Dear friends and supporters of the workers movement in Iraq:
In a country where the institutions and structures of civil society have broken down, the task of the workers’ movement becomes very difficult. Our federation has been relying almost entirely on donations from supporters abroad. Despite this, we have managed to recruit and organise thousands of workers, to hold successful conferences and to lead strikes to impose workers’ demands on the bosses. These tasks have not been easy, but they have been possible due to our determined stance and the determination of the Iraqi working class to build up our union federation, a determination without parallel in Iraq’s recent history. Ours is the first Iraqi union federation that clearly rejects state interferencein the workers’ movement! Working very hard for two years with almost no resources has been very difficult, but we have a very bright history of activism and achievement. To be able to expand our activities and be more effective we urgently need your financial support. We need funds for office rental, staff salaries, security, telephones, fax, furniture etc.
For example:
- The rent for our central office in Baghdad is $8000 a year.
- Equipment for the office costs $4000.
- A guard’s salary is about $200 a month; the office needs two guards, resulting in an annual cost of $4800.
- We would like to pay staff in our central office $350 a month – but
So far all our staff are voluntary!
Looking forward to your support
Yours in struggle
Aso Jabar and Houzan Mahmoud
21.05.2005
E-mail: asojabbar@yahoo.com ( Switzerland) ,Tel: Aso Jabbar
(0041 78 882 55 89)
E-mail:houzan73@yahoo.co.uk (Brittain), Tel: Houzan Mahmoud
(00 44 79 56 88 3001)
You can send your donations in different ways:
You can send cheques to Aso Jabber - abroad representative of FWCUI through the
following address in Switzerland and in Britain.
1. Aso Jabbar, abroad representative of FWCUI
Post Box 8553
3001 Bern-Switzerland
2. Donations to UUI in Britain:
Lloyds TSB Bank- Sort code: 30 94 51
Bank Account: 11610268 London UK
Monday, May 30
Latest news from the IFTU
A collection of the latest press releases from the IFTU.
The Public Service Workers' Union (IFTU) condemns terrorist attacks against hairdressers
The Public Service Workers' Union, an IFTU affiliate, has issued a statement condemning terrorist attacks against hairdressers.
A wave of terrorist attacks carried out against workers in beauty saloons in Baghdad and across many other cities in the middle and south of Iraq has resulted in the brutal murders of many workers in this field who are struggling in the most difficult circumstance to earn a living so as to feed their families and children. These innocent workers have been subjected to the most barbaric and violent murders at the hands of backward terrorists who have no regards to human rights and who are killing them because they claim hairdressing is an 'un-Islamic' practice which must be stopped.
These extremists who are killing hairdressers without mercy are murdering them in the same way they assassinated prominent Iraqi patriots such as engineers, businessmen and doctors and bombed worship places such as churches and mosques.
These barbarians are killing in the name of Islam, but Islam is a peaceful religion and forbids such act of violence.
The Public Service Workers Union strongly condemns these vile acts and calls upon the new transitional government to take urgent steps to protect the lives of innocent hairdressers who are doing a public service to Iraqis and to bring those criminals and terrorists who have killed and terrorized others to justice so that they can receive their just punishment.
May God bless the souls of our murdered brothers and may they rest in heaven.
Condolences and deepest sympathy are with the bereaved families
Glory to the martyrs of Iraqi democracy.
The Public Service Workers Union
The Executive Committee
Baghdad, 22 May 2005
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Iraqi Federation of Workers' Trade Unions (IFTU)
« Cartoonists Draw Black Humor From Iraq's Woes: Sabrina Tavernise, New York Times | Main | Terrorists kill 33 construction workers and injure 88 - some critically »
May 21, 2005
IFTU honours Hadi Saleh, our fallen comrade on May Day.
At the May Day celebrations in Baghdad this year, the President of the IFTU Mr Rasem Al Awadi honoured 20 trade unionists for their services to working people and patriotic sacrifices for Iraq and the trade union movement.
The IFTU President Mr Rasem Al Awadi honoured the 20 veterans of the Iraqi Trade Union movement, including Hadi Saleh our murdered comrade.
These comrades fought for democracy, jobs and above all the right of Iraqi working people to form and join independent, free and democratic trade unions, for the right to strike and the right to trade union representation.
Fuad Al Alaskary,
Satar Areaby,
Ibrahim al Bana,
Farage Eaalewi,
Ali Al Ghazaly,
Hashim Hamdan,
Abass Hussein.
Sadeq Jaffer,
Hatab Juna,
Shaee Khassem,
Mohammed Khthban,
Askar Ileaby,
Jassem Mashkur,
Abdel Razaq Mazed,
Hashim Mufti,
Basheer Naama,
Salam Daud Narjes,
Jabar Nasah,
Hadi Saleh,
Shaker Salman.
IFTU
20 May 2005
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Iraqi Federation of Workers' Trade Unions (IFTU)
« The Public Service Workers' Union (IFTU) condemns terrorist attacks against hairdressers | Main | Terrorists kill 50 workers in Baghdad and injure many other workers - some critically »
May 25, 2005
International Federation of Journalists reports 3 more Iraqi journalists murdered by terrorists
IFJ Baghdad Centre Focus on Safety as Three More Journalists Die in Iraq’s Media Nightmare
20/05/2005
Three Iraqi journalists have been assassinated in “cold-blooded and ruthless executions” on the roadside south of Baghdad reports the safety office of the International Federation of Journalists in Iraq.
