Ward, London Borough of Lewisham), Eric Lee, Bert Ward (Middlesbrough),Councillor Gareth Davies (Blyth Valley Borough Council, Chair. Cramlington West Branch, Blyth Valley CLP), Richard Sanderson (Labour Party member, Lee Ward - Lewisham CLP), Antonia Bance (Labour Prospective Parliamentary Candidate Oxford West and Abingdon), Ophelia Benson (www.butterfliesandwheels.com), Nick Brereton (anti-war activist and socialist, Newcastle), David Grant (Teacher of History/Modern Studies, Glasgow), Dr Conrad Russell (Senior Lecturer in Sociology, Leeds Metropolitan University, personal capacity), Christine A.Howell (member Reading East CLP), Alliance for Workers Liberty ("without politically endorsing the current electoral and reconstruction efforts"), Joe Baxter (Edinburgh Iraqi Solidarity Activist)
“The StWC reaffirms its call for an end to the occupation, the return of all British troops in Iraq to this country and recognises once more the legitimacy of the struggle of Iraqis, by whatever means they find necessary, to secure such ends”. Statement issued by the officers of the Stop the war Coalition, signed by Lindsey German, Convenor, and Andrew Murray, Chair of the StWC.
“Right now, the STWC supports “the resistance” in Iraq by any means necessary – a tacit endorsement of the suicide bombing, hostage-taking and execution of innocent civilians, including brave, selfless aid workers, election supervisors and ordinary Iraqis on their way to school and work. The STWC justifies this carnage in the name of “national liberation” (sic). Motivated more by hatred of the US and British governments than by love for the Iraqi people, many so-called leftists support a “resistance” that, if victorious, would bring to power Baathists, Islamic fundamentalists and pro-al-Qaeda militants. Is that what the left now stands for? Neo-fascism, so long as it is anti-western?” Peter Tatchell, ‘The Left’s Retreat from Universal Human Rights’, December 18 2004
The murder of Hadi Saleh and the silence of the Stop the War Coalition Leaders
The torture and murder of Hadi Saleh, International Officer of the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions on January 4 was part of a wave of attacks on Iraqi trade unionists by the ‘resistance’. Make no mistake about it, the ‘resistance’ are pursuing a campaign of physical eradication of leaders of the Iraqi left and Iraqi democrats. The death of Hadi Saleh is the latest of a number of actual and attempted political assassinations which have been condemned by the international left and labour movement. The exception has been the Stop the War Coalition which has remained effectively silent on Hadi’s brutal murder.
The international left and labour movement has spoken with one voice – global and unequivocal – to say that Hadi Saleh was a courageous socialist and trade unionist brutally murdered by the ‘resistance’, enemies of democracy and the working class. He was our comrade, they are our enemies. Letters condemning the killing and supporting the IFTU have poured in. This list is only a partial one.
• The Trades Union Congress (TUC)
• The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU)
• The National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education (UK)
• The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers – RMT (UK)
• The AFL-CIO
• The Canadian Labour Congress
• United States Labour Against the War (USLAW)
• The International Transport Federation (ITF)
• The International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Associations (IUF)
• The All Pakistan United Federation of Trade Unions
• Confederazione Generale Italiana Del Lavoro (CGIL)
• The Federation of Workers Councils and Unions of Iraq (FWCUI)
The key exception to this united front of solidarity has been the begrudging utterances from you at the Stop the War (StWC) Coalition. It is indisputable that your Coalition is a significant umbrella organisation for socialists and trade unionists in the UK. It also contains many of the lefts most powerful and oft heard writers and broadcasters. So why are you all but mute on such a significant and terrifying development? We imagine that many of your membership are asking the same question.
Here is what Andrew Murray, the StWC Chair wrote on Independent journalist Johann Hari’s own website, hidden away in a ‘comments’ section. This is the only comment from StWC leaders on the murders - one line, in one post, on one blog, while writing about another topic - ‘We condemn this killing and its perpetrators, whoever they are.’ That’s it.
With this sentence Murray reveals his political dilemma. On the one hand he is unable to clearly condemn the 'resistance' and their practice of political assassination. To do so would contradict his expressed support for the ‘resistance’ to oppose the occupation, 'by any means they find necessary’. On the other hand he dare not come out in support of the murderers or reiterate his 'by any means they find necessary’ position because the backlash would surely split the StWC. Not knowing which way to turn, Murray tries to take cover behind the pseudo-sophistication of the commentator who pretends he knows too much to go with the widespread knowledge that the 'resistance' are to blame. But no amount of 'whoever they are' will get him off the hook.
We know who did the killing, so do the IFTU, and so does Murray. The ‘resistance’ that Murray defends killed these trade unionists and will continue their campaign of political assassinations until we democrats and socialists can build a movement strong enough to help defend our Iraqi comrades. In these circumstances, when what we need is a clarion call from the leadership of the StWC to all its supporters to stand shoulder to shoulder with the IFTU against the ‘resistance’ it may have been better for Murray to have maintained an Omerta.
The Stop the War leaders have ignored the warnings of Mick Rix
The murder of Hadi Saleh demands the most serious political and moral accounting by every member of StWC leadership. For the StWC leaders were warned months ago. The ex-Aslef leader, Mick Rix, when he resigned from the Stop the War Coalition Steering Committee in October 2004, commented on the “deliberate, archaic, violent, and plain downright stupid” language the StWC leaders used when describing Hadi’s organisation. The IFTU had been called ‘collaborators’ by the StWC officers, ‘quislings’ by leading StWC member George Galloway MP (comments picked up and published in the Arab Press), and a ‘fake’ union by the newspaper of Lindsey German, the Convenor of the Stop the War Coalition, Socialist Worker.
Mick Rix argued presciently that these irresponsible statements by StWC leaders had “placed these good trade unionists and socialists at a terrible risk”.
The Stop the War leaders have romanticised the ‘Resistance’
StWC leaders view the “resistance” as a legitimate national liberation movement. StWC leaders view as ‘collaborators’ the IFTU, all election workers, and all democratic parties participating in the January elections, whether Iraqi Communists, Kurdish Parties or Shia.
This view is quite wrong. The leaders of the ‘resistance’ are an amalgam of Baathists, Islamic fundamentalists, pro-al-Qaeda militants and criminals. There is nothing progressive about their political programmes. If they were ever to take state power then it would be a disaster for every worker, woman, lesbian and gay, Christian, Jew and democrat who would be left in Iraq. There would be years of unbridled reaction.
The UN-backed elections draw near. These elections are supported by the vast majority of Iraqis, 75% of whom expressed a ‘strong intention’ to vote. The vast majority of Iraqis have decided the UN backed political process offers their best chance to win sovereignty and democracy. In response the ‘resistance’ have targeted democrats, election workers, socialists, trade unionists, the leaders of the Shia, the Kurds and the Communists, and the schools that will function as polling booths.
Details of political assassinations and attacks conducted by ‘the resistance’ against Iraqi Trade Unionists
* 27/28 October 2003
The resistance tortured and murdered 4 IFTU members when their train was attacked by mortar fire on the railway line between Mosul and Baghdad. The 2 train drivers, a train controller (guard) and a security guard working for Iraqi Railways (IRR) were killed and their bodies mutilated and burnt by terrorists. The freight train that was attacked was reported to have been carrying consumer goods. The leaders of four important British trade unions organising workers in the transport sector, joined Andy Gilchrist, General Secretary of the Fire Brigades Union in sending messages of support and sympathy to the families of the murdered Iraqi railworkers. They pledged to support the IFTU in the struggle to rebuild independent trade unionism in Iraq. Kevin Curran, GMB General Secretary, Tony Woodley, T&GWU General Secretary, Keith Norman, ASLE&F Acting General Secretary and Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary all wrote messages of solidarity to the IFTU.
13 November 2004
The ‘Resistance’ murdered the Iraqi Communist Party leader Wadhah Hassan Abdul Amir (Saadoun), a member of the Interim National Assembly, along with two of his comrades, while travelling from Baghdad to Kirkuk.
* 25 December 2004
The ‘Resistance’ attack a freight train travelling from Basra to An-Nasiriyyah and kidnap the two train drivers, Salah Mehdi Taher and Salih Chiyehchan Harbi. The other five workers on the train were severely beaten and left in a life-threatening condition, Abd’ al-Emir Abd’al-Malik, Mustapha Kamel Mehdi, Amer Shamaan Amer, Ali Abd’al-Radh and Basil Abd’ Ouwd.
* 26/27 December 2004
The ‘Resistance’ launch an RPG attack on the headquarters of the Transport & Communication Workers’ Union. The ‘resistance’ shelled the building with rocket-propelled grenades and mortars which caused a large whole in the wall of the building and a crater in the ground. Luckily there were no fatalities.
January 4 2005
The ‘Resistance’ tortured and murdered Hadi Salih, International Officer of the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions. He was tied and blindfolded and severely tortured before being forced to kneel and strangled by electric cord. The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) has said "This vicious murder is nothing less than an attack on the right of Iraqi worker
Signatories include the following and the list is still open.
