Wednesday, March 30

Campaign to support the Basra students protest against Islamist repression

March 26th 2005
On March 16th, students in Basra began a strike in protest at an attack carried out on students from Basra’s University’s engineering faculty by Moqtada al-Seder’s Army of the Mahdi, in which several people were injured and one killed. The strike ended on March 22nd, but the students’ campaign against Islamist violence continues and needs international support and solidarity.

Al-Sadr’s gang and the city’s tribal elders had threatened to bombard the university if the students did not issue an apology for their “blasphemous” slogans against political Islam. Such was the Islamists’ determination to end the strike that they even threatened to kill Bus and taxi drivers who transported students to the demonstrations at the university. However, the students’ determination and the support they have received from freedom-loving people in Basra have now forced the Mahdi Army’s representative Asad al-Basri into giving an apology to the students! This apology has been published in the well-known Basra newspaper Al-Manara al-Basriya.



The Basra Student Working Committee, which was founded in December last year and represents students in the city’s university and high schools, commented: “Recent events in our city show that Iraqi workers and students are determined to resist political Islam, and can win if they are united. The Student Working Committee will continue to work for the creation of a progressive student movement in Iraq.”



We will continue to support the Basra students’ campaign:

- To bring al-Sadr’s assassins to justice.

- Compensation for the victims of the attack.

- For the expulsion of Islamist militias’ headquarters from Iraqi universities.

- Separation of religion from the state and the education system.

- For the creation of a united progressive student movement in Basra and other cities.
Please send messages of solidarity to the (Students Working
Committee)
On this e-mail address studentvoice@basrahstudent.4t.com and send copies to us.

Campaign coordinators:
Houzan Mahmoud (Organization of Women’s Freedom in Iraq- UK Representative)
E-mail: houzan73@yahoo.co.uk Tel: 079 56 88 3001
Alan Clarke (UK National Union of Students national executive
member)
E-mail: alan.clarke@nus.org.uk Tel: 07976 000 940
Dashti Jamal (Head of UK organization of Worker communist party of Iraq)
E-mail: d.jamal@ntlworld.com Tel: 077 34 704742

supporters of the campaign:
Nadia Mahmood (No to Afghanisation of Iraq campaign) UKPauline Bradley (Convenor Iraq Union Solidarity) UKMuayad Ahmed (Editor in chief of Worker Communism paper) UKDaniel Randall (Alliance for Workers liberty) UKMick Duncan (No Sweat Campaign) UKKalliroi Nicolis (Social Aid of Hellas) Greece Aso Jabbar (Abroad representative of Federation of workers councils and unions n Iraq) SwitzerlandJosh Robinson, Cambridge University People & Planet UKRobin Sivapalan, Education Not for Sale candidate for NUS VP (Education) UKJodi Garrod, Women's Officer, SOAS student union UKSam Keyes, Education Officer, Leeds University Union UKJames Bull, Equal Opportunities Officer, Salford University student Union UKCoral Harding, Women's Officer, University of East London student union UKWill Wiles, National Union of Students steering committee UKFaz Velmi, National Union of Students LGB committee UKLaura Schwartz, Wadham College student union UKEmma Norris, president-elect, Oxford University student union UKFran Robinson, Hackney Community College UKHugh Grant-Peterkin, Bristol University UKMaria Exall, Communication Workers' Union national executive UKJohn Moloney, Public & Commercial Services Union national executive UKKate Ahrens, UNISON national executive UKPeter Tatchell (Human rights activist) UKClaire Bielby & Louise gold (National Union of Student- women’s committee) UKOutRage! (the gay human rights campaign) UKRaja bin Salama (Tunisian University) Tunisia