The attack took place on Sunday when the journalists were travelling to Kerbala from Baghdad. They were among 13 passengers in a minibus that was stopped by an armed group who picked out the journalists when they showed their press cards. The rest of the passengers were freed, but Najem Abd Khudair, the Kerbala correspondent for the newspaper Al Mada, Ahmad Adam, a freelance writer for Al Mada and trainee journalist, Ali Jassem Al Rumi, working for Al Safeer newspaper in Baghdad were then killed.
“These colleagues were savagely murdered,” said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary. “They had their throats cut in cold-blooded and ruthless executions that are a cruel demonstration of the horrors of working in journalism in Iraq today.”
These latest killings bring to 85 the number of journalists and media staff killed in Iraq since the US and British invasion in March 2003. Of this number some 62, almost 80 per cent, are Iraqi. The number also includes 14 deaths at the hands of US troops, which have prompted the IFJ and others to demand independent reports on the circumstances.
The IFJ is also demanding that US and Iraq authorities free eight Iraqi journalists, most working for western media, who were arrested in March allegedly because “they pose a security risk to the Iraqi people and coalition forces.”
“These arrests, without formal charges, are nothing short of intimidation,” said White. “Journalism in Iraq is in the deepest crisis and the authorities should bring forward clear charges or release these journalists immediately. The uncertainty and injustice of arrest and arbitrary detention is intolerable.”
The IFJ opened its safety office in Baghdad last month with the support of Iraqi journalists who have created the Iraqi National Journalism Advisory Panel to improve levels of protection for journalists, to campaign for journalists’ rights and to encourage journalists to work together in the current crisis.
“Iraqi journalists get no training, they have no safety equipment, they have no insurance or social protection,” said White. “The Baghdad centre, which is drafting guidelines on safety precautions for journalists in Iraq, provides much-needed support.”
The centre has produced and issued media and journalists in Iraq with a special safety package -- an Iraqi edition of the safety manual Live News in Arabic, first aid kits, and a CD-Rom guide to security and protection for media staff.
For further information please contact +32 2 235 22 07
The IFJ represents over 500,000 journalists in more than 110 countries
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Iraqi Federation of Workers' Trade Unions (IFTU)
« Trajectory of violence: Faleh Jabar* | Main | ICEM brings together middle-eastern energy unions at Amman Conference »
May 01, 2005
May Day greetings to the labor movement and working people of Iraq: USLAW
MAY DAY GREETINGS TO THE LABOR MOVEMENT AND WORKING PEOPLE OF IRAQ
FROM U.S. LABOR AGAINST THE WAR AND ITS 110 AFFILIATED LABOR ORGANIZATIONS
In the name of peace, freedom and social justice, US Labor Against the War sends our greetings to the labor movement and workers of Iraq on May Day. With great courage, you have begun to reorganize your country's unions, and reclaim the historic traditions of Iraq's labor movement.
You are organizing in the face of very difficult economic conditions, including massive unemployment and extremely low wages, which have been imposed on you by the US/British occupation. In spite of these difficulties, workers throughout Iraq have organized strikes and demonstrations, and have successfully begun to raise the living standards of working families.
You have opposed the Bush administration plan for the privatization of Iraq's workplaces and resources. You have called for an end to the US occupation, and for a democratic political process to ensure that Iraq has a government that represents the needs and aspirations of Iraqi workers. We share these goals.
You have faced extreme violence, and the assassination of your leaders, without succumbing to fear, terror and intimidation. In the face of all these challenges you have remained courageously resolute in your commitment to a peaceful, democratic and just multi-ethnic, multi-cultural Iraq. You deserve the congratulations and support of unions and workers throughout the world for your efforts.
We are very proud that May Day, the international workers' holiday, was born in the United States in struggle for the 8-hour day. Our own country contributed martyrs like Albert Parsons and the murdered labor heroes of Chicago, who died for the same ideals for which you fight today. We are your brothers and sisters in this struggle We will redouble our efforts to end the occupation of your country, to achieve full respect for the sovereignty and independence of Iraq, and to support you in your struggle to establish a democratic state with full respect for workers' rights. We will march beside you, and support your movement, in any way we can.
Long live May Day! Long live the solidarity between the workers of Iraq and the United States!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Iraqi Federation of Workers' Trade Unions (IFTU)
« IFTU honours Hadi Saleh, our fallen comrade on May Day. | Main | The Public Service Workers' Union (IFTU) condemns terrorist attacks against hairdressers »
May 22, 2005
Terrorists kill 33 construction workers and injure 88 - some critically
A suicide car bomb exploded amidst workers who were waiting in the centre of the town of Tikrit to be picked up for work.
33 workers were killed instantly and 88 workers were injured. Some have life-threatening injuries.
And in separate act of terrorism, two cleaning workers were killed in Baghdad by a roadside bomb.
On May 14 2005, in the Al-Dorah district of Baghdad, two roadsweepers were killed by a roadside bomb planted by terrorists.
The IFTU strongly condemns these atrocities against innocent workers and calls upon the Iraqi authorities to take urgent measures to protect the life of workers while carrying out their duties and further calls on it to bring to justice the killers, perpetrators of these heinous crime against defenceless people.
Our deepest sympathy and condolences are with the bereaved families
Glory to the martyrs of the Iraqi working class.
IFTU Information Office
22 May 2005
The Public Service Workers' Union (IFTU) condemns terrorist attacks against hairdressers
The Public Service Workers' Union, an IFTU affiliate, has issued a statement condemning terrorist attacks against hairdressers.
A wave of terrorist attacks carried out against workers in beauty saloons in Baghdad and across many other cities in the middle and south of Iraq has resulted in the brutal murders of many workers in this field who are struggling in the most difficult circumstance to earn a living so as to feed their families and children. These innocent workers have been subjected to the most barbaric and violent murders at the hands of backward terrorists who have no regards to human rights and who are killing them because they claim hairdressing is an 'un-Islamic' practice which must be stopped.
