Government ban on Iraq oil workers' union withdrawn

Socialist Worker 2 August 08
Government ban on Iraq oil workers' union withdrawn

The Iraqi government has withdrawn an order banning eight key union organisers belonging to the powerful Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions (IFOU).

The union leaders were ordered out of the southern city of Basra after the Western backed government of Nuri al-Maliki said they were members of "militias" and helped in the smuggling of oil.The union denied these charges. Hassan Juma'a Awad, the head of the IFOU, called on unions around the world to rally to the oil workers.

In a statement he said, "This act is a clear evidence that the Iraqi state seeks to liquidate trade unions in this important Iraqi economic sector. It is important to note that the south is the main source of oil in Iraq."Sabah Jawad, the spokesman for the Naftana, the organisation that campaigns for Iraqi oil rights, told Socialist Worker that the government reversed the order following mounting pressure from Iraqi unions and the international anti-war movement. Jawad said, "We told Hussain al-Shahristani, the Iraqi oil minister, that this was not acceptable, and informed him that we were aware of the measures being taken by the oil ministry"US and European oil multinationals are scrambling to grab Iraq's vast oil reserves.

George Bush made the take-over of oil one of his key "indicators" that the "surge" is succeeding. The return of the multinationals, 36 years after Iraq nationalised its oil, has been greeted with widespread anger.The oil workers have been at the head of the movement resisting the hand over of the industry to western companies."The withdrawal of the order is a victory for international solidarity and Iraqi trade unions," Jawad said.

Forced transfer of oil worker activists to Baghdad

See http://www.basraoilunion.org/2008/06/oil-ministers-transfer-of-union.html

Iraq: Alarm at forced transfer of Basra union activists
Richard Norton-Taylor The Guardian, Friday July 25 2008

Eight Iraqi trade union leaders have been forcibly transferred from Basra to Baghdad, where their lives are said to be at risk for opposing a planned law in which control over oil exploration and production would be placed in foreign hands.

The men, members of the Iraq Federation of Oil Unions, IFOU, have been moved to the capital apparently on the personal orders of Hussain al-Shahristani, the Iraqi oil minister, under anti-union legislation left over from Saddam Hussein's rule. Greg Muttitt, co-director of Platform, the human rights, environment and oil industry watchdog, described the men's transfer as "extremely disturbing". He met Shahristani a month ago to protest against the move.

The Iraqi oil minister said the eight men were involved with the militias and in criminal activities, such as smuggling. But Muttitt
said: "There is absolutely no substance in these extremely serious allegations and he offered no evidence."

Even if there was such evidence, it should be a matter for the Iraqi judicial authorities and the courts, he added.

British officials in Baghdad and Basra have investigated the affair, said Kim Howells, the foreign minister. In a letter, he said Britain wanted to repeal Saddam's "restrictive" union laws and said Anne Clywd, the prime minister's special envoy on human rights, had recently "emphasised the fundamental need for free and fair trade unions in Iraq".

However, he added: "It appears that the government of Iraq is tackling illegal trade union activities with the South Oil Company."

John Hilary, executive director of War on Want, said: "The Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions has been leading the opposition to the sell-off of Iraq's oil and these members are clearly being targeted for their political actions. We believe the British government should work for the safety of Iraqi trade unionists, not be complicit in their persecution."

In a letter to Howells, he said: "We would also like you to state whether the British government in any way condones the transfer of trade unionists into dangerous areas as a method of "tackling their activities, whether legal or illegal".

Hassan Juma'a Awad, an IFOU spokesman, claimed the transfer was ordered by Shahristani himself. "Those activists, through their hard work, are well known for fighting corruption and corrupt-ministry gangs in the oil sector," he insisted, adding that the transfer amounted to a "human rights crime".

AusIraq Charter

Australia/Iraq Trade Union Solidarity
our charter
We, the members and supporters of Australia/Iraq Trade Union Solidarity
(AUSIRAQ) assist in:
- the building and strengthening of self-governing and democratic trade
unions in Iraq
- developing links between Australian trade unions and their
counterparts in Iraq

We engage in:
· fund raising
· information exchanges
· promotion of visits to workplaces in Iraq by Australian
trade union delegations
· promotion of speaking tours Australia by Iraqi trade unionists who are
able to come here

We advocate:
· solidarity action by trade unions in Australia in support of just claims by trade unions in Iraq
· the adoption of policies supporting workers' rights in Iraq by the Australian trade union movement
· full trade unions rights for all workers in Iraq including:
· the right to organize and bargain collectively with employers
· the right to take industrial action
· no forced labour, no child labour
· no discrimination

We oppose:
- the occupation of Iraq and Australian involvement in the occupation
- violent attacks on workers, women, students and democratic
organisations in Iraq

We distribute funds raised in Australia to all Iraqi trade unions in
which the leaders are freely elected by members, regardless of the political
affiliation of the union leaders (in the same way that US Labor Against
the War does).