Harry Barnes MP, Peter Tatchell, Professor Sir Bernard Crick, Meg Munn MP, Wayne David MP, David Aaronovitch, Kawa Besarani (Iraqi political activist), Joanna White (Amicus national political committee), Kate Ahrens (UNISON National Executive, personal capacity), Maria Exall (CWU National Executive, personal capacity), John Mann MP, Dennis Bates (Barnsley Central CLP), Alan Johnson (South Lakeland Stop the War, Research Officer of Labour Friends of Iraq, NATFHE), Jane Ashworth (Chair, Labour Friends of Iraq, Reading East Labour Party, PCS), Gary Kent (Director, Labour Friends of Iraq, also personal capacity TGWU/NUJ), Martin Pagell (Labour Councillor, Manchester City Council), Simon Pottinger (Middlesbrough and East Cleveland Labour Party), David Harry, Dr Jeremy Stangroom (The Philosophers' Magazine, www.philosophers.co.uk), Councillor Clive Furness (London Borough of Newham), Ben Harris, Barry Winter (ILP, North East Leeds CLP, NATFHE personal capacity), Clive Bradley (anti-war activist), Nigel Bunyan, John O'Farrell, Belfast (personal capacity, NUJ), Nick Cohen (writer), Phil Dore (LFIQ and Cardiff North CLP), David Boothroyd (Labour Councillor for Westbourne Ward, Westminster City Council), Debbie Williams (South Lakeland Stop the War, TGWU personal capacity) Sacha Zarb (PCS and Greenwich Labour Party), Dan Paskins (Labour Councillor, Oxford), Paul Anderson. Nathan Yeowell (Battersea CLP), David Toube, K M Tyrie (Community and Public Service Union, CPSU personal capacity), Chris Martin, Stephen Marks (Oxford East CLP), Rich Watts, James Kettle (Westminster & City CLP), John Medhurst (PCS personal capacity), Declan McVeigh (NUJ, London - personal capacity), Graham Lloyd, Norman Geras, Kevin Sturr (Regional Food for Peace Officer, USAID Senegal), William Brown (ILP, Sheffield Central CLP - personal capacity) Anthony Cox (AMICUS member), Oliver Kershaw, Cllr Andrew Brown (Blackheath Ward, London Borough of Lewisham), Eric Lee, Bert Ward (Middlesbrough),Councillor Gareth Davies (Blyth Valley Borough Council, Chair. Cramlington West Branch, Blyth Valley CLP), Richard Sanderson (Labour Party member, Lee Ward - Lewisham CLP), Antonia Bance (Labour Prospective Parliamentary Candidate Oxford West and Abingdon), Ophelia Benson (www.butterfliesandwheels.com), Nick Brereton (anti-war activist and socialist, Newcastle), David Grant (Teacher of History/Modern Studies, Glasgow), Dr Conrad Russell (Senior Lecturer in Sociology, Leeds Metropolitan University, personal capacity), Christine A.Howell (member Reading East CLP), Alliance for Workers Liberty ("without politically endorsing the current electoral and reconstruction efforts"), Joe Baxter (Edinburgh Iraqi Solidarity Activist)
“The StWC reaffirms its call for an end to the occupation, the return of all British troops in Iraq to this country and recognises once more the legitimacy of the struggle of Iraqis, by whatever means they find necessary, to secure such ends”. Statement issued by the officers of the Stop the war Coalition, signed by Lindsey German, Convenor, and Andrew Murray, Chair of the StWC.
“Right now, the STWC supports “the resistance” in Iraq by any means necessary – a tacit endorsement of the suicide bombing, hostage-taking and execution of innocent civilians, including brave, selfless aid workers, election supervisors and ordinary Iraqis on their way to school and work. The STWC justifies this carnage in the name of “national liberation” (sic). Motivated more by hatred of the US and British governments than by love for the Iraqi people, many so-called leftists support a “resistance” that, if victorious, would bring to power Baathists, Islamic fundamentalists and pro-al-Qaeda militants. Is that what the left now stands for? Neo-fascism, so long as it is anti-western?” Peter Tatchell, ‘The Left’s Retreat from Universal Human Rights’, December 18 2004
The murder of Hadi Saleh and the silence of the Stop the War Coalition Leaders
The torture and murder of Hadi Saleh, International Officer of the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions on January 4 was part of a wave of attacks on Iraqi trade unionists by the ‘resistance’. Make no mistake about it, the ‘resistance’ are pursuing a campaign of physical eradication of leaders of the Iraqi left and Iraqi democrats. The death of Hadi Saleh is the latest of a number of actual and attempted political assassinations which have been condemned by the international left and labour movement. The exception has been the Stop the War Coalition which has remained effectively silent on Hadi’s brutal murder.
The international left and labour movement has spoken with one voice – global and unequivocal – to say that Hadi Saleh was a courageous socialist and trade unionist brutally murdered by the ‘resistance’, enemies of democracy and the working class. He was our comrade, they are our enemies. Letters condemning the killing and supporting the IFTU have poured in. This list is only a partial one.
• The Trades Union Congress (TUC)
• The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU)
• The National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education (UK)
• The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers – RMT (UK)
• The AFL-CIO
• The Canadian Labour Congress
• United States Labour Against the War (USLAW)
• The International Transport Federation (ITF)
• The International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Associations (IUF)
• The All Pakistan United Federation of Trade Unions
• Confederazione Generale Italiana Del Lavoro (CGIL)
• The Federation of Workers Councils and Unions of Iraq (FWCUI)
The key exception to this united front of solidarity has been the begrudging utterances from you at the Stop the War (StWC) Coalition. It is indisputable that your Coalition is a significant umbrella organisation for socialists and trade unionists in the UK. It also contains many of the lefts most powerful and oft heard writers and broadcasters. So why are you all but mute on such a significant and terrifying development? We imagine that many of your membership are asking the same question.
Here is what Andrew Murray, the StWC Chair wrote on Independent journalist Johann Hari’s own website, hidden away in a ‘comments’ section. This is the only comment from StWC leaders on the murders - one line, in one post, on one blog, while writing about another topic - ‘We condemn this killing and its perpetrators, whoever they are.’ That’s it.
With this sentence Murray reveals his political dilemma. On the one hand he is unable to clearly condemn the 'resistance' and their practice of political assassination. To do so would contradict his expressed support for the ‘resistance’ to oppose the occupation, 'by any means they find necessary’. On the other hand he dare not come out in support of the murderers or reiterate his 'by any means they find necessary’ position because the backlash would surely split the StWC. Not knowing which way to turn, Murray tries to take cover behind the pseudo-sophistication of the commentator who pretends he knows too much to go with the widespread knowledge that the 'resistance' are to blame. But no amount of 'whoever they are' will get him off the hook.
We know who did the killing, so do the IFTU, and so does Murray. The ‘resistance’ that Murray defends killed these trade unionists and will continue their campaign of political assassinations until we democrats and socialists can build a movement strong enough to help defend our Iraqi comrades. In these circumstances, when what we need is a clarion call from the leadership of the StWC to all its supporters to stand shoulder to shoulder with the IFTU against the ‘resistance’ it may have been better for Murray to have maintained an Omerta.
The Stop the War leaders have ignored the warnings of Mick Rix
The murder of Hadi Saleh demands the most serious political and moral accounting by every member of StWC leadership. For the StWC leaders were warned months ago. The ex-Aslef leader, Mick Rix, when he resigned from the Stop the War Coalition Steering Committee in October 2004, commented on the “deliberate, archaic, violent, and plain downright stupid” language the StWC leaders used when describing Hadi’s organisation. The IFTU had been called ‘collaborators’ by the StWC officers, ‘quislings’ by leading StWC member George Galloway MP (comments picked up and published in the Arab Press), and a ‘fake’ union by the newspaper of Lindsey German, the Convenor of the Stop the War Coalition, Socialist Worker.
Mick Rix argued presciently that these irresponsible statements by StWC leaders had “placed these good trade unionists and socialists at a terrible risk”.
The Stop the War leaders have romanticised the ‘Resistance’
StWC leaders view the “resistance” as a legitimate national liberation movement. StWC leaders view as ‘collaborators’ the IFTU, all election workers, and all democratic parties participating in the January elections, whether Iraqi Communists, Kurdish Parties or Shia.
This view is quite wrong. The leaders of the ‘resistance’ are an amalgam of Baathists, Islamic fundamentalists, pro-al-Qaeda militants and criminals. There is nothing progressive about their political programmes. If they were ever to take state power then it would be a disaster for every worker, woman, lesbian and gay, Christian, Jew and democrat who would be left in Iraq. There would be years of unbridled reaction.
The UN-backed elections draw near. These elections are supported by the vast majority of Iraqis, 75% of whom expressed a ‘strong intention’ to vote. The vast majority of Iraqis have decided the UN backed political process offers their best chance to win sovereignty and democracy. In response the ‘resistance’ have targeted democrats, election workers, socialists, trade unionists, the leaders of the Shia, the Kurds and the Communists, and the schools that will function as polling booths.