These extremists who are killing hairdressers without mercy are murdering them in the same way they assassinated prominent Iraqi patriots such as engineers, businessmen and doctors and bombed worship places such as churches and mosques.
These barbarians are killing in the name of Islam, but Islam is a peaceful religion and forbids such act of violence.
The Public Service Workers Union strongly condemns these vile acts and calls upon the new transitional government to take urgent steps to protect the lives of innocent hairdressers who are doing a public service to Iraqis and to bring those criminals and terrorists who have killed and terrorized others to justice so that they can receive their just punishment.
May God bless the souls of our murdered brothers and may they rest in heaven.
Condolences and deepest sympathy are with the bereaved families
Glory to the martyrs of Iraqi democracy.
The Public Service Workers Union
The Executive Committee
Baghdad, 22 May 2005
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Iraqi Federation of Workers' Trade Unions (IFTU)
« Cartoonists Draw Black Humor From Iraq's Woes: Sabrina Tavernise, New York Times | Main | Terrorists kill 33 construction workers and injure 88 - some critically »
May 21, 2005
IFTU honours Hadi Saleh, our fallen comrade on May Day.
At the May Day celebrations in Baghdad this year, the President of the IFTU Mr Rasem Al Awadi honoured 20 trade unionists for their services to working people and patriotic sacrifices for Iraq and the trade union movement.
The IFTU President Mr Rasem Al Awadi honoured the 20 veterans of the Iraqi Trade Union movement, including Hadi Saleh our murdered comrade.
These comrades fought for democracy, jobs and above all the right of Iraqi working people to form and join independent, free and democratic trade unions, for the right to strike and the right to trade union representation.
Fuad Al Alaskary,
Satar Areaby,
Ibrahim al Bana,
Farage Eaalewi,
Ali Al Ghazaly,
Hashim Hamdan,
Abass Hussein.
Sadeq Jaffer,
Hatab Juna,
Shaee Khassem,
Mohammed Khthban,
Askar Ileaby,
Jassem Mashkur,
Abdel Razaq Mazed,
Hashim Mufti,
Basheer Naama,
Salam Daud Narjes,
Jabar Nasah,
Hadi Saleh,
Shaker Salman.
IFTU
20 May 2005
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Iraqi Federation of Workers' Trade Unions (IFTU)
« The Public Service Workers' Union (IFTU) condemns terrorist attacks against hairdressers | Main | Terrorists kill 50 workers in Baghdad and injure many other workers - some critically »
May 25, 2005
International Federation of Journalists reports 3 more Iraqi journalists murdered by terrorists
IFJ Baghdad Centre Focus on Safety as Three More Journalists Die in Iraq’s Media Nightmare
20/05/2005
Three Iraqi journalists have been assassinated in “cold-blooded and ruthless executions” on the roadside south of Baghdad reports the safety office of the International Federation of Journalists in Iraq.
The attack took place on Sunday when the journalists were travelling to Kerbala from Baghdad. They were among 13 passengers in a minibus that was stopped by an armed group who picked out the journalists when they showed their press cards. The rest of the passengers were freed, but Najem Abd Khudair, the Kerbala correspondent for the newspaper Al Mada, Ahmad Adam, a freelance writer for Al Mada and trainee journalist, Ali Jassem Al Rumi, working for Al Safeer newspaper in Baghdad were then killed.
“These colleagues were savagely murdered,” said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary. “They had their throats cut in cold-blooded and ruthless executions that are a cruel demonstration of the horrors of working in journalism in Iraq today.”
These latest killings bring to 85 the number of journalists and media staff killed in Iraq since the US and British invasion in March 2003. Of this number some 62, almost 80 per cent, are Iraqi. The number also includes 14 deaths at the hands of US troops, which have prompted the IFJ and others to demand independent reports on the circumstances.
The IFJ is also demanding that US and Iraq authorities free eight Iraqi journalists, most working for western media, who were arrested in March allegedly because “they pose a security risk to the Iraqi people and coalition forces.”
“These arrests, without formal charges, are nothing short of intimidation,” said White. “Journalism in Iraq is in the deepest crisis and the authorities should bring forward clear charges or release these journalists immediately. The uncertainty and injustice of arrest and arbitrary detention is intolerable.”
The IFJ opened its safety office in Baghdad last month with the support of Iraqi journalists who have created the Iraqi National Journalism Advisory Panel to improve levels of protection for journalists, to campaign for journalists’ rights and to encourage journalists to work together in the current crisis.
“Iraqi journalists get no training, they have no safety equipment, they have no insurance or social protection,” said White. “The Baghdad centre, which is drafting guidelines on safety precautions for journalists in Iraq, provides much-needed support.”
The centre has produced and issued media and journalists in Iraq with a special safety package -- an Iraqi edition of the safety manual Live News in Arabic, first aid kits, and a CD-Rom guide to security and protection for media staff.
For further information please contact +32 2 235 22 07
The IFJ represents over 500,000 journalists in more than 110 countries
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Iraqi Federation of Workers' Trade Unions (IFTU)
« Trajectory of violence: Faleh Jabar* | Main | ICEM brings together middle-eastern energy unions at Amman Conference »
May 01, 2005
May Day greetings to the labor movement and working people of Iraq: USLAW
MAY DAY GREETINGS TO THE LABOR MOVEMENT AND WORKING PEOPLE OF IRAQ
FROM U.S. LABOR AGAINST THE WAR AND ITS 110 AFFILIATED LABOR ORGANIZATIONS
In the name of peace, freedom and social justice, US Labor Against the War sends our greetings to the labor movement and workers of Iraq on May Day. With great courage, you have begun to reorganize your country's unions, and reclaim the historic traditions of Iraq's labor movement.