Tuesday, March 22

Assassination attempt on Basra Oil Union activist

From the General Union of Oil Employees, Basrah
Date: 16/03/2005
Dear Friends
Assassination attempt of senior activist of GUOE
In this time of harsh conditions for the region and amidst the threats of the difficult period in which Iraqis are living and the predominance of evil forces over the good persons who work for the betterment of a great Iraq, there is a group of people who have devoted themselves to working in and protecting the oil sector as the sole resource which Iraqis possess.
Yesterday Mr. Samir Yasin Sabbah, head of the Section of the Union in the Fao Sector, was the object of a bomb that destroyed his car. This aimed to terminate his work and to further the interests of those poor souls who seek only their own not the wider good. At the time of this terrible attempt on the life on the unionist, whom God in his justice saved from death as he practiced his honourable work in the service of noble Iraq, we call upon all decent persons and friends of the Union abroad to express their solidarity with us in the hope of preventing the criminal acts presently directed against the Union in Iraq.
Long live the heroic union organisations,
Long live the brave working class,
Shame and dishonour to the cowardly terrorists who do not want stability for this country; may God stay their hands.
With respect,
Hasan Juma `Awad

Monday, March 21

Basra students strike against Islamists

Appeal by the Federation of Workers Councils and Unions in Iraq (FWCUI) to all labour activists, trade unions and Student organisations worldwide to support the protest of Students of the University and schools of Basra.
Since 15th March 2005 the students of the University of Basra along with hundreds of students from secondary schools and a large part of freedom loving people have been demonstrating in Basra against the atrocities of the Islamic groups in the city. On 15th March a group of armed militia belonging to the infamous Al Sadr in Basra accompanied by a band of thugs linked to the Islamic Republic of Iran attacked a group of Student from the Engineering Faculty on an outing in one of the city’s parks.
The armed thugs launched a vicious attack against the students destroying all their belongings and ripping off the clothes of females students. The attackers especially targeted female students singling out one Christian student. A male student rushing to help the Christian student was brutally shot dead by the armed gang. A day after this tragic incident thousands of students of the University of Basra declared an open end strike inside the University. The protester inside the University compound have been surrounded by the national guards, armed militia of Al sadr and the police forces.
These demonstrations have now escalated to express not only the anger against the killing of one student but also to protest against the criminal activities of the so-called students linked with Islamic militia groups and their bullying activities to impose their policies on all aspect of life.
These demonstrations have proved that the Iraqi people in general and the students in particular are prepared to withstand the attempts of the dark forces to impose their reactionary policies on the society. These demonstrations highlighted the deep desire within the Iraqi society for civil life and against those wishing to impose their sectarian views on the entire population.
These forces of political Islam are against the content of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; they are violating the right to strike and organisation as the recent opening of fire into the peaceful demonstration of unemployed people in Samawa and Kut has revealed.
The FWCUI declared in a press release on 18.March 2005 in Baghdad its full support and solidarity with the strike and demands of students in Basra and condemned strongly the atrocity of Al Sadr band against the students of Basra University .
We in FWCUI representation abroad also strongly condemn this criminal action by the Al Sadr gangs against the students and we demand that all those involved in this atrocity should be brought to justice and all demands of students should be met.
We demand the right of students to organise themselves in their own independent unions.
We call on all freedom loving and equality seeking people in Iraq to gather around this progressive movement for freedom and to broaden the dimension of this movement against terrorist and right wing forces in Iraq.
We condemn the lack of response and the passive position of the Iraqi authorities and we hold the occupying forces responsible for the deterioration of the security situation and actual chaos in Iraq which allowed the armed militias to implement their reactionary polices on Iraqi people and to restrict their freedom and violate their basic rights.
We stand side by side with the progressive students in Basra and fully support their demands for secularism, freedom and equality.
We appeal on all labour activists and trade unions worldwide to support the striking students and their fair demands.
Victory to Basra students' protests
Long live the movement for freedom and secularism in Iraqi

Aso Jabbar and Houzan Mahmoud
Representation abroad of FWCUI
19. March 2005

Wool industry workers demonstrate inside Industry Ministry

March 6. More than a hundred workers of the General Company of Wool Industry in Baghdad demonstrated inside the premises of the Industry Ministry. The demonstration came in response to a statement issued by a group of labour activists. The statement was distributed to all factories owned by the company: the Alfatah factory, the Wahid Ayar factory, the Tag mechanical factory, the factory of spare parts and the Alhuryiah factory. . The statement raised the following demands:

-Fund all companies belonging to the Industrial Ministry centrally rather than having each factory depend on self-funding.
-Protect national production by stopping imports of similar commodities and marketing products through the ministry.
-Upgrade all production lines to international standards
-Grant the employees of the company allotments of land
-Reinstate danger and distance allowances.
-Sack Baathist elements from the Ministry and companies it owns and operates
-Establish a special committee inside each company to fight against corruption


A delegation from the demonstrating workers negotiated with Sami Alaarachi, Deputy Minister of Industry and Minerals. Alaarachi promised the workers he would study their demands.