Details of political assassinations and attacks conducted by ‘the resistance’ against Iraqi Trade Unionists
* 27/28 October 2003
The resistance tortured and murdered 4 IFTU members when their train was attacked by mortar fire on the railway line between Mosul and Baghdad. The 2 train drivers, a train controller (guard) and a security guard working for Iraqi Railways (IRR) were killed and their bodies mutilated and burnt by terrorists. The freight train that was attacked was reported to have been carrying consumer goods. The leaders of four important British trade unions organising workers in the transport sector, joined Andy Gilchrist, General Secretary of the Fire Brigades Union in sending messages of support and sympathy to the families of the murdered Iraqi railworkers. They pledged to support the IFTU in the struggle to rebuild independent trade unionism in Iraq. Kevin Curran, GMB General Secretary, Tony Woodley, T&GWU General Secretary, Keith Norman, ASLE&F Acting General Secretary and Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary all wrote messages of solidarity to the IFTU.
13 November 2004
The ‘Resistance’ murdered the Iraqi Communist Party leader Wadhah Hassan Abdul Amir (Saadoun), a member of the Interim National Assembly, along with two of his comrades, while travelling from Baghdad to Kirkuk.
* 25 December 2004
The ‘Resistance’ attack a freight train travelling from Basra to An-Nasiriyyah and kidnap the two train drivers, Salah Mehdi Taher and Salih Chiyehchan Harbi. The other five workers on the train were severely beaten and left in a life-threatening condition, Abd’ al-Emir Abd’al-Malik, Mustapha Kamel Mehdi, Amer Shamaan Amer, Ali Abd’al-Radh and Basil Abd’ Ouwd.
* 26/27 December 2004
The ‘Resistance’ launch an RPG attack on the headquarters of the Transport & Communication Workers’ Union. The ‘resistance’ shelled the building with rocket-propelled grenades and mortars which caused a large whole in the wall of the building and a crater in the ground. Luckily there were no fatalities.
January 4 2005
The ‘Resistance’ tortured and murdered Hadi Salih, International Officer of the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions. He was tied and blindfolded and severely tortured before being forced to kneel and strangled by electric cord. The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) has said "This vicious murder is nothing less than an attack on the right of Iraqi worker
Wednesday, January 12
Letter from Iraqi Oil Union
General Union of Oil Employees- Basrah
TO: American Labour Against the War
Subject: Thanks and appreciation
I begin by saying peace be upon you; you who have stood against war and for peace. In my capacity as president of the union of oil-sector employees in Basrah, and in the name of the executive bureau of the union, we extend to you our immense thanks and gratitude to your militant organisation, which took a serious stand against the war and for peace, because peace is the foundation in this turbulent world. We put on the record our thanks and great appreciation and may God bless you in doing good and for peace to prevail in the whole world, including our wounded country, the great Iraq; the Iraq of love and fraternity. From this standpoint we see it as necessary that our work is based on full cooperation and coordination to lay the democratic foundation of trade union work. We want to express our full confidence in being the link in the cooperation to combine the power of the Iraqi working class with the power of the American working class opposed to war and destruction.
You no doubt are aware that the former regime dissolved the unions using a draconian law (edict number 150, 1987) that changed the status of workers to civil servants, in order to control the working class and its wealth, and to distort its identity. Since that day the working class hasn't been able to exercise its most basic rights. On 20 April 2003, after the defeat of the tyrant, activisits in the oil sector re-established the oil workers' union and we started, for the first time in Iraq, to elect a union committee in free and democratic manner. Today, the oil trade union constitutes the greater weight of workers in southern Iraq. The union's executive bureau was formed to represent ten unions formed in the oil companies working in the south. It also includes 30 union committees at work places within Basrah, Misan aand Thi Qar.
We stress that we stood against the vile occupation, which has soiled our dignity. We continue to be strongly opposed to the repressive acts of the American, British and multinational forces committed against our people in Iraq's cities, and the flagrant aggression against our national economy, which has been destroyed by war. This wounded country's infrastructure has been destroyed and the occupation forces is responsible for the greater part of this destruction. The occupation forces have not shown any initiative to rebuild the country and they have not allowed the people who want the good of the country to engage in re-construction. This is because of repressive laws that do not serve the production processes. There is a simple reason for their non-cooperation in rebuilding the oil production facilities: Iraqi cadres have rejected their presence which made them obstruct the delivery of reconstruction equipment. This is particularly true of KBR company.
Finally, I extend my thanks and appreciation for standing by us for the sake of peace. I pledge that this letter is not the last, but we will be in constant touch. I would like to tell you that you are welcome in Iraq any time you like.
Peace and God's blessings be upon you.
Hassan Juma'a Awad
President of the General Union of the Oil Sector Employees in Basrah
TO: American Labour Against the War
Subject: Thanks and appreciation
I begin by saying peace be upon you; you who have stood against war and for peace. In my capacity as president of the union of oil-sector employees in Basrah, and in the name of the executive bureau of the union, we extend to you our immense thanks and gratitude to your militant organisation, which took a serious stand against the war and for peace, because peace is the foundation in this turbulent world. We put on the record our thanks and great appreciation and may God bless you in doing good and for peace to prevail in the whole world, including our wounded country, the great Iraq; the Iraq of love and fraternity. From this standpoint we see it as necessary that our work is based on full cooperation and coordination to lay the democratic foundation of trade union work. We want to express our full confidence in being the link in the cooperation to combine the power of the Iraqi working class with the power of the American working class opposed to war and destruction.
You no doubt are aware that the former regime dissolved the unions using a draconian law (edict number 150, 1987) that changed the status of workers to civil servants, in order to control the working class and its wealth, and to distort its identity. Since that day the working class hasn't been able to exercise its most basic rights. On 20 April 2003, after the defeat of the tyrant, activisits in the oil sector re-established the oil workers' union and we started, for the first time in Iraq, to elect a union committee in free and democratic manner. Today, the oil trade union constitutes the greater weight of workers in southern Iraq. The union's executive bureau was formed to represent ten unions formed in the oil companies working in the south. It also includes 30 union committees at work places within Basrah, Misan aand Thi Qar.
We stress that we stood against the vile occupation, which has soiled our dignity. We continue to be strongly opposed to the repressive acts of the American, British and multinational forces committed against our people in Iraq's cities, and the flagrant aggression against our national economy, which has been destroyed by war. This wounded country's infrastructure has been destroyed and the occupation forces is responsible for the greater part of this destruction. The occupation forces have not shown any initiative to rebuild the country and they have not allowed the people who want the good of the country to engage in re-construction. This is because of repressive laws that do not serve the production processes. There is a simple reason for their non-cooperation in rebuilding the oil production facilities: Iraqi cadres have rejected their presence which made them obstruct the delivery of reconstruction equipment. This is particularly true of KBR company.
Finally, I extend my thanks and appreciation for standing by us for the sake of peace. I pledge that this letter is not the last, but we will be in constant touch. I would like to tell you that you are welcome in Iraq any time you like.
Peace and God's blessings be upon you.
Hassan Juma'a Awad
President of the General Union of the Oil Sector Employees in Basrah
Urgent international solidarity to support the recent wave of workers strikes in cities across Iraq
Federation of Workers Councils and Unions in Iraq (FWCUI) is leading the strikes and struggles of workers in Iraq
Since its establishment the FWCUI has been organizing and mobilizing workers to defend their rights and maintain their unity in their struggles and uphold their ideals. FWCUI has been organizing in the middle of cross fire between the two poles of international terrorism led by the US and political Islam. The recent very successful conference of workers in Basra centred around the slogan of “the power of the working class is in its unity and organization” has provided a new vision for the workers struggle in Iraq as well as a model for organising and unity.
Since the Basra conference we have witnessed a marked increase in activities and the formation of a number of branches of FWCUI in many workplaces and factories. Such developments have attracted the attention of the authorities in the cities of Baghdad, Basra and Saharaban. Labour activists have been threatened by the authorities and prevented from joining FWCUI. Now a new wave of heroic strikes have swept industries like the Textile in the city of Kut, in which the workers were suppressed and shot at by the authorities, also the strike of Electricity Power Station in Nasriyah, the chemical, and plastic industry, and soft drink factory workers in Baghdad, and in Basra Electricity Power Station. It was only the FWCUI who has stood side by side with the striking workers and fought for their demands. The main demands of these workers are the right to strike and the right to organization. Increase in wages linked to inflation, ban on overtime, improved health and safety standards, payment of annual bonuses and in many occasions replacement of corrupt mangers and administration. FWCUI has become the only organization trusted by the workers to negotiate on their behalf and strengthen their position through it. More information about the workers strikes in detail could be found on our web page: www.uuiraq.org
These series of successful strikes in which the workers managed to impose their demands on the US appointed Interim Government and the bosses was a major step forward for workers in their daily struggle.
The workers in Iraq, more than ever, during these crucial times need your support. International political, moral and financial support will give our movement in Iraq continuity and motivation to fight for more rights. So please participate in strengthening the strikes of workers and their struggle by supporting the only true representative of the workers in Iraq Federation of Workers councils and Unions in Iraq (FWCUI).
Support the strikes of workers in Iraq!