You are organizing in the face of very difficult economic conditions, including massive unemployment and extremely low wages, which have been imposed on you by the US/British occupation. In spite of these difficulties, workers throughout Iraq have organized strikes and demonstrations, and have successfully begun to raise the living standards of working families.
You have opposed the Bush administration plan for the privatization of Iraq's workplaces and resources. You have called for an end to the US occupation, and for a democratic political process to ensure that Iraq has a government that represents the needs and aspirations of Iraqi workers. We share these goals.
You have faced extreme violence, and the assassination of your leaders, without succumbing to fear, terror and intimidation. In the face of all these challenges you have remained courageously resolute in your commitment to a peaceful, democratic and just multi-ethnic, multi-cultural Iraq. You deserve the congratulations and support of unions and workers throughout the world for your efforts.
We are very proud that May Day, the international workers' holiday, was born in the United States in struggle for the 8-hour day. Our own country contributed martyrs like Albert Parsons and the murdered labor heroes of Chicago, who died for the same ideals for which you fight today. We are your brothers and sisters in this struggle We will redouble our efforts to end the occupation of your country, to achieve full respect for the sovereignty and independence of Iraq, and to support you in your struggle to establish a democratic state with full respect for workers' rights. We will march beside you, and support your movement, in any way we can.
Long live May Day! Long live the solidarity between the workers of Iraq and the United States!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Iraqi Federation of Workers' Trade Unions (IFTU)
« IFTU honours Hadi Saleh, our fallen comrade on May Day. | Main | The Public Service Workers' Union (IFTU) condemns terrorist attacks against hairdressers »
May 22, 2005
Terrorists kill 33 construction workers and injure 88 - some critically
A suicide car bomb exploded amidst workers who were waiting in the centre of the town of Tikrit to be picked up for work.
33 workers were killed instantly and 88 workers were injured. Some have life-threatening injuries.
And in separate act of terrorism, two cleaning workers were killed in Baghdad by a roadside bomb.
On May 14 2005, in the Al-Dorah district of Baghdad, two roadsweepers were killed by a roadside bomb planted by terrorists.
The IFTU strongly condemns these atrocities against innocent workers and calls upon the Iraqi authorities to take urgent measures to protect the life of workers while carrying out their duties and further calls on it to bring to justice the killers, perpetrators of these heinous crime against defenceless people.
Our deepest sympathy and condolences are with the bereaved families
Glory to the martyrs of the Iraqi working class.
IFTU Information Office
22 May 2005
Wednesday, May 25
Historic Anti-Privatisation Conference in Basra
When? Wednesday May 25th and Thursday May 26th
Where? The Meeting Room, Basra Institute of Petroleum
What time? 10.30am - 5.30pm
*Press Conference and Photocall/Interview opportunities - Thursday May
26th, 5pm, The Meeting Room, Basra Institute of Petroleum*
May 25-26 will see Iraqi trade unionists and civil society activists
gather at the Oil Institute of Basra for a two-day conference
aimed at fighting the privatisation of Iraqi oil.
The organisers of the conference, the General Union of Oil Employees, is
a union resolutely opposed to the Occupation, the former regime and
current plans to privatise Iraq's oil industry. UK-based campaiging
organisation Iraq Occupation Focus has organised the international
solidarity side of the conference.
Six papers written by six professors from Basra University on the
subject of privatisation will be presented and discussed, international
contributions and a tour of oil sector workplaces will also take place.
Naomi Klein and Avi Lewis have dedicated their film 'The Take' to the
conference. It will be the Arabic langauge and Iraq premiere of a film
dedicated to the courage, militancy, co-operation and autonomy of a
group of workers, not unlike those currently feeling the might of the
neo-con free market dictate in Iraq.
The film documents the take-over of an auto-parts factory in Buenos
Aries by unemployed workers. Naomi and Avi, as well as the workers
featured in the film, currently in translation by Indymedia Beirut, will
also send a message of solidarity to the conference, to show and inspire
that resistance to privatisation and the neo-con, neo-liberal agenda is
possible through workers' self-organisation.
Renowned writer and investigative journalist Linda McQuaig,
author of ground-breaking 'It's the Crude Dude: War, Big Oil and the
Fight for the Planet' has sent an adapted extract from her book.
Focus on the Global South has dedicated 20 copies of research document
"Silent War: The Economic and Ideological Occupation of Iraq".
http://www.focusweb.org/pdf/Iraq_Dossier.pdf
US Labour Against the War (USA), Platform (UK-based social and
environmental justice researchers and oil industry experts),
Jubilee Iraq (Iraq and UK) and War on Want (UK) have all crafted
research reports and messages of solidarity on the nature and history of
privatisation, production sharing agreements, the operations and
ideologies behind instiutitions like the IMF, WTO and WB plus the
dynamics of the international debt racket.
Messages of solidarity sent so far have come from: the South Africa
Anti-Privatisation Forum, Liga Manggawaga (Philippenes), the Candian
Autoworkers Union, Fiom-Cgil (Italy), and National Union of Journalists,
the Offshore International Liaison Committee, and The Stop the War
Coalition (UK).
Six oil workers from Patagonia, Argentina, fresh out of serving an eight
month prison sentence for occupying a British Petroleum oil plant last
year also sent a solidarity statement. It is included at the end of this
release.
Further details of participants and submissions tba. Contributions from
Venezuela, Colombia, Poland, Sweden, France and Lebanon expected.
