US raids Iraqi Trade Union

international | rights, freedoms and repression | news report

Saturday December 13, 2003 13:15

by James McKenna

jimmymac61 at hotmail dot com

U.S. occupation forces in Iraq escalated their efforts to paralyze Iraq's new labor unions with a series of arrests this weekend.

On Dec. 6 the US military attacked the old headquarters building of the Transport and Communications Workers union, which has been used since June as the office of the Iraqi Workers Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU). Twenty soldiers jumped out, stormed into the building, put handcuffs on eight members of the Federation's executive board, and took them into detention.

"They gave no reason at all, despite being asked over and over," says IFTU spokesperson Abdullah Muhsin.

The eight trade unionists were released without charge the next day . The Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) and the U.S. occupation government in Iraq gave no reason for the detentions.

Qasim Hadi, general secretary of the Union of the Unemployed had been arrested twice before by occupation troops, for leading demonstrations of unemployed workers demanding unemployment benefits and jobs.

As many as 7 million people, or 70 percent of the workforce, have no jobs, according to the Unemployed Union. Some go hungry and sometimes become homeless. Although Congress appropriated $87 billion for reconstruction, Dr. Nuri Jafer, the deputy minister of Labor and Social Affairs says he can find "no country willing to fund our plans" for a minimal system of unemployment benefits.

Work may be proceeding on pipelines and ports for oil exports, but huge piles of war rubble lie untouched in Baghdad streets. U.S. funding in Iraq pays for an overwhelming military presence and the transformation of the Iraqi economy. Both are intended to make the country attractive to foreign investors.

In an Oct. 8 phone press conference, Thomas Foley, director for private sector development for the CPA, announced a list of the first Iraqi state enterprises to be sold, including cement and fertilizer plants, phosphate and sulfur mines, pharmaceutical factories and the country's airline. On Sept. 19, the CPA published Order No. 39, which permits 100 percent foreign ownership of businesses -- except for the oil industry -- and allows the transfer of profits outside the country.

Iraqi workers fear privatization will bring massive layoffs. "I'll have to fire 1,500 (of the refinery's 3,000) workers," says Dathar Al-Kashab, manager of the Al Daura oil refinery. "In America, when a company lays people off, there's unemployment insurance and they won't die from hunger. If I dismiss employees now, I'm killing them and their families."

At the refinery, as in most factories, those with jobs work 11- and 13-hour shifts. Al Daura workers earn $60 a month. They have no safety shoes, goggles, masks or other protective gear. The IFTU helped the refinery's workers organize a union and elect its leaders. In Basra, workers have formed a central labor council and mounted demonstrations. The Workers Unions and Councils group has helped workers elect committees in the State Leather Industry plant, the largest shoe factory in the Middle East, and the Mamoun Vegetable Oil enterprise, among others.

When these new unions try to talk with the plant managers, however, they're told that a 1987 law forbids workers in state-owned enterprises (where the majority of Iraqis work) from forming unions. The CPA still enforces this Saddam-era law. Another order issued by the CPA on June 6 threatens that anyone who "incites civil disorder" will be detained as a prisoner of war under the Geneva Convention.

While unions are being suppressed, international conferences in Washington and London take place every week, at which Iraqi assets are put on sale to private buyers. At one recent conference, ExxonMobil, Delta Airlines and the American Hospital Group all expressed interest in various Iraqi enterprises.

Resistance at the work site has been made illegal by laws banning unions and by the arrest of their leaders

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Comments (13 of 13)

more Iraqi Trade Union news:

by iosaf

Sat Dec 13, 2003 13:59

The Conference of the Workers’ Councils and Unions in Iraq – WCUI has Successfully Concluded in Baghdad
The Conference of the Workers’ Councils and Unions in Iraq – WCUI has Successfully Concluded in Baghdad

After 7 Months of serious and relentless work by the Preparatory Committee for the Foundation of Workers’ Councils and Unions in Iraq - PCFWCUI, the first conference of workers unions and councils in Iraq has zealously taken place in Baghdad on December 8th, 2003. This conference was the fruit of PCFWCUI activities and its hard efforts to gather many workers around the unions and councils, as well as the foundation of many local unions and workers councils across Iraq.

After 7 hours of serious discussions around main agenda topics, key issues were endorsed; a list of workers immediate demands, a draft for a new Iraqi Labour Code and the main outlines of its legislature, as well as the election of the union leadership committee members. The attendees then endorsed a resolution to dissolve PCFWCUI and establish the Workers’ Councils and Unions in Iraq - WCUI.