-You can send solidarity messages to workers in these industries
-You can send condemnation (or protest) letters to Iraqi Authorities and US forces who are violating international convention and suppressing workers brutally.
-You can send your financial support to FWCUI
For more information please contact:
Aso Jabbar
Houzan Mahmoud
Akram Muhammad
E-mail: asojabbar@yahoo.com & houzan73@yahoo.co.uk &akram_nadir_1999@yahoo.com
Tel: Aso Jabbar (0041 78 882 55 89)
Tel: Houzan Mahmoud (00 44 79 56 88 3001)
Tel: Akram Muhammad (0017788987560)
Since its establishment the FWCUI has been organizing and mobilizing workers to defend their rights and maintain their unity in their struggles and uphold their ideals. FWCUI has been organizing in the middle of cross fire between the two poles of international terrorism led by the US and political Islam. The recent very successful conference of workers in Basra centred around the slogan of “the power of the working class is in its unity and organization” has provided a new vision for the workers struggle in Iraq as well as a model for organising and unity.
Since the Basra conference we have witnessed a marked increase in activities and the formation of a number of branches of FWCUI in many workplaces and factories. Such developments have attracted the attention of the authorities in the cities of Baghdad, Basra and Saharaban. Labour activists have been threatened by the authorities and prevented from joining FWCUI. Now a new wave of heroic strikes have swept industries like the Textile in the city of Kut, in which the workers were suppressed and shot at by the authorities, also the strike of Electricity Power Station in Nasriyah, the chemical, and plastic industry, and soft drink factory workers in Baghdad, and in Basra Electricity Power Station. It was only the FWCUI who has stood side by side with the striking workers and fought for their demands. The main demands of these workers are the right to strike and the right to organization. Increase in wages linked to inflation, ban on overtime, improved health and safety standards, payment of annual bonuses and in many occasions replacement of corrupt mangers and administration. FWCUI has become the only organization trusted by the workers to negotiate on their behalf and strengthen their position through it. More information about the workers strikes in detail could be found on our web page: www.uuiraq.org
These series of successful strikes in which the workers managed to impose their demands on the US appointed Interim Government and the bosses was a major step forward for workers in their daily struggle.
The workers in Iraq, more than ever, during these crucial times need your support. International political, moral and financial support will give our movement in Iraq continuity and motivation to fight for more rights. So please participate in strengthening the strikes of workers and their struggle by supporting the only true representative of the workers in Iraq Federation of Workers councils and Unions in Iraq (FWCUI).
Support the strikes of workers in Iraq!
-You can send solidarity messages to workers in these industries
-You can send condemnation (or protest) letters to Iraqi Authorities and US forces who are violating international convention and suppressing workers brutally.
-You can send your financial support to FWCUI
For more information please contact:
Aso Jabbar
Houzan Mahmoud
Akram Muhammad
E-mail: asojabbar@yahoo.com & houzan73@yahoo.co.uk &akram_nadir_1999@yahoo.com
Tel: Aso Jabbar (0041 78 882 55 89)
Tel: Houzan Mahmoud (00 44 79 56 88 3001)
Tel: Akram Muhammad (0017788987560)
Tuesday, January 11
Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions-IFTU Helps Alawi’s Government to Crack Down on Workers’ Protests in Petrochemical and plastic Company in Baghdad
While the leaders of the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions-IFTU and its representatives pose as defenders of workers’ rights and union freedoms, the activists of the Mechanical Union, a branch of IFTU in the Iraqi Petrochemical and Plastic Manufactures Company tried to prevent workers from establishing their own union and elect their representatives.
In collaboration with the company’s administration, they threatened workers with sacking, jailing and killing to force them call off a strike organized early this month. They justified these oppressive actions by referring to resolutions passed by Alawi’s government, which ban union activity and install IFTU as the only legal union.
This union issued membership cards and forced them on workers and force workers to pay compulsory membership by deducting it from their salaries, while, in many cases it stood against workers and defended the administration.
This union also ordered the workers who participated in the strike to pay 8 million Iraqi dinars as compensation to the company for its losses as the result of this strike or face sacking.
Genuine trade unions should not be formed by Iyad Alawi and should do not wait permission from his government. The acts of the governmental union are outright violation of workers’ rights. They are the reproduction of the fascist traditions used against the Iraqi workers for decades.
It is worth mentioning that the workers of Petrochemical Manufactures have formed their own union and elected their representatives. Many workers joined the new union and prevented the pro-administration governmental union from carrying out its activity.
These violations of workers’ rights must stop and the authority must not be allowed to interfere in workers’ affairs. The IFTU which is acting as apparatus of the government rather than the representative of workers despite their attempt to appear as defenders of union freedoms and the right of workers to join any union before international community must not be allowed to impose resolutions passed by an illegitimate government.
Federation of Workers’ Councils and Unions in Iraq
Jan 10,2005
In collaboration with the company’s administration, they threatened workers with sacking, jailing and killing to force them call off a strike organized early this month. They justified these oppressive actions by referring to resolutions passed by Alawi’s government, which ban union activity and install IFTU as the only legal union.
This union issued membership cards and forced them on workers and force workers to pay compulsory membership by deducting it from their salaries, while, in many cases it stood against workers and defended the administration.
This union also ordered the workers who participated in the strike to pay 8 million Iraqi dinars as compensation to the company for its losses as the result of this strike or face sacking.
Genuine trade unions should not be formed by Iyad Alawi and should do not wait permission from his government. The acts of the governmental union are outright violation of workers’ rights. They are the reproduction of the fascist traditions used against the Iraqi workers for decades.
It is worth mentioning that the workers of Petrochemical Manufactures have formed their own union and elected their representatives. Many workers joined the new union and prevented the pro-administration governmental union from carrying out its activity.
These violations of workers’ rights must stop and the authority must not be allowed to interfere in workers’ affairs. The IFTU which is acting as apparatus of the government rather than the representative of workers despite their attempt to appear as defenders of union freedoms and the right of workers to join any union before international community must not be allowed to impose resolutions passed by an illegitimate government.
Federation of Workers’ Councils and Unions in Iraq
Jan 10,2005
Monday, January 10
Appeal to all Labour Unions, political parties, and freedom loving people and to those who struggle for a free Iraq and to end the occupation of Iraq:
FWCUI is a federation of a network of independent unions established by workers in the heart of their protests and their motivation to defend and achieve their fair demands for a better living condition, for a progressive labour law, for democratic rights of workers in Iraq. FWCUI has led many protest actions of workers in different industries and companies, confronted administrations, employers, Iraqi and US authorities to achieve the demands of workers. FWCUI is an important organisation of the progressive civil front against the occupation in Iraq and demands immediate and unconditional withdrawal of all occupying forces from Iraq. It attempts to rebuild Iraqi civil society and is opposed to the terrorism of political Islamic groups and loyalists of the Ba’ath regime.
Now FWCUI attempts to strengthen the united leadership of labour unions in different parts of Iraq, to organise the working class in Iraq in a new model of unions and councils established by workers themselves in their general meetings, representing the workers’ will and demands at different levels. The last victory of FWCUI was the conclusion of a successful workers broad conference in Basra in November 2004 with the participation of more than 350 delegates and groups from many industries and companies. FWCUI until now has led dozens of protests in Iraq and is now engaged in leading waves of protest of workers in the electricity, textile and oil sectors in Nassiriya, Basra, Kerkuk, Baghdad and Kut. FWCUI has branches in Basra, Kerkuk, Nassiriya and Baghdad and many preparatory committees in other cities in Iraq.
FWCUI publishes regularly the first labour independent newspaper in the history of Iraq called Almajalis Alumaliya -Workers Council - in the whole of Iraq, which became a public newspaper circulated in many industries among workers and their families. FWCUI until now has no central office in Baghdad, because of financial difficulties. It has no equipment like computers, internet service and photocopy facilities to enable its mission for the establishment of independent labour unions.
FWCUI is not recognised by Iraqi authorities but is recognised by thousand of workers as an active organisation to lead their protests and their struggle. FWCUI is confronting employers, administrations and governmental authorities on daily basis to achieve unconditional freedom of association and strike for Iraqi workers, to increase the wages according to inflation; to improve the safety, social, and health living conditions of workers in Iraq, to fight for a progressive labour laws in Iraq, to abolish all anti-workers laws and orders of Saddam’s regime which are still functioning in Iraq by US occupying forces and Iraq authorities.
FWCUI attempts to encourage and strengthen the solidarity network of labour movements worldwide with Iraqi workers in today’s difficult situation in Iraq under occupation, chaos and insecurity. FWCUI demands the immediate and unconditional end of occupation in Iraq.
We appeal to all labour unions, freedom loving people worldwide to support FWCUI morally and financially, to overcome its difficulties and to achieve more and more victory for Iraqi workers in direction of more establishments of independent unions and leading of protests and representing workers perspectives in these protest actions and in determination of the future of Iraqi society and to end occupation in Iraq.. Since FWCUI is not backed by Iraqi authorities and US led coalition, it has serious financial difficulties.
You can participate in the following options of solidarity with FWCUI and workers in Iraq and you can donate money to FWCUI for the following:
1.)Open a central office in Baghdad with 1000 USD rents per month.