This outraged the demonstrating workers who are exasperated that the managers of these companies are procrastinating in meeting their demands. They also believe managers are planning to buy the companies after they are privatised by the administration.

The statement called for a 2 –day demonstration inside the ministry building. Workers warned ministry officials that they will go in strike if their demands are not met.


Federation of Workers’ Councils and Unions in Iraq –FWCUI

March 2005

Workers of the Ur Company for Cables and Aluminium Protest

Over last few months the protest of workers of the Ur Company for manufacturing of cables and aluminium has been growing against the corruption of the administration and the hard working laws imposed on them.

After the fall of the fascist Baath regime, it was supposed that all the antihuman and anti- workers laws adopted by this regime should be cancelled but this did not happen. When the workers demanded that they establish their own union the administration told them they are not allowed to do that because the Saddamist resolution number 150 issued in 1987 by the Revolution Command Council of the Baath regime is still in force which consider all public sector workers public servants prohibited from establishing unions. Therefore the workers of this company were told that they are public servants and they do not have the right to establish their own labour union otherwise they will violate articles of Public servants disciplinary laws which expose them to sever punishments.


The ministry and administration which still apply rules and resolutions of Baath regime will not be able to meet the demands of workers wishful to secure their livelihood and continue production in their company in which more than 4500 employee of all department can loss their jobs because of negligence in part of the administration and a plan to privatise the company.


The clear lesson for workers in this company and in other working places is that same oppressive rules and resolutions are applied against them. Therefore the only way to face the threats of the authority is to organize in their revolutionary organization which can bring the support of law to their demands and stand up to the illegitimate authority like what happened with administration of this company. The only way to defend the class interests of workers is through establishment of your own council by electing directly your representative who could defend your fair demands through strengthening your unity and common struggle for a better situation for you and your families. FWCUI is a powerful tool in the direction of independency of labour unions and councils and powerful tool to defend your demands.



FWCUI-Nasiriya Branch

05.03.2005

Thursday, March 17

About The Announcement Made By the Ministry Of Labor Regarding the Granting Of 130,000 Dinar as an Employment Insurance (EI)

The nonstop struggle of UUI featured in demonstrations, sit-out campaigns and bringing the mass about the union demands represented by (descent jobs or EI), had a significant influence to enforce it in becoming a social demands even in the government offices that had no serious intention to get to the bottom of the society’s calamity.

These demands had become on the top of the list of the protesting movement, also it had been adopted by many political parties for their propaganda to get closer to the people. It has become an important part of the ministry of labor project and the government in general, after being very far from being considered in any government agenda that have proven throughout the past two years they are secluded from the people concerns and crisis as well.

The approval of the ministry of labor to grant EI comes along this way in response to this struggle and a premium success of this movement. The authority’s (US, Iraqi) who held negotiations with UUI leadership were denying the workers rights in obtaining EI. Their media saved no efforts to make this denial deep rooted in people's beliefs and the international public opinion as well, however the rock-solid stand of UUI and it’s persistency of not slipping down toward the job market sales that have been put into service by many employment agencies and some corrupted officers in the ministry’s were proving day by day that the vision, the work of the UUI and the trust the mass have put in these kinds of works are the treasure of the UUI which will secure the continuity of the movement to end the most dangerous crisis in the society, that is the unemployment.

Ultimately there is only one voice of unemployed people who chant “NO TO FALSE PROMISES, YES TO DECENT JOB OPPORTUNITIES!” For all unemployed people.



Steering Board of UUI

10.March 2005

Press Release by the President of Oil Workers Trade Union

In the shadow of current circumstances and the absence of the state, the workers need each other more than ever, need to organize themselves. At the same time they reject imposed organization by the superiors but rather one on their own choice, which represents them. Furthermore our union (FWCUI) had proven the truthful representation of the Iraqi labor hope and will.