For further information please contact:
Iraq Contacts
Farouk Isma'al, acting international secretary GUOE
0096440 319 310 ex 45 farouk101small@yahoo.com
Hassan Jumaa Awad Al Assadi, President GUOE (Arabic only) 00964 7801 001
196 hssnawad@yahoo.com
Ewa Jasiewicz, UK Contact for the General Union of Oil Employees, Iraq
Occupation Focus
freelance@mailworks.org
0044 7749 421 576
or Munir Chalabi, UK Contact for the General Union of Oil Employees,
Iraq Occupation Focus
0044 7952 683 415
munir@chalabi.screaming.net
NOTES
The GUOE was established a month after the invasion of Iraq.
Its has 23,000 members in Basra, Amara and Nassiriyah.
The Leadership has a history of opposition to and imprisonment by the
Baath regime.
The Union does not belong to any trade union federation in Iraq. It is
not organised through or controlled by any political party in Iraq. It
is an independent trade union.
The Union has already carried out strike action which has shut down oil
exports in 2003 and 2004.
Where? The Meeting Room, Basra Institute of Petroleum
What time? 10.30am - 5.30pm
*Press Conference and Photocall/Interview opportunities - Thursday May
26th, 5pm, The Meeting Room, Basra Institute of Petroleum*
May 25-26 will see Iraqi trade unionists and civil society activists
gather at the Oil Institute of Basra for a two-day conference
aimed at fighting the privatisation of Iraqi oil.
The organisers of the conference, the General Union of Oil Employees, is
a union resolutely opposed to the Occupation, the former regime and
current plans to privatise Iraq's oil industry. UK-based campaiging
organisation Iraq Occupation Focus has organised the international
solidarity side of the conference.
Six papers written by six professors from Basra University on the
subject of privatisation will be presented and discussed, international
contributions and a tour of oil sector workplaces will also take place.
Naomi Klein and Avi Lewis have dedicated their film 'The Take' to the
conference. It will be the Arabic langauge and Iraq premiere of a film
dedicated to the courage, militancy, co-operation and autonomy of a
group of workers, not unlike those currently feeling the might of the
neo-con free market dictate in Iraq.
The film documents the take-over of an auto-parts factory in Buenos
Aries by unemployed workers. Naomi and Avi, as well as the workers
featured in the film, currently in translation by Indymedia Beirut, will
also send a message of solidarity to the conference, to show and inspire
that resistance to privatisation and the neo-con, neo-liberal agenda is
possible through workers' self-organisation.
Renowned writer and investigative journalist Linda McQuaig,
author of ground-breaking 'It's the Crude Dude: War, Big Oil and the
Fight for the Planet' has sent an adapted extract from her book.
Focus on the Global South has dedicated 20 copies of research document
"Silent War: The Economic and Ideological Occupation of Iraq".
http://www.focusweb.org/pdf/Iraq_Dossier.pdf
US Labour Against the War (USA), Platform (UK-based social and
environmental justice researchers and oil industry experts),
Jubilee Iraq (Iraq and UK) and War on Want (UK) have all crafted
research reports and messages of solidarity on the nature and history of
privatisation, production sharing agreements, the operations and
ideologies behind instiutitions like the IMF, WTO and WB plus the
dynamics of the international debt racket.
Messages of solidarity sent so far have come from: the South Africa
Anti-Privatisation Forum, Liga Manggawaga (Philippenes), the Candian
Autoworkers Union, Fiom-Cgil (Italy), and National Union of Journalists,
the Offshore International Liaison Committee, and The Stop the War
Coalition (UK).
Six oil workers from Patagonia, Argentina, fresh out of serving an eight
month prison sentence for occupying a British Petroleum oil plant last
year also sent a solidarity statement. It is included at the end of this
release.
Further details of participants and submissions tba. Contributions from
Venezuela, Colombia, Poland, Sweden, France and Lebanon expected.
For further information please contact:
Iraq Contacts
Farouk Isma'al, acting international secretary GUOE
0096440 319 310 ex 45 farouk101small@yahoo.com
Hassan Jumaa Awad Al Assadi, President GUOE (Arabic only) 00964 7801 001
196 hssnawad@yahoo.com
Ewa Jasiewicz, UK Contact for the General Union of Oil Employees, Iraq
Occupation Focus
freelance@mailworks.org
0044 7749 421 576
or Munir Chalabi, UK Contact for the General Union of Oil Employees,
Iraq Occupation Focus
0044 7952 683 415
munir@chalabi.screaming.net
NOTES
The GUOE was established a month after the invasion of Iraq.
Its has 23,000 members in Basra, Amara and Nassiriyah.
The Leadership has a history of opposition to and imprisonment by the
Baath regime.
The Union does not belong to any trade union federation in Iraq. It is
not organised through or controlled by any political party in Iraq. It
is an independent trade union.
The Union has already carried out strike action which has shut down oil
exports in 2003 and 2004.
Student congress in Baghdad
Appeal to all organizations and individuals for financial and political support for the first student congress in Iraq since the US-led invasion!
Dear friends and supporters of the student movement in Iraq,
The first student congress since the US-led invasion will be held in Iraq on June 15th, 2005. Student committees set up in December last year have been working hard under extremely dangerous conditions to organize students and create a progressive student organization to defend the rights and freedoms of young people in Iraq.
The March student uprising against repression by Moqtada al-Sadr’s Basra militia has made the need for a national student organization clear. Currently Islamist political groups are enforcing the Islamisation of Iraqi society, with a direct effect on every campus and school. In many parts of Iraq, female students are being forced to wear the veil, while in others male and female students are being segregated. Armed Islamist militias have attacked students and interfere in the university campuses.