2.)Regular publication of FWCUI newspaper Al-majalis Alumaliaya- Workers Council- monthly needs 1000 USD to produce about 10000 copies and distribute it in the whole of Iraq.
3.)Buy computers for FWCUI central office in Baghdad and branch offices in other cities. Each Computer costs between 800-1200 USD. We require 12 Computer to supply all the branches urgently.
4.)To buy a photocopy machine for FWCUI media centre in Baghdad which costs 5000 USD
5.)To buy cars for FWCUI to facilitate the transportation in the insecure and difficult situation in Iraq, in which Union and federation leaders are confronted with attacks, persecution and threat to kill. Each normal car costs minimum 5000 USD. Numbers needed are 5 cars, two for central office in Baghdad and 3 for FWCUI branch offices in Nassiriya, Basra and Kerkuk.
6.)To buy mobile telephones for FWCUI to facilitate communication and contact inside Iraq and abroad with FWCUI branches and Labour Unions and media centres worldwide. Each mobile telephone costs 300 USD; Numbers of mobile telephones needed are 30 mobile telephones for FWCUI main activists in different branches.
7.)Media facilities like cassette recorders, microphones and cameras including digital cameras and video cameras for media centre of FWCUI .Each digital camera costs between 200-300 USD, each video camera costs between 400-800 USD.
8.)Workers of various sectors in Baghdad need to hold a two days conference to elect a united leadership as the same model of FWCUI broad conference in Basra on 26.November 2004. FWCUI broad conference in Baghdad needs minimum $5.000 for renting a hall, accommodation, publicity, transportation of workers and security.
You can send your donations in different ways:
1. You can send cheques to Aso Jabber - abroad representative of FWCUI through the following address.
Aso Jabbar, abroad representative of
Federation of Workers Councils and Unions in Iraq
FWCUI
Post Box 8553
3001 Bern
Switzerland
2. You can send your donations through this partner account address in Switzerland with remarks FWCUI:
International Campaign to Defend Iraqi Women Rights
Solidarity with Iraqi Women Rights -SIWR
Post Finance Bank
Account Nr. 30-340462-4
Post Box 326
3000 Bern 11
Switzerland
3. You can send your donation through representative networks of UUI and FWCUI in different countries; you can find their addresses on our webpage under Network of UUI and FWCUI representatives abroad.
In solidarity
Aso Jabbar
Abroad Representation of FWCUI
Bern
07.01.2005
www.uuiraq.org
Now FWCUI attempts to strengthen the united leadership of labour unions in different parts of Iraq, to organise the working class in Iraq in a new model of unions and councils established by workers themselves in their general meetings, representing the workers’ will and demands at different levels. The last victory of FWCUI was the conclusion of a successful workers broad conference in Basra in November 2004 with the participation of more than 350 delegates and groups from many industries and companies. FWCUI until now has led dozens of protests in Iraq and is now engaged in leading waves of protest of workers in the electricity, textile and oil sectors in Nassiriya, Basra, Kerkuk, Baghdad and Kut. FWCUI has branches in Basra, Kerkuk, Nassiriya and Baghdad and many preparatory committees in other cities in Iraq.
FWCUI publishes regularly the first labour independent newspaper in the history of Iraq called Almajalis Alumaliya -Workers Council - in the whole of Iraq, which became a public newspaper circulated in many industries among workers and their families. FWCUI until now has no central office in Baghdad, because of financial difficulties. It has no equipment like computers, internet service and photocopy facilities to enable its mission for the establishment of independent labour unions.
FWCUI is not recognised by Iraqi authorities but is recognised by thousand of workers as an active organisation to lead their protests and their struggle. FWCUI is confronting employers, administrations and governmental authorities on daily basis to achieve unconditional freedom of association and strike for Iraqi workers, to increase the wages according to inflation; to improve the safety, social, and health living conditions of workers in Iraq, to fight for a progressive labour laws in Iraq, to abolish all anti-workers laws and orders of Saddam’s regime which are still functioning in Iraq by US occupying forces and Iraq authorities.
FWCUI attempts to encourage and strengthen the solidarity network of labour movements worldwide with Iraqi workers in today’s difficult situation in Iraq under occupation, chaos and insecurity. FWCUI demands the immediate and unconditional end of occupation in Iraq.
We appeal to all labour unions, freedom loving people worldwide to support FWCUI morally and financially, to overcome its difficulties and to achieve more and more victory for Iraqi workers in direction of more establishments of independent unions and leading of protests and representing workers perspectives in these protest actions and in determination of the future of Iraqi society and to end occupation in Iraq.. Since FWCUI is not backed by Iraqi authorities and US led coalition, it has serious financial difficulties.
You can participate in the following options of solidarity with FWCUI and workers in Iraq and you can donate money to FWCUI for the following:
1.)Open a central office in Baghdad with 1000 USD rents per month.
2.)Regular publication of FWCUI newspaper Al-majalis Alumaliaya- Workers Council- monthly needs 1000 USD to produce about 10000 copies and distribute it in the whole of Iraq.
3.)Buy computers for FWCUI central office in Baghdad and branch offices in other cities. Each Computer costs between 800-1200 USD. We require 12 Computer to supply all the branches urgently.
4.)To buy a photocopy machine for FWCUI media centre in Baghdad which costs 5000 USD
5.)To buy cars for FWCUI to facilitate the transportation in the insecure and difficult situation in Iraq, in which Union and federation leaders are confronted with attacks, persecution and threat to kill. Each normal car costs minimum 5000 USD. Numbers needed are 5 cars, two for central office in Baghdad and 3 for FWCUI branch offices in Nassiriya, Basra and Kerkuk.
6.)To buy mobile telephones for FWCUI to facilitate communication and contact inside Iraq and abroad with FWCUI branches and Labour Unions and media centres worldwide. Each mobile telephone costs 300 USD; Numbers of mobile telephones needed are 30 mobile telephones for FWCUI main activists in different branches.
7.)Media facilities like cassette recorders, microphones and cameras including digital cameras and video cameras for media centre of FWCUI .Each digital camera costs between 200-300 USD, each video camera costs between 400-800 USD.
8.)Workers of various sectors in Baghdad need to hold a two days conference to elect a united leadership as the same model of FWCUI broad conference in Basra on 26.November 2004. FWCUI broad conference in Baghdad needs minimum $5.000 for renting a hall, accommodation, publicity, transportation of workers and security.
You can send your donations in different ways:
1. You can send cheques to Aso Jabber - abroad representative of FWCUI through the following address.
Aso Jabbar, abroad representative of
Federation of Workers Councils and Unions in Iraq
FWCUI
Post Box 8553
3001 Bern
Switzerland
2. You can send your donations through this partner account address in Switzerland with remarks FWCUI:
International Campaign to Defend Iraqi Women Rights
Solidarity with Iraqi Women Rights -SIWR
Post Finance Bank
Account Nr. 30-340462-4
Post Box 326
3000 Bern 11
Switzerland
3. You can send your donation through representative networks of UUI and FWCUI in different countries; you can find their addresses on our webpage under Network of UUI and FWCUI representatives abroad.
In solidarity
Aso Jabbar
Abroad Representation of FWCUI
Bern
07.01.2005
www.uuiraq.org
Friday, January 7
Statement of the Federation of Workers’ Councils and Union in Iraq-Representation Abroad on the recent attacks on workers and labour activists
January 7, 2005
On Wednesday 5 January 2005, bodies of 18 workers were discovered in a farm near the northern Iraqi city of Mosul all shot on head early last month while in their way to Mosul. These workers were residents of Baghdad lured to Mosul by promising them with jobs at a US base in this city.
On the other hand an activist of the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions was strangled in his own house in Baghdad using a wire. Few other attacks were reported elsewhere against workers and activists of IFTU.
The Federation of Workers’ Councils and Unions in Iraq rapidly condemns these barbaric acts against workers and labour activists. Despite of our difference with IFTU, we strongly condemn all attacks on its activists and members. These brutalities are part of the terrorist war between the USA and its allies and the Islamo-ethnocentric resistance in Iraq and show the anti-human essence of this resistance.
The occupation forces and local authority are responsible for the safety of workers and worker activists.
The Federation of Workers’ Councils and Unions in Iraq express it sympathy with the families and friends of workers killed in these brutal acts.
FWCUI-Abroad Representation
On Wednesday 5 January 2005, bodies of 18 workers were discovered in a farm near the northern Iraqi city of Mosul all shot on head early last month while in their way to Mosul. These workers were residents of Baghdad lured to Mosul by promising them with jobs at a US base in this city.
On the other hand an activist of the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions was strangled in his own house in Baghdad using a wire. Few other attacks were reported elsewhere against workers and activists of IFTU.
The Federation of Workers’ Councils and Unions in Iraq rapidly condemns these barbaric acts against workers and labour activists. Despite of our difference with IFTU, we strongly condemn all attacks on its activists and members. These brutalities are part of the terrorist war between the USA and its allies and the Islamo-ethnocentric resistance in Iraq and show the anti-human essence of this resistance.