The submission of 20 identifications made by 20 unionists from our department (oil project company) and announcing their support to our union and withdrawal from previously belonged union is a clear evidence to prove our agenda after what they underwent under the former regime (such as transforming the unions into a tool of oppression) also the attempts of Civil Provisional Authorities (CPA) to imposing unions over the workers.

In addition it has proven that the workers from that point on know who represent them and realizes the importance and necessities of the association.


Long Live Workers Will

Long Live Workers Movement

Long Live FWCUI


Saad Shakir Hashim


President of Oil Workers Trade Union

Department of Equipment Manufacture

Oil Project Company


March 2005

Wednesday, March 16

Defend Nozad Ismail!

Labour Friends of Iraq is asking trade unionists to sign up to defend Nozad Ismail, the Iraqi Trade Union leader threatened with assassination, and to encourage others to sign up to the Appeal at the LFIQ website.
Why you should sign up: Hadi Saleh, the International Secretary of the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU) was tortured and strangled before his house was ransacked for his comrades' contact details.
Ali Hassan Abd of the IFTU's Oil and Gas Union, was gunned down in front of his children. Ahmed Adris Abbas of the Transport and Communication Workers Union was also assassinated in Baghdad.
Whatever our original views on the war, the international labour movement must protest against the attempted liquidation of the Iraqi union leadership.
Suggested piece for inclusion on your website or to mailout to your contact box or to raise with your Councillors, MP, Union branch etc:
Dozens of rank and file trade unionists and leaders from across the world have signed the global appeal to defend Nozad.This month (insert your name) signed the Global Appeal to defend Iraqi Trade Union leader Nozad Ismail the IFTU President in Kirkuk. Nozad has survived two assassination attempts and regularly receives death threats. Already the anti-democratic forces grouped together in the 'insurgency' have murdered a number of Iraqi Trade Union leaders.
..... encourages you all to show your support for Nozad by signing up to the Appeal at the LFIQ website.
Background
LFIQ brings together Party members who took different views on the war but who unite to move on and support Iraqi democrats, socialists and trade unionists.
The LFIQ website is updated regularly with information about Grassroots Iraq and topical news and views.
LFIQ provides speakers for Party meetings and a helpful Solidarity Toolkit is available through the website.
Gary Kent: Director
Jane Ashworth Chair - Labour Friends of Iraq

Monday, March 7

400 Workers at top Baghdad Hotel conclude successful strike

Workers at the Palestine Hotel, one of the most prestigious in Baghdad's 'Green Zone' and a favourite haunt of foreign journalists have concluded successful strike action the IFTU reported today.

The action by hotel workers follows a two-day strike that won the reinstatement of 27 dismissed workers at the 'Baghdad Hotel' late last year, which was organised by the IFTU. One of the chief developments of last year's dispute was the formation of 'Union Committees' at the Baghdad and other large hotels.

Muhsin Jasim, Baghdad Regional Secretary of the Public & Social Service Workers’ Union said: "At the time that the hotel workers were dismissed, there was no union committee at the hotel, but as a result of the strike we formed a union committee. The strike didn’t only educate our members, they educated the hotel manager too."

"The strike was very difficult for the management because many Americans stay at the hotel. They were very angry and disturbed that the hotel wasn’t cleaned for 2 days. They tried to bribe us by inviting us to eat dinner with them, but we refused. In all 180 workers at the hotel took part in the strike – the entire workforce. Workers in other big hotels saw the strike and formed union committees as well."

In the latest dispute at the Palestine Hotel, the IFTU report that an agreement has been reached with the hotel management, for an immediate wage increase. However, as significant is the union's success in persuading the management to resume negotiations with the workers' Union Committee' officials for better working conditions, wages and pensions.

Saturday, March 5

Demonstration for a secular constitution in Iraq

Start: 8 March, 2005 - 12:00
Location: Iraqi consulate, 169 Knightsbridge, London
Called by the Organisation for Women's Freedom in Iraq and the
Worker-communist Party of Iraq.

Thursday, March 3

Iraqi Womens' Movement Speaker Tour

No Sweat and NUS Women's Campaign are organising a speaker tour around
International Women's Day to promote solidarity with the Iraqi women's
movement. The main speaker will be Houzan Mahmoud, UK representative of
the Organisation of Women's Freedom in Iraq.