Students across Iraq have united to actively resisting these human rights violations. As a result, students from Baghdad, Kirkuk, Basra, Sulamaniya, Mosul and Arbil will attend the first student congress in Baghdad due on 15th June.
The congress agenda will include students’ role in Iraq’s ongoing political crisis, human rights, education and the struggle against privatization, as well as an exhibition of documents and photos from the Basra uprising against al-Sadr’s thugs. There will also be a session for resolutions and the election of national representations.
Above all, the congress needs financial support. We face a bill of something like £12,000 for hall rental, accommodation, transport of students from outside Baghdad, food, literature and of course security provision. Your financial support is crucial to making this student congress happen.
Please send donations to:
DAR ES SALAAM INVESTMENT BANK
AL-SAADOON TUNIS ST. 101/3/39, BAGHDAD
The transfer can be done through WESTERN UNION money transfer institution, in the name of: Adil Salih, Coordinator of Students' Committee in Baghdad
Yours in solidarity,
Houzan Mahmoud
On behalf of the campaign to support students in Basra against Islamic repression
For more information: (0044) 7956 883 001 or houzan73@yahoo.co.uk
Dear friends and supporters of the student movement in Iraq,
The first student congress since the US-led invasion will be held in Iraq on June 15th, 2005. Student committees set up in December last year have been working hard under extremely dangerous conditions to organize students and create a progressive student organization to defend the rights and freedoms of young people in Iraq.
The March student uprising against repression by Moqtada al-Sadr’s Basra militia has made the need for a national student organization clear. Currently Islamist political groups are enforcing the Islamisation of Iraqi society, with a direct effect on every campus and school. In many parts of Iraq, female students are being forced to wear the veil, while in others male and female students are being segregated. Armed Islamist militias have attacked students and interfere in the university campuses.
Students across Iraq have united to actively resisting these human rights violations. As a result, students from Baghdad, Kirkuk, Basra, Sulamaniya, Mosul and Arbil will attend the first student congress in Baghdad due on 15th June.
The congress agenda will include students’ role in Iraq’s ongoing political crisis, human rights, education and the struggle against privatization, as well as an exhibition of documents and photos from the Basra uprising against al-Sadr’s thugs. There will also be a session for resolutions and the election of national representations.
Above all, the congress needs financial support. We face a bill of something like £12,000 for hall rental, accommodation, transport of students from outside Baghdad, food, literature and of course security provision. Your financial support is crucial to making this student congress happen.
Please send donations to:
DAR ES SALAAM INVESTMENT BANK
AL-SAADOON TUNIS ST. 101/3/39, BAGHDAD
The transfer can be done through WESTERN UNION money transfer institution, in the name of: Adil Salih, Coordinator of Students' Committee in Baghdad
Yours in solidarity,
Houzan Mahmoud
On behalf of the campaign to support students in Basra against Islamic repression
For more information: (0044) 7956 883 001 or houzan73@yahoo.co.uk
Thursday, May 19
New government pushes privatisation
"Iraq's Industry Ministry plans to partially privatize most of its 46 state-owned companies..." - see story in the Beirut Daily Star.
Wednesday, May 11
Arrest of Rebwar Aref
The comrade mentioned in the post below has now been released.
On 4th of May 2005, a student protest was organized in Sulaymania in Iraqi Kurdistan against corruption in the city’s administration and poor academic standards in the universities. In this demonstration, Rebwar Aref, a member of the central committee of Worker communist party of Iraq, gave a speech that was greeted enthusiastically by the protesters. Comrade Aref is a well-known political figure and a former political prisoner of the Ba’ath regime who had a death sentence hanging over him. He is now responsible for the Campaign to try Saddam Hussein and Director of the International Federation of Iraqi Refugees. The comrade’s militant speech, his political record and the warm response of the crowd clearly infuriated the PUK security forces. They moved to arrest him.
Rebwar Aref was detained on 5th May 2005 and taken to the PUK’s main security office in Sulaymania. His fate is currently unknown. This is not the first time that the PUK has violated basic political liberties – PUK has even killed its opponents, not simply attempted to silence them with arrests and repression.
The life and safety of Rebwar Aref must be protected. We demand his immediate and unconditional release. Rebwar’s only ‘crime’ was his solidarity with the students of Sulaymania University and his active support for their just demands for a better education and basic rights.
PUK has a shameful history of persecuting political activists and banning the activities of the groups that do not share its political perspectives for Kurdistan. In July 2000 they closed the offices of the Worker communist party of Iraq, banned its activities and killed five of its members.
PUK claims to have guaranteed freedom of speech, political activity and association in Kurdistan. In truth, these freedoms are only granted to stooge organizations that are actually in the orbit of the PUK. Other socialist organizations and progressive individuals are constantly harassed, followed and persecuted by the PUK.
This must end. The full freedom and unconditional rights of the people of Kurdistan should be recognized and respected by PUK.
We make an international call to all progressive individuals, political parties, human rights and refugee organizations to defend Rebwar Aref, to demand his immediate release and condemn PUK for violation of freedom of political activities.
On 4th of May 2005, a student protest was organized in Sulaymania in Iraqi Kurdistan against corruption in the city’s administration and poor academic standards in the universities. In this demonstration, Rebwar Aref, a member of the central committee of Worker communist party of Iraq, gave a speech that was greeted enthusiastically by the protesters. Comrade Aref is a well-known political figure and a former political prisoner of the Ba’ath regime who had a death sentence hanging over him. He is now responsible for the Campaign to try Saddam Hussein and Director of the International Federation of Iraqi Refugees. The comrade’s militant speech, his political record and the warm response of the crowd clearly infuriated the PUK security forces. They moved to arrest him.