The occupation forces and local authority are responsible for the safety of workers and worker activists.
The Federation of Workers’ Councils and Unions in Iraq express it sympathy with the families and friends of workers killed in these brutal acts.
FWCUI-Abroad Representation
Solidarity Message from FWCUI to the strike of Textile Workers in the city of Sanandaj, Kurdistan - Iran
According to a letter written by Mr. Mozafar Mohamadi from Worker Communist Party of Iran-Hikmatist, more than 400 Textile Workers in the city of Sanadaj have started a strike action against wide-scale dismissals and for achievement of their demands which are ; hygienic workplace, prevention of work-related illnesses and access to medical treatment for workers fallen ill due to work conditions. Presently over half of the workers suffer from back complaints and ear and lung diseases. The employers have, however, responded with the threat of sacking the entire workforce. They have also involved the state security forces, seeking the arrest of the three members of workers’ delegation - Farshid Beheshtizad, Shis Amani and Hadi Zarei. The employers have also refused to pay workers’ last month wages in order to put pressure on them to cease their protests.
We in FWCUI declare our solidarity with our class comrades of textile factory in Sanadaj and their demands .We condemn strongly the aggressive policies of the employee to attack the workers and their leaders and we condemn security forces of Islamic republic in Iran to attack the strike of workers in Sanadaj.
We appeal to Labour Unions worldwide to support the demands and strike action of textile workers in Sanadaj –Iran.
Aso Jabbar
Representative abroad of Federation of Workers Council s and Unions in Iraq- FWCUI
05.01.2005
We in FWCUI declare our solidarity with our class comrades of textile factory in Sanadaj and their demands .We condemn strongly the aggressive policies of the employee to attack the workers and their leaders and we condemn security forces of Islamic republic in Iran to attack the strike of workers in Sanadaj.
We appeal to Labour Unions worldwide to support the demands and strike action of textile workers in Sanadaj –Iran.
Aso Jabbar
Representative abroad of Federation of Workers Council s and Unions in Iraq- FWCUI
05.01.2005
Statement of FWCUI -Rep. abroad on: killing of 18 Iraqi workers in Mousul
The bodies of 18 young Iraqi construction workers taken off a bus and executed last month while seeking work at a U.S. base have been found in a field near the city of Mosul. A terrorist group belongs to the so called armed resistance composed of reactionary political Islamic groups and Arab nationalists shot the men, who ranged in age from 14 to 20, on Dec. 8 after stopping their two mini-buses about 30 miles west of Mosul. The bodies were discovered Wednesday, 05.01.2005. Their hands were tied behind their back and each was shot in the head. All of the workers were from Baghdad's northern neighbourhood of Kadhimiya who had been hired by an Iraqi contractor to work at a U.S. base in Mosul.
Iraq under the occupation has turned into an international battlefield, this war put the entire region in a crisis, and it has also jeopardized the people’s safety and all aspects of life. Tens of civilians are falling dead on daily basis because of this war without having anything to do with it. Terrorism and terrorist acts are marching towards the residential areas, workplaces, markets and everywhere in the Iraqi society. Poverty, deprivation, and the lack of job opportunities are other results of destroying civility in Iraq.
In reality the Iraqi society now is sunken in a dark scenario. One of the dangerous aspects of the current situation is insecurity, which controls the whole society. The terrorist conflict between America on the one hand and political Islam and remnants of the Baath regime on the other breaches the lives, livelihood and the rights of citizens and workers and claims the lives of scores of them everyday.
We condemn strongly the series of killing, assassination and terror against Iraqi workers and we express our condolence to all families and relatives of these workers.
Down with terrorism
Immediate end of occupation of Iraq
FWCUI
Aso Jabbar
Representative abroad
06.01.2005
Iraq under the occupation has turned into an international battlefield, this war put the entire region in a crisis, and it has also jeopardized the people’s safety and all aspects of life. Tens of civilians are falling dead on daily basis because of this war without having anything to do with it. Terrorism and terrorist acts are marching towards the residential areas, workplaces, markets and everywhere in the Iraqi society. Poverty, deprivation, and the lack of job opportunities are other results of destroying civility in Iraq.
In reality the Iraqi society now is sunken in a dark scenario. One of the dangerous aspects of the current situation is insecurity, which controls the whole society. The terrorist conflict between America on the one hand and political Islam and remnants of the Baath regime on the other breaches the lives, livelihood and the rights of citizens and workers and claims the lives of scores of them everyday.
We condemn strongly the series of killing, assassination and terror against Iraqi workers and we express our condolence to all families and relatives of these workers.
Down with terrorism
Immediate end of occupation of Iraq
FWCUI
Aso Jabbar
Representative abroad
06.01.2005
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
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
Thursday, January 6
Statement of FWCUI on the Assassination of Mr. Hadi Saleh, international secretary of Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions-IFTU
A terrorist group has assassinated Mr. Hadi Saleh, a prominent leader and international secretary of Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions-IFTU, Wednesday January 04. 2005 .They assassinated him near his home in Baghdad, in a series of assassination and physical eradication exercised by the terrorist groups.
Assassination is tradition by those political groups who have no any connection with Iraqi people and they are trying to implement their policies through threats, assassination persecution and physical eradication.
Assassination will not end the path of any progressive political activist and group which determined to struggle for a free and progressive life for Iraqi people.
We express our condolence to his family and his friends.
We condemn strongly this reactionary antihuman action which directed against any human aspect of Iraqi people.
We declare in order to guarantee a peaceful and secure live for Iraqi people and to eliminate the current insecure and chaotic situation and scenario of assassination, terror and persecution in Iraq, are only possible through strengthening the progressive front of civil people in Iraq to end the occupation in Iraq and to eliminate the terrorism of political Islam and loyalists of Baath regime.
FWCUI
05.01.2004
Assassination is tradition by those political groups who have no any connection with Iraqi people and they are trying to implement their policies through threats, assassination persecution and physical eradication.
Assassination will not end the path of any progressive political activist and group which determined to struggle for a free and progressive life for Iraqi people.
We express our condolence to his family and his friends.
We condemn strongly this reactionary antihuman action which directed against any human aspect of Iraqi people.
We declare in order to guarantee a peaceful and secure live for Iraqi people and to eliminate the current insecure and chaotic situation and scenario of assassination, terror and persecution in Iraq, are only possible through strengthening the progressive front of civil people in Iraq to end the occupation in Iraq and to eliminate the terrorism of political Islam and loyalists of Baath regime.
FWCUI
05.01.2004
International Secretaty of IFTU Murdered in Iraq
The Murder of Hadi Salih
Labour Friends of Iraq have posted three statements condemning the murder of Hadi Salih, International Officer of the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions on 4 January 2005.
http://www.labourfriendsofiraq.org.uk/
January 05, 2005
International Transport Workers' Federation slams murder of Hadi Salih
David Cockroft, General Secretary of global union federation the ITF, said today: "I have to report with sadness that we have learned of the murder at his home last night of Hadi Salih, International Officer of the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU)."
"A month ago at the congress of the ICFTU (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions) Hadi Salih was telling us of his hopes to build a democratic union that would, in his words ' bring together all Iraqis no matter what their background, ethnicity or religion'."
"This was a man who was imprisoned, sentenced to death and driven into exile by Saddam Hussein. Yet he returned to Iraq to try and help its people build democratic institutions that would protect their rights as citizens and workers. He was the kind of person that Iraq needs now and in the future. His murderers have done that country no favours. They deserve only contempt."
Harry Barnes MP condemns murder of Iraqi trade union leader
"The terrible news that Hadi Salih, International Secretary of the
Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU), was murdered at his home in
Baghdad last night is a tragedy for his family and friends. A great
working class leader, who I was privileged to meet when I chaired a
briefing at the Commons last year, has been murdered by fascist Saddam
loyalists. The best tribute we can pay to this decent and honourable
man is to redouble all efforts to support the IFTU and civil society
in Iraq. His murder should force everyone to recognise that the
so-called resistance is no friend of the labour movement and that
there should be no truck with it whatsoever. All left-wingers should
now urgently give active solidarity to the IFTU who have lost a leader
who suffered under Saddam and lost his life in trying to build a
decent society in Iraq." (Harry Barnes is a Labour MP and Vice-President of Labour Friends of Iraq)
TUC condemns the murder of top Iraqi trade unionist
5 January 2005
The TUC today (Wednesday) condemned the murder of Hadi Salih, the international secretary of the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU), who was shot last night by assassins who broke into his Baghdad home.
TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: "Hadi was a very brave man, who with no thoughts for his own personal safety, returned home as soon as Saddam was gone to try to make Iraq a better place to live and work.
"Like all trade unionists, Hadi believed in peaceful solutions to working people's problems and his commitment to rebuilding the trade union movement as part of a democratic Iraq has cost him and his family dear. Sadly, Iraq has now joined the list of countries where trade unionists live under the almost daily threat of violence and death, and Iraqi working people have lost someone who worked tirelessly on their behalf."
Hadi Salih had, on many occasions, condemned those who seek to use violence and terror in Iraqi. Only last month he had been at the ICFTU World Congress in Japan where he had met Brendan Barber and other senior British trade unionists.