We transfer funds through channels approved by peak Australian
trade union bodies

* AUSIRAQ is NOT controlled by a political party. Anyone who supports
our aims is welcome to join us and/or support our work.
___________________________________________________________________

To find out more, phone Lynn 0439 640118.
In Sydney Ausiraq meets every month at the Gaelic Club, Devonshire St, Surry Hills.
New members welcome. For regular updates email: ausiraq-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Mission accomplished - oil workers petition delivered

Here are some pictures of the handover of the petition in support of Iraqi oil workers.
* It was handed to consular staff at both the US and Iraqi embassies in Canberra last Friday March 28.
* The petition was signed by around 1500 Australian workers.
* While this campaign was originated by ausiraq it was also supported by members of Solidarity who gained some 250 of the signatures.
* Kim Sattler, secretary of Unions ACT, was also present to back the campaign.
* Kim, Paul (ausiraq) and I talked with consular staff about the issues:
- the struggle of Iraqi oil workers for trade union rights
- their opposition to moves by the Iraqi government to privatise the oil industry

Around five Australian federal police officers were in attendance (three plainclothes and two in uniform). But we were not permitted to photograph any of them. Nor were we permitted to show any part of the US embassy.

Lynn

logo

**********************************************************************
This message is intended for the addressee named and may contain
privileged information or confidential information or both. If you
are not the intended recipient please delete it and notify the sender.
**********************************************************************

Kathy Black from US Labor Against the War, in Melbourne

"Direct contact with Iraqi unionists is our reason for being"
Kathy Black spoke for US Labour Against War at a meeting of 40 people in Melbourne's THC building on March 12.She described how USLAW was a rank and file initiative, not an official wing of the AFL-CIO, and quite historic in its achievements.

It now has almost 200 affiliates representing 3 million workers. In particular they have managed to avoid the "hardhats versus hippies" syndrome of the anti-Vietnam war movement, eg turning out a contingent of 4000 unionists to a major anti war demonstration. They have affiliates in both the AFL-CIO and the split off Change to Win federation, have managed strong resolutions through national union leaderships and the AFL-CIO Convention, and are seen as a legitimate voice in the labour movement.At the heart of USLAW, their "reason for being" is the direct personal links with Iraqi unions. This is unique in the US anti-war movement - nobody else has that access to raw, unfiltered information from inside the civil resistance to the occupation and sectarian militias.

USLAW sent two US unionists to Iraq in 2003, when it was still relatively safe, then toured them around the US. They have conducted two tours to the US by Iraqi union leaders: "it is impossible to overstate the importance of these tours". Personal contact with Iraqi unionists, hearing of their immense bravery in face of huge difficulties, really brings home the message to US unionists. Saddam's anti-union laws remain in force under the occupation and the Iraqi government, making it illegal to organise in the public sector. There have been hundreds of raids or assaults on union offices and leaders by militias and the occupation forces - at least twelve union leaders have died - all but one at the hands of death squads and militias and one by a US soldier in an apparent accident. Despite the immense hardships - lack of water, electricity and food, and the constant threat of bombings etc - Iraqi unionists are amazingly optimistic about the possibilities of a positive future. USLAW has raised significant amounts of money to assist Iraqi unions through supporting organisers and providing computers etc.

The biggest appeal from the Iraqi unions is for overseas supporters to help end the occupation immediately -none of the unions they work with (FCWUI, GFIW, Oil Workers) now see any benefit in the occupying forces staying on in Iraq. None of the unions supported Saddam, and would say "thanks for getting rid of him, but you need to leave." The other major issue is to help oppose privatisation, especially of the oil industry. The media in the US and Australia give virtually no coverage to Bush's 18 "Benchmark laws", which are his prerequisites for troop withdrawal. The Benchmark Oil law has been approved by the Iraqi cabinet over 12 months ago, but the Parliament has not acted on it. When the media do mention this law, it is always framed as a positive modernisation, but it is never mentioned that it gives foreign corporations control of exploration and development for decades.

Looking at US politics, an important force in the anti war movement is Iraq Veterans Against the War which now has 42 chapters, including on US military bases and even has several chapters in Iraq. They are holding "Winter soldier hearings" in Washington DC for the 5th anniversary of the war - March 13-16, and managed to convince all other groups in the peace movement to have no competing nationally organised activities at that time. Given the extended tours of duty for US soldiers - some have had up to four deployments of a year - it is increasingly hard for the US Army to recruit. They have lowered their requirements - increasing the age limit, the range of acceptable medical conditions and the numbers of immigrants who are not US citizens. The focus for the antiwar and labour movements is now is on the elections.

There is a campaign to get Congress members to sign on that they will not vote for any money not connected to withdrawal of US troops - almost 100 have done so. USLAW managed to get their anti-war material included in an AFL-CIO election slideshow. The war has receded as a central issue in recent months as the number of US deaths has declined, the mortgage crisis has spread and the economy has got worse - people are losing their homes and their jobs, which also means their health insurance. The labour movement is very motivated in this election to get rid of Bush and the Republicans - its powerful machine is in full swing to get Democrats elected. US labour is split on Barack Obama or Hilary Clinton - neither is perfect, but either would be much better than McCain. Kathy finished by stressing her main message: anti war activists need to make direct links with Iraqi unionists. USLAW will help broker those relationships with Australian activist and unions. In response to a question, Kathy noted that the work of ausiraq in Sydney provided a base on which to expand.

Taking up this message in Melbourne, ausiraq supporters are looking to work with an existing worker's solidarity campaign, Australia Asia Worker Links, which has recently expanded its area of coverage to include the Middle East and Iraq.