* Evening, Monday March 7th - Cambridge University. Details: Call Jo on
01223 356 454 or womens@cusu.cam.ac.uk

* 1pm, Tuesday 8th March - Sussex University, Room 228, Falmer Building.
Call Clare on 07779 251 478 or clare_bielby@hotmail.com

* EVENING, TUESDAY 8TH MARCH - School of Oriental and African Studies,
London "Women workers of the world, unite" Will also include speakers
from Iran and the National Group on Homeworking Call Jodi on 07863 346
179 or 150865@soas.ac.uk

* 1pm, Wednesday 9th March - Sheffield University. Call Louise on 07746
759 773 or lougified@hotmail.com

* Evening, Wednesday 9th March - Leeds University. Call Sam on 0113 380
1242 or ed@luu.leeds.ac.uk

* Evening, Thursday 10th March - benefit gig in Oxford. Call Kate on
07950 216 692 or katherine.ferguson@wadham.ox.ac.uk

* Lunchtime, Friday 11th March - Durham University. Call Durham Uni
People & Planet on 07989 562 541 or edlebon@hotmail.com

Wednesday, March 2

OWFI conference in Baghdad - 9/3/05

Call by Organization of Women's Freedom in Iraq -UK Representative
To all women's organizations, political parties and human rights institutions:
The Organization of Women's Freedom in Iraq (OWFI) is holding its conference in Baghdad under the title 'Women and the constitution' on 9 March 2005. This event is an important step for us. It will greatly enhance the fight to organize women's rights activists and organizations around demands for women's rights to be enshrined in law and to have an egalitarian secular constitution which recognizes women's rights as equal citizens in society.
This demand has a crucial and growing importance. With the 'victory' of the Iraqi United Alliance, composed mainly of Shiite groups, in the recent sham elections, the demand for the Islamisation of Iraq and any constitution will grow.
Women have been suffering for nearly two years, both under the occupation and from terror of the Islamic groups. Their rights have been eroded, but despite that they have been organizing and their determination to fight for secularism, equality and freedom has been shown through the work of OWFI, the true voice of women in Iraq.
On 9 March women will be holding their conference in Baghdad to discuss issues related to their destiny and how these need to be reflected in any constitution adopted.
The conference will demand a constitution based upon secular values, full equality between women and men, as well as the abolition of all discriminatory articles and laws against women. We want representation of women in all political, social and economic spheres.
We call on all to send messages of support to OWFI in their conference for a secular constitution to show your solidarity with our struggle.
We call on comrades to support the conference both politically and financially to help women win a secular constitution in Iraq that will allow them a voice in shaping their own future in Iraq
Your support is vital to us during this crucial period of our work!
Houzan Mahmoud
UK representative of OWFI
To send your letters of support, and donations to women's conference in Baghdad:
E-mail: houzan73@yahoo.co.uk. Tel: 079 56 88 3001 Web: www.equalityiniraq.com.

Tuesday, March 1

Trade unionist assassinated in Martyr's Square, Baghdad

The Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU) announces and condemns the
loss of the martyred trade unionist and member of the Transport and
Communication Workers Union, brother Ahmed Adris Abbas who was
assassinated on Thursady 24th February 2005 in Martyrs’ Square in
central Baghdad.

These cowardly attacks and assassinations of our members represent the
bankruptcy of the terrorists and their Saddam supporters who focus their
campaign of hatred against the working class people and their trade
union representatives.

The IFTU calls on these assassins to be brought to justice and declares
that their attempts to terrorise us will not deter our resolve to build
a strong, independent and democratic trade unions.

The IFTU calls on the international labour movement to condemn this
atrocity against a brave trade unionist who fought to build free unions.

Glory and honour to the martyrs of the Iraqi working class
Glory and honour to our fallen brother, the martyred Abu Fahad.
Shame and disgrace on the terrorists.

- - -

Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU):

c/o UNISON,
1 Mabledon Place,
London WC1H 9AJ.
Tel’: 00 44 79 76 84 68 68
Email: abdullahmuhsin@iraqitradeunions.org