Rebwar Aref was detained on 5th May 2005 and taken to the PUK’s main security office in Sulaymania. His fate is currently unknown. This is not the first time that the PUK has violated basic political liberties – PUK has even killed its opponents, not simply attempted to silence them with arrests and repression.
The life and safety of Rebwar Aref must be protected. We demand his immediate and unconditional release. Rebwar’s only ‘crime’ was his solidarity with the students of Sulaymania University and his active support for their just demands for a better education and basic rights.
PUK has a shameful history of persecuting political activists and banning the activities of the groups that do not share its political perspectives for Kurdistan. In July 2000 they closed the offices of the Worker communist party of Iraq, banned its activities and killed five of its members.
PUK claims to have guaranteed freedom of speech, political activity and association in Kurdistan. In truth, these freedoms are only granted to stooge organizations that are actually in the orbit of the PUK. Other socialist organizations and progressive individuals are constantly harassed, followed and persecuted by the PUK.
This must end. The full freedom and unconditional rights of the people of Kurdistan should be recognized and respected by PUK.
We make an international call to all progressive individuals, political parties, human rights and refugee organizations to defend Rebwar Aref, to demand his immediate release and condemn PUK for violation of freedom of political activities.
Saturday, May 7
Anti-Privatisation conference
May 25-26 will see Iraqi trade unionists and civil society activists
gather at the Oil Institute of Basra for a two-day conference
aimed at fighting the privatisation of Iraqi oil.
The organisers of the conference, the General Union of Oil Employees, is
a union resolutely opposed to the Occupation, the former regime and
current plans to privatise Iraq's oil industry.
Six papers written by six professors from Basra University on the
subject of privatisation will be presented and discussed on the first
day of the conference. The following day will be dedicated to
international contributions and messages of solidarity.
Naomi Klein and Avi Lewis have dedicated their film 'The Take' to the
conference. It will be the Arabic langauge and Iraq premiere of a film
dedicated to the courage, militancy, co-operation and autonomy of a
group of workers, not unlike those currently feeling the might of the
neo-con free market dictate in Iraq.
The film documents the take-over of an auto-parts factory in Buenos
Aries by unemployed workers. Naomi and Avi, as well as the workers
featured in the film, currently in translation by Indymedia Beirut, will
also send a message of solidarity to the conference, to show and inspire
that resistance to privatisation and the neo-con, neo-liberal agenda is
possible through workers' self-organisation.
Renownded writer and investigative journalist Linda McQuaig,
author of ground-breaking 'It's the Crude Dude: War, Big Oil and the
Fight for the Planet' will be sending relevant extracts from her book as
a contribution.
Focus on the Global South is dedicating 20 copies of research document
"Silent War: The Economic and Ideological Occupation of Iraq".
http://www.focusweb.org/pdf/Iraq_Dossier.pdf
US Labour Against the War (USA), Platform (UK-based social and
environmental justice researchers and oil industry experts),
Jubilee Iraq (Iraq and UK) and War on Want (UK) have been invited to
participate. Messages of solidarity and/or reports and factsheets on the
nature and history of privatisation, the operations and ideologies
behind instiutitions like the IMF, WTO and WB plus the dynamics of the
international the international debt racket are expected.
The International Confederation of Energy and Mining (ICEM), The UK's
Transport and General Workers Union (TWGU) and the Offshore
International Liaison Committee (OILC) have also been invited to send
representatives.
We are still awaiting further submissions and messages of solidarity
and strategy-building from trade unions, social justice organisations
and movements from around the world.
Further details of participants and submissions to be announced.
For further information please contact:
Ewa Jasiewicz, UK Contact for the General Union of Oil Employees
freelance@mailworks.org
(Polish Mobile until May 16th 0048 887 326 941)
or Munir Chalabi, UK Contact for the General Union of Oil Employees
munir@chalabi.screaming.net
NOTES
The GUOE was established a month after the invasion of Iraq.
Its has 23,000 members in Basra, Amara and Nassiriyah.
The Leadership has a history of opposition to and imprisonment by the
Baath regime.
The Union does not belong to any trade union federation in Iraq. It is
not organised through or controlled by any political party in Iraq. It
is an independent trade union.
Links to past articles about the General Union of Oil Employees:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1417222,00.html
http://www.truthout.org/issues_05/040705LA.shtml
http://www.corporatewatch.org.uk/newsletter/issue23/part13.htm
http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/2005/385/index.html?id=pp8.htm
http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/article.php4?article_id=5874
gather at the Oil Institute of Basra for a two-day conference
aimed at fighting the privatisation of Iraqi oil.
The organisers of the conference, the General Union of Oil Employees, is
a union resolutely opposed to the Occupation, the former regime and
current plans to privatise Iraq's oil industry.
Six papers written by six professors from Basra University on the
subject of privatisation will be presented and discussed on the first
day of the conference. The following day will be dedicated to
international contributions and messages of solidarity.
Naomi Klein and Avi Lewis have dedicated their film 'The Take' to the
conference. It will be the Arabic langauge and Iraq premiere of a film
dedicated to the courage, militancy, co-operation and autonomy of a
group of workers, not unlike those currently feeling the might of the
neo-con free market dictate in Iraq.
The film documents the take-over of an auto-parts factory in Buenos
Aries by unemployed workers. Naomi and Avi, as well as the workers
featured in the film, currently in translation by Indymedia Beirut, will
also send a message of solidarity to the conference, to show and inspire
that resistance to privatisation and the neo-con, neo-liberal agenda is
possible through workers' self-organisation.