Hadi Salih was 56, and was a former printing worker, who helped found the IFTU last May. Under Saddam Hussein's regime, Hadi Salih was sentenced to death in 1969 for his labour activism. But after five years in jail, he escaped the gallows when his sentence was commuted. After fleeing Iraq, Hadi became a political refugee in Sweden but rushed back to Baghdad shortly after the war began in a bid to rekindle the labour movement.
For information about Labour Friends of Iraq contact info@labourfriendsofiraq.org.uk
Gary Kent, Director, Labour Friends of Iraq
Alan Johnson, Research and Publications Officer, Labour Friends of Iraq
Labour Friends of Iraq have posted three statements condemning the murder of Hadi Salih, International Officer of the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions on 4 January 2005.
http://www.labourfriendsofiraq.org.uk/
January 05, 2005
International Transport Workers' Federation slams murder of Hadi Salih
David Cockroft, General Secretary of global union federation the ITF, said today: "I have to report with sadness that we have learned of the murder at his home last night of Hadi Salih, International Officer of the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU)."
"A month ago at the congress of the ICFTU (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions) Hadi Salih was telling us of his hopes to build a democratic union that would, in his words ' bring together all Iraqis no matter what their background, ethnicity or religion'."
"This was a man who was imprisoned, sentenced to death and driven into exile by Saddam Hussein. Yet he returned to Iraq to try and help its people build democratic institutions that would protect their rights as citizens and workers. He was the kind of person that Iraq needs now and in the future. His murderers have done that country no favours. They deserve only contempt."
Harry Barnes MP condemns murder of Iraqi trade union leader
"The terrible news that Hadi Salih, International Secretary of the
Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU), was murdered at his home in
Baghdad last night is a tragedy for his family and friends. A great
working class leader, who I was privileged to meet when I chaired a
briefing at the Commons last year, has been murdered by fascist Saddam
loyalists. The best tribute we can pay to this decent and honourable
man is to redouble all efforts to support the IFTU and civil society
in Iraq. His murder should force everyone to recognise that the
so-called resistance is no friend of the labour movement and that
there should be no truck with it whatsoever. All left-wingers should
now urgently give active solidarity to the IFTU who have lost a leader
who suffered under Saddam and lost his life in trying to build a
decent society in Iraq." (Harry Barnes is a Labour MP and Vice-President of Labour Friends of Iraq)
TUC condemns the murder of top Iraqi trade unionist
5 January 2005
The TUC today (Wednesday) condemned the murder of Hadi Salih, the international secretary of the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU), who was shot last night by assassins who broke into his Baghdad home.
TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: "Hadi was a very brave man, who with no thoughts for his own personal safety, returned home as soon as Saddam was gone to try to make Iraq a better place to live and work.
"Like all trade unionists, Hadi believed in peaceful solutions to working people's problems and his commitment to rebuilding the trade union movement as part of a democratic Iraq has cost him and his family dear. Sadly, Iraq has now joined the list of countries where trade unionists live under the almost daily threat of violence and death, and Iraqi working people have lost someone who worked tirelessly on their behalf."
Hadi Salih had, on many occasions, condemned those who seek to use violence and terror in Iraqi. Only last month he had been at the ICFTU World Congress in Japan where he had met Brendan Barber and other senior British trade unionists.
Hadi Salih was 56, and was a former printing worker, who helped found the IFTU last May. Under Saddam Hussein's regime, Hadi Salih was sentenced to death in 1969 for his labour activism. But after five years in jail, he escaped the gallows when his sentence was commuted. After fleeing Iraq, Hadi became a political refugee in Sweden but rushed back to Baghdad shortly after the war began in a bid to rekindle the labour movement.
For information about Labour Friends of Iraq contact info@labourfriendsofiraq.org.uk
Gary Kent, Director, Labour Friends of Iraq
Alan Johnson, Research and Publications Officer, Labour Friends of Iraq
Wednesday, January 5
Statement regarding the demands of the workers of Chemical and Plastic Industry in Baghdad
Although there is massive increase of the prices, specially the prices of oil, food resources, transport and other basic daily requirements, the workers are facing a difficult living conditions and they are trying to step forward to reach their demands and to improve their living conditions. However the administration of this company instead to reply to these demands, we realized that they dealing with these demands always with promises, unreasonable excuses and in many occasions with threats or dismissing workers from their jobs or physical persecution .
The workers suffered enough during the power of the formers regime and they are looking to improve their situation in a way that they could be able to express their demands freely and to change their miserable living conditions. But the same fascistic policies of former regime are still functioning in Iraq including punishment, dismissing, threatening and corruptions which are the reasons of exploitation of workers and confronting them with the violation of their daily simple rights.
The workers in the national company for chemical and plastic industry in Baghdad are demanding the administration to reply positively to their demands. The administration should be serious to reply to these demands;
1.)Rises in the minimum wage will be made proportional to economic inflation.
2.)Abolishment of the overtime.
3.)Payment of the salary for these workers who have been punished by the administration and they are 25 workers.
4.)Replace of the position of the technical assistant because of his mistreatment to the workers and misuse of his position.
5.)Distribution of the yearly Gains of this company to the workers.
Payment of compensation determined for professional safety and work hazards
6.)The Worker Alla Salman should return to his working place.
7.)Prevention of threats against workers in all forms.
The preparatory committee for the establishment of the Worker’s Council of the National Company for Chemical and Plastic Industry in Baghdad
05.01.2005
The workers suffered enough during the power of the formers regime and they are looking to improve their situation in a way that they could be able to express their demands freely and to change their miserable living conditions. But the same fascistic policies of former regime are still functioning in Iraq including punishment, dismissing, threatening and corruptions which are the reasons of exploitation of workers and confronting them with the violation of their daily simple rights.
The workers in the national company for chemical and plastic industry in Baghdad are demanding the administration to reply positively to their demands. The administration should be serious to reply to these demands;
1.)Rises in the minimum wage will be made proportional to economic inflation.
2.)Abolishment of the overtime.
3.)Payment of the salary for these workers who have been punished by the administration and they are 25 workers.
4.)Replace of the position of the technical assistant because of his mistreatment to the workers and misuse of his position.
5.)Distribution of the yearly Gains of this company to the workers.
Payment of compensation determined for professional safety and work hazards
6.)The Worker Alla Salman should return to his working place.
7.)Prevention of threats against workers in all forms.
The preparatory committee for the establishment of the Worker’s Council of the National Company for Chemical and Plastic Industry in Baghdad
05.01.2005
Statement of Federation of Workers’ Councils and Unions in Iraq on: the upcoming election in Iraq.
The Iraqi authorities backed by the occupation forces in Iraq declared January 30, 2005 a date to hold the elections in Iraq, insisting that these elections would be the fist elections in over half a century.
Holding election is one of the basic rights of people to elect their representatives. Nevertheless, election is to choose among different alternatives, therefore people participating in election should be well informed about all alternatives and familiar with their political programmes and perspectives. This has not happened in Iraq. Moreover many territories in Iraq are under the control of various militias, which prevent their political opponents from practicing any apolitical activity. This means that people are unable to know the agenda and political programmes of each party. Above all, most of the political parties and organizations involved in this election have not presented any agendas or programmes but some slogans and promises only.
On the other hand, the lists of candidates submitted by various political forces are based on dividing the population on basis of language, religion, sect and ethnicity and thus the sectarian, ethnic and linguistic differences are to be incorporated in constitution and become part of human beings’ identity. Thus, the Iraqi society is pushed toward ever deepening religious and ethnic divisions.
Most important is the fact that this election is to take place in a country where there is no constitutional and legal system and the assembly, which would be elected, is to enact the constitution. This means that the constitution will be determined according to current balance of power based on chaos, lack of security, occupation and absence of civility.
The mass of people are marginalized in the whole political process in the society and therefore workers have no political forces which directly represent them in this election independent of the forces which divide workers under the name of sect and ethnicity.
Workers in Iraq should gather around their own objectives and perspectives and not participate in an election where they have no representative but forces, which pose as defenders of masses of people and use the deprivation of people to achieve objectives and goals completely irrelevant to the objectives of people.
Let’s stand in the forefront of the civil resistance to end the occupation in Iraq and impose the willpower of the Iraqi people to elect their real representatives outside the political equation dictated by occupation and pro- occupation forces.
The objectives of workers will only be achieved by the progressive movement of workers who stand in the forefront of the protest movement of the civility, freedom and equality-seeking masses of people in Iraq.
Long live workers’ willpower
Federation of Workers’ Councils and Unions in Iraq
26.12.04
Holding election is one of the basic rights of people to elect their representatives. Nevertheless, election is to choose among different alternatives, therefore people participating in election should be well informed about all alternatives and familiar with their political programmes and perspectives. This has not happened in Iraq. Moreover many territories in Iraq are under the control of various militias, which prevent their political opponents from practicing any apolitical activity. This means that people are unable to know the agenda and political programmes of each party. Above all, most of the political parties and organizations involved in this election have not presented any agendas or programmes but some slogans and promises only.