The main discussions of this conference were revolving around the most basic and pressing issues of workers. They have provided a clear horizon to address the needs of the working class and a clear vision in the form of an action plan for the union. The most wonderful phenomenon, which had drawn every body’s attention, was the presence of workers representatives from across Iraq, from the farthest southern Basra to the northern Sulaimaniya. Also representatives of workers and Union of the Unemployed in Iraq-UUI from Kirkuk, Nassiriyah, Ramadi, Hilla, Kut, Samawa, in addition to Baghdad workers, were present at the conference.

This conference has proven to all, that the workers of Iraq do not recognize any religious, racial, tribal, or ethnic divisions among their ranks. That they can unite despite the current political wrangling in Iraq, and the attempts to divide Iraq along ethnic, religious, and nationalistic lines. At the time when the rightwing anti-workers political powers are fighting among themselves to gain more positions and are unable to unite, the workers have proven to be able to establish their free and independent union.

Long Live Working Class’ Solidarity

Long Live the Willpower of Workers

Congress of the Workers’ Councils and Unions in Iraq - WCUI

Baghdad, December 8, 2003

Address of the Abroad Representative of the Union of the Unemployed in Iraq UUI: Post Box 325, CH-3000 Bern 11, Switzerland. Tel: 0041 78 882 55 89 Email:asojabbar (at) yahoo.com, Homepage: www.uuiraq.org

***************************
http://www.almuajaha.com/newswire/display/1869/index.php
***************************

(and a wee observation)

Sat Dec 13, 2003 14:02

the USA is using Saddam's anti-syndicalist legislation. They of course said this was tyrannical and counter freedom. (= sue them).
The USA has used since the fifth day, Saddam's police force. They of course said they were tyrannical and counter freedom.
(=sue them).

Guess what??

by MattK

Sat Dec 13, 2003 20:35

I dont believe you!!

I know you Commies will tell any lie to gring down our way of life and take away our freedom.

STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER!!!!!!

Just deserts

by just snooping

Sat Dec 13, 2003 20:37

Does anyone know anything about the 300 or so desertions there have been from the US formed Iraqi army?

So?

by lone gunman

Sat Dec 13, 2003 22:34

The Allies used ex Nazis and ex Gestapo in post war Germany in the police forces.why?they were the people that knew where everything was in the surviving files ,who the criminals were etc.They were then weeded out as things progressed.Except in the east of course.the Russians left them there in power to continue under a different govt system.

Army deserters

by Dermot Philbin

Sat Dec 13, 2003 22:41

Most of these guys deserted because of threats from terrorists.

how many

by so

Sat Dec 13, 2003 22:49

How many terrorists does it take to scare 300 army blokes?

If they were that scary why did the other 400 or so not desert as well?

When do terrorists become freedom fighters, is there a min/max number?

What kind of army deserts beause of threats from the enemy?

by Hang on..

Sun Dec 14, 2003 01:49

they must not be very confident of winning if they're running away. maybe they really know something that the rest of us only think we know

How many?

by CiaranM

Sun Dec 14, 2003 04:41

"When do terrorists become freedom fighters, is there a min/max number?"

It's not a case of how many, but of whom they are and more importantly who it is calling them "terrorists".
There can be no war on terrorism, war _is_ terrorism.

oh well Matt K you wouldn't would you?

Sun Dec 14, 2003 13:07

You're a patriotic white man.
Well I'm a European.
and you suck shit. you carry guns, you eat shit, you're overweight, you smell bad, you're kids are the thickest in western civilisation and even your cinema sucks.
Your presidents are assholes, and your foreign policy is shite. & NO you didn't do anything on the moon.

and Here is a list of your wounded on a daily basis, which you'll have to believe coz you linked to it on your own "burn liberals" (just like me) website.
http://lunaville.org/warcasualties/Summary.aspx

out of an army

by Lone gunman

Sun Dec 14, 2003 13:56

of 8000.[about the most accurate figure].350 is not exactly a great loss or a catastrophe.

Its a low pay story

by Gorgon Galloway

Sun Dec 14, 2003 17:54

The desertions are not due to 'intimadation' as some might like to think but 'low pay'. The Americans are starting as they mean to go on. Cant wait for the fist Maccars to open up............

english language Iraqi Worker's paper

Mon Dec 15, 2003 12:59

produced by the union of the unemployed,
who have recently celebrated their first open and non-heirarchial assembly may be read or downloaded in English at
http://www.uuiraq.org/pdf-English/Voice%20nr.%202.pdf

once you' ve done that
sign this:
http://www.petitiononline.com/gaedhilg/petition.html

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US raids Iraqi Trade Union

Comments (13 of 13)