Renownded writer and investigative journalist Linda McQuaig,
author of ground-breaking 'It's the Crude Dude: War, Big Oil and the
Fight for the Planet' will be sending relevant extracts from her book as
a contribution.
Focus on the Global South is dedicating 20 copies of research document
"Silent War: The Economic and Ideological Occupation of Iraq".
http://www.focusweb.org/pdf/Iraq_Dossier.pdf
US Labour Against the War (USA), Platform (UK-based social and
environmental justice researchers and oil industry experts),
Jubilee Iraq (Iraq and UK) and War on Want (UK) have been invited to
participate. Messages of solidarity and/or reports and factsheets on the
nature and history of privatisation, the operations and ideologies
behind instiutitions like the IMF, WTO and WB plus the dynamics of the
international the international debt racket are expected.
The International Confederation of Energy and Mining (ICEM), The UK's
Transport and General Workers Union (TWGU) and the Offshore
International Liaison Committee (OILC) have also been invited to send
representatives.
We are still awaiting further submissions and messages of solidarity
and strategy-building from trade unions, social justice organisations
and movements from around the world.
Further details of participants and submissions to be announced.
For further information please contact:
Ewa Jasiewicz, UK Contact for the General Union of Oil Employees
freelance@mailworks.org
(Polish Mobile until May 16th 0048 887 326 941)
or Munir Chalabi, UK Contact for the General Union of Oil Employees
munir@chalabi.screaming.net
NOTES
The GUOE was established a month after the invasion of Iraq.
Its has 23,000 members in Basra, Amara and Nassiriyah.
The Leadership has a history of opposition to and imprisonment by the
Baath regime.
The Union does not belong to any trade union federation in Iraq. It is
not organised through or controlled by any political party in Iraq. It
is an independent trade union.
Links to past articles about the General Union of Oil Employees:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1417222,00.html
http://www.truthout.org/issues_05/040705LA.shtml
http://www.corporatewatch.org.uk/newsletter/issue23/part13.htm
http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/2005/385/index.html?id=pp8.htm
http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/article.php4?article_id=5874
Sunday, May 1
May 1st, the Day of Workers Solidarity
Workers of the world celebrate on this day along with the rest of the human being in the world who hope for freedom and equality. And when the workers celebrate this occasion they are not only to commemorate the US workers more than a century ago, however 1st of May have gained a characteristic that makes it a symbol of protest movement against exploitation, and a representation of the freedom and equality.
On such day every year, billions of people around the world celebrate without paying attention to the race, color, language, or religion. It is only one banner that unifies the human being and denounces any differences and discrimination.
The Iraqi workers along with the freedom lovers in the society raise the 1st of May flag to symbolize the unification and solidarity while they live in an miserable atmosphere represented by the dark scenario, that is already prepared to divide the society and push towards an ethnic and religious war which we witness every day.
Amid these conditions the workers flag rises high up through which the voice of workers roars to restore the civility to a society threatened to be abolished throughout conflicts and devastations.
While the political groups contend each other to get their share in the government, we the Iraqi workers get together despite the harsh conditions to hold our conferences and bring about our alternatives to salvage the society. We meet to demonstrate and protest in demanding a better living conditions and the expansion of civil liberty for the entire society.
The conditions resulted from the occupation have reached up to a point threatening to demolish the whole structure of the society, whereas the political powers stand paralyzed to provide any solution to pull the society out of this bottomless hole. At the same time the occupation forces keep deepening these miseries by continuing the occupation and installing a government based on the ethnic and religion to pertain their plan.
Revolving around the libertarian alternative and forming their organization is the major step for the workers to block the way before the powers who are in desire of tearing up this society, spreading conflicts, and creating hates and enemies among the people.
Let’s make the 1st of May a day of unification and organization
Let the unification of the wokers be significant in ending the occupation
Let the libratarian powers support the workers in their efforts to end the miserable conditions
Let the Iraqi workers organize themselves in a capable and efficient
Long Live May 1st
Long Live labor Movement
Federation of Worker Councils and Unions in Iraq
April 28, 2005
On such day every year, billions of people around the world celebrate without paying attention to the race, color, language, or religion. It is only one banner that unifies the human being and denounces any differences and discrimination.
The Iraqi workers along with the freedom lovers in the society raise the 1st of May flag to symbolize the unification and solidarity while they live in an miserable atmosphere represented by the dark scenario, that is already prepared to divide the society and push towards an ethnic and religious war which we witness every day.
Amid these conditions the workers flag rises high up through which the voice of workers roars to restore the civility to a society threatened to be abolished throughout conflicts and devastations.
While the political groups contend each other to get their share in the government, we the Iraqi workers get together despite the harsh conditions to hold our conferences and bring about our alternatives to salvage the society. We meet to demonstrate and protest in demanding a better living conditions and the expansion of civil liberty for the entire society.
The conditions resulted from the occupation have reached up to a point threatening to demolish the whole structure of the society, whereas the political powers stand paralyzed to provide any solution to pull the society out of this bottomless hole. At the same time the occupation forces keep deepening these miseries by continuing the occupation and installing a government based on the ethnic and religion to pertain their plan.
Revolving around the libertarian alternative and forming their organization is the major step for the workers to block the way before the powers who are in desire of tearing up this society, spreading conflicts, and creating hates and enemies among the people.
Let’s make the 1st of May a day of unification and organization
Let the unification of the wokers be significant in ending the occupation
Let the libratarian powers support the workers in their efforts to end the miserable conditions
Let the Iraqi workers organize themselves in a capable and efficient
Long Live May 1st
Long Live labor Movement
Federation of Worker Councils and Unions in Iraq
April 28, 2005
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