On the other hand, the lists of candidates submitted by various political forces are based on dividing the population on basis of language, religion, sect and ethnicity and thus the sectarian, ethnic and linguistic differences are to be incorporated in constitution and become part of human beings’ identity. Thus, the Iraqi society is pushed toward ever deepening religious and ethnic divisions.
Most important is the fact that this election is to take place in a country where there is no constitutional and legal system and the assembly, which would be elected, is to enact the constitution. This means that the constitution will be determined according to current balance of power based on chaos, lack of security, occupation and absence of civility.
The mass of people are marginalized in the whole political process in the society and therefore workers have no political forces which directly represent them in this election independent of the forces which divide workers under the name of sect and ethnicity.
Workers in Iraq should gather around their own objectives and perspectives and not participate in an election where they have no representative but forces, which pose as defenders of masses of people and use the deprivation of people to achieve objectives and goals completely irrelevant to the objectives of people.
Let’s stand in the forefront of the civil resistance to end the occupation in Iraq and impose the willpower of the Iraqi people to elect their real representatives outside the political equation dictated by occupation and pro- occupation forces.
The objectives of workers will only be achieved by the progressive movement of workers who stand in the forefront of the protest movement of the civility, freedom and equality-seeking masses of people in Iraq.
Long live workers’ willpower
Federation of Workers’ Councils and Unions in Iraq
26.12.04
Tuesday, January 4
Broad conference of Workers in Basra demands Immediate and unconditional end of the occupation in Iraq (from FWCUI)
The statement of the broad conference of Workers in Basra regarding the occupation in Iraq
Iraq is an occupied country, this has been also declared by UN which determined a time limit to end the occupation .Despite the declaration to end the occupation, and the occupying forces are ruling this country. Until now this policy is working in Iraq. The occupying forces are determining the constitution, the laws and the structures which rule the lives of millions of people in Iraq.
The occupying forces established a government according to their interests based on ethnicity, tribal and religious system .The result of this reactionary policy was deterioration of the political and security situation in Iraq in general.
Under such situation the role of workers is marginal. The Iraqi authorities are still implementing the decisions and policies of the former regime which are violating the freedom of association for workers and preventing workers from exercising their activities and preventing them publicly to establish their own unions according their own decisions .It issues its decisions without consultation with representatives of workers and their unions which established by worker independently.
We are gathering here, representatives of workers declare that there will be no any real freedom under such conditions. Therefore we are demanding;
1.)Immediate and unconditional end of the occupation in Iraq through the strengthening of the front of civil resistance against occupation of Iraq .The workers should stand in forefront of this massive movement and they should strengthen it.
2.) The real and active participation of workers in the determination of the structures, labour laws and constitution of the Iraqi future government.
3.)Abolishment of any administration and structures based on tribal system and discrimination according to religion or Ethnicity.
FWCUI-Basra Branch
26.11.2004
Iraq is an occupied country, this has been also declared by UN which determined a time limit to end the occupation .Despite the declaration to end the occupation, and the occupying forces are ruling this country. Until now this policy is working in Iraq. The occupying forces are determining the constitution, the laws and the structures which rule the lives of millions of people in Iraq.
The occupying forces established a government according to their interests based on ethnicity, tribal and religious system .The result of this reactionary policy was deterioration of the political and security situation in Iraq in general.
Under such situation the role of workers is marginal. The Iraqi authorities are still implementing the decisions and policies of the former regime which are violating the freedom of association for workers and preventing workers from exercising their activities and preventing them publicly to establish their own unions according their own decisions .It issues its decisions without consultation with representatives of workers and their unions which established by worker independently.
We are gathering here, representatives of workers declare that there will be no any real freedom under such conditions. Therefore we are demanding;
1.)Immediate and unconditional end of the occupation in Iraq through the strengthening of the front of civil resistance against occupation of Iraq .The workers should stand in forefront of this massive movement and they should strengthen it.
2.) The real and active participation of workers in the determination of the structures, labour laws and constitution of the Iraqi future government.
3.)Abolishment of any administration and structures based on tribal system and discrimination according to religion or Ethnicity.
FWCUI-Basra Branch
26.11.2004
Sunday, January 2
IFTU statement on renewed attacks on Iraqi trade unionists
The Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU) denounced yesterday further
attacks on its members on the railway line between Basra and al-Nasiriyyah
and on union premises in Baghdad. These criminal acts designed to intimidate workers and trade unionists follow a well-established pattern of targeted campaigns of assassination and terror which have been waged by those loyal to the former fascist-type, dictatorial regime of Saddam Hussein against
individual IFTU activists and ordinary workers in recent months. In
particular, as a recent report from a joint delegation of the IFTU and the
British Fire Brigades Union (FBU) highlighted, there have been two attempts
on the life of Mr. Nuzad Ismaiel, President of the IFTU in the Kirkuk
Region.
In the first incident on 25 December 2004, a freight train travelling from
Basra to Al-Nasiriyyah was subjected to a terrorist attack, which led to the
kidnapping of two train drivers (Salah Mehdi Taher and Salih Chiyehchan
Harbi); the other five workers on the train were severely beaten and left in
a life-threatening condition. The IFTU Executive has demanded that the Iraqi
Interim Government; the immediate release of the two kidnapped railway
workers and proper compensation for all workers who are victims of cowardly
terrorist attacks in the course of their working duties. [See full text of
IFTU Executive Committee statement dated 29 December 2004, attached.]
In a separate incident the IFTU reported: "On the night of the 26/27
December 2004 the headquarters of the Transport & Communication Workers'
Union was subjected to a cowardly and violent attack by terrorists when they
shelled the building with rocket-propelled grenades and mortars which caused
a large whole in the wall of the building and a crater in the ground.
Luckily there were no fatal casualties."
In December 2003, the same union building was attacked by US occupation
military forces and 8 leading members of the IFTU's Transport &
Communication Workers' Union (including its President, Mr. Turki al-Lehaby)
were arrested and subsequently released unharmed following a worldwide
appeal from labour movement bodies. The union offices were sealed for 7
months by the US forces who told the IFTU: "You have no right to organise
workers while under military occupation."
The building was subsequently re-opened by a decision of the first Congress
of the Transport & Communication Workers' Union after the fall of the
dictatorial regime of Saddam Hussein in June 2004. The building has been
used as the temporary headquarters of the IFTU from May 2003 until December
2003 and currently acts as important organising premises for the Transport &
Communication Workers' Union and other IFTU-affiliated trade unions.
The IFTU Executive Committee condemned the attack on the trade union
offices, declaring: "Disgrace and shame on the terrorists! Glory to the
Iraqi working class!" and resolved to ensure that the offices continue to be
used to organise Iraqi workers.
attacks on its members on the railway line between Basra and al-Nasiriyyah
and on union premises in Baghdad. These criminal acts designed to intimidate workers and trade unionists follow a well-established pattern of targeted campaigns of assassination and terror which have been waged by those loyal to the former fascist-type, dictatorial regime of Saddam Hussein against
individual IFTU activists and ordinary workers in recent months. In
particular, as a recent report from a joint delegation of the IFTU and the
British Fire Brigades Union (FBU) highlighted, there have been two attempts
on the life of Mr. Nuzad Ismaiel, President of the IFTU in the Kirkuk
Region.
In the first incident on 25 December 2004, a freight train travelling from
Basra to Al-Nasiriyyah was subjected to a terrorist attack, which led to the
kidnapping of two train drivers (Salah Mehdi Taher and Salih Chiyehchan
Harbi); the other five workers on the train were severely beaten and left in
a life-threatening condition. The IFTU Executive has demanded that the Iraqi
Interim Government; the immediate release of the two kidnapped railway
workers and proper compensation for all workers who are victims of cowardly
terrorist attacks in the course of their working duties. [See full text of
IFTU Executive Committee statement dated 29 December 2004, attached.]
In a separate incident the IFTU reported: "On the night of the 26/27
December 2004 the headquarters of the Transport & Communication Workers'
Union was subjected to a cowardly and violent attack by terrorists when they
shelled the building with rocket-propelled grenades and mortars which caused
a large whole in the wall of the building and a crater in the ground.
Luckily there were no fatal casualties."
In December 2003, the same union building was attacked by US occupation
military forces and 8 leading members of the IFTU's Transport &
Communication Workers' Union (including its President, Mr. Turki al-Lehaby)
were arrested and subsequently released unharmed following a worldwide
appeal from labour movement bodies. The union offices were sealed for 7
months by the US forces who told the IFTU: "You have no right to organise
workers while under military occupation."
The building was subsequently re-opened by a decision of the first Congress
of the Transport & Communication Workers' Union after the fall of the
dictatorial regime of Saddam Hussein in June 2004. The building has been
used as the temporary headquarters of the IFTU from May 2003 until December
2003 and currently acts as important organising premises for the Transport &
Communication Workers' Union and other IFTU-affiliated trade unions.
The IFTU Executive Committee condemned the attack on the trade union
offices, declaring: "Disgrace and shame on the terrorists! Glory to the
Iraqi working class!" and resolved to ensure that the offices continue to be
used to organise Iraqi workers.
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