Mayday Message from Iraqi Trade Unions

May Day 2008 Statement from the Iraqi Labour Movement To the Workers and All Peace Loving People of the World

On this day of international labour solidarity we call on our fellow trade unionists and all those worldwide who have stood against war and occupation to increase support for our struggle for freedom from occupation - both the military and economic.

We call upon the governments, corporations and institutions behind the ongoing occupation of Iraq to respond to our demands for real democracy, true sovereignty and self-determination free of all foreign interference.

Five years of invasion, war and occupation have brought nothing but death, destruction, misery and suffering to our people.

In the name of our “liberation,” the invaders have destroyed our nation’s infrastructure, bombed our neighbourhoods, broken into our homes, traumatized our children, assaulted and arrested many of our family members and neighbours, permitted the looting of our national treasures, and turned nearly twenty percent of our people into refugees.

The invaders helped to foment and then exploit sectarian divisions and terror attacks where there had been none.

Our union offices have been raided. Union property has been seized and destroyed. Our bank accounts have been frozen. Our leaders have been beaten, arrested, abducted and assassinated. Our rights as workers have been routinely violated.

The Ba’athist legislation of 1987, which banned trade unions in the public sector and public enterprises (80% of all workers), is still in effect, enforced by Paul Bremer’s post-invasion Occupation Authority and then by all subsequent Iraqi administrations.

This is an attack on our rights and basic precepts of a democratic society, and is a grim reminder of the shadow of dictatorship still stalking our country. Despite the horrific conditions in our country, we continue to organise and protest against the occupation, against workplaces abuses, and for better treatment and safer conditions.

Despite the sectarian plots around us, we believe in unity and solidarity and a common aim of public service, equality, and freedom to organise without external intrusions and coercion.

Our legitimacy comes from our members. Our principles of organisation are based on transparent and internationally recognised International Labour Organisation standards. We call upon our allies and all the world’s peace-loving peoples to help us to end the nightmare of occupation and restore our sovereignty and national independence so that we can chart our own course to the future.

1) We demand an immediate withdrawal of all foreign
troops from our country, and utterly reject the agreement being
negotiated with the USA for long-term bases and a military presence. The
continued occupation fuels the violence in Iraq rather than alleviating
it. Iraq must be returned to full sovereignty.

2) We demand the passage of a labour law promised by our
Constitution, which adheres to ILO principles and on which Iraqi trade
unionists have been fully consulted, to protect the rights of workers to
organize, bargain and strike, independent of state control and
interference.

3) We demand an end to meddling in our sovereign economic
affairs by the International Monetary Fund, USA and UK. We demand
withdrawal of all economic conditionalities attached to the IMF's
agreements with Iraq, removal of US and UK economic "advisers"
from the corridors of Iraqi government, and a recognition by those bodies
that no major economic decisions concerning our services and resources
can be made while foreign troops occupy the country.

4) We demand that the US government and others
immediately cease lobbying for the oil law, which would fracture the
country and hand control over our oil to multinational companies like
Exxon, BP and Shell. We demand that all oil companies be prevented from
entering into any long-term agreement concerning oil while Iraq remains
occupied. We demand that the Iraqi government tear up the current draft
of the oil law, and begin to develop a legitimate oil policy based on
full and genuine consultation with the Iraqi people. Only after all
occupation forces are gone should a long term plan for the development of
our oil resources be adopted.

We seek your support and solidarity to help us end the military and economic occupation of our country.

We ask for your solidarity for our right to organise and strike in defence of our interests as workers and of our public services and resources. Our public services are the legacy of generations before us and the inheritance of all future generations and must not be privatised. We thank you for standing by us.

We too stand with you in your own struggles for real democracy which we know you also struggle for, and against privatisation, exploitation and daily disempowerment in your workplaces and lives.

We commend those of you who have organised strikes and demonstrations to end the occupation in solidarity with us and we hope these actions will continue.

We look forward to the day when we have a world based on co-operation and solidarity.

We look forward to a world free from war, sectarianism, competition and exploitation.

Endorsed by:

Hassan Juma’a Awad, President, Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions (IFOU)
Faleh Abood Umara, General Secretary, Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions (IFOU)
Falah Alwan, President, Federation of Workers Councils and Unions in Iraq (FWCUI)
Subhi Albadri, President, General Federation of Workers Councils and Unions in Iraq (GFWCUI)
Nathim Rathi, President, Iraqi Port Workers Trade Union
Samir Almuawi, President, Engineering Professionals Trade Union
Ghzi Mushatat, President, Mechanic and Print Shop Trade Union
Waleed Alamiri, President, Electricity Trade Union
Ilham Talabani, President, Banking Services Trade Union
Abdullah Ubaid, President, Railway Trade Union
Ammar Ali, President, Transportation Trade Union
Abdalzahra Abdilhassan, President, Service Employees Trade Union
Sundus Sabeeh, President, Barber Shop Workers Trade Union
Kareem Lefta Sindan, President, Lumber and Construction Trade Union, General Federation of Iraqi Workers (GFIW)
Sabah Almusawi, President, Wasit Independent Trade Union
Shakir Hameed, President, Lumber And Construction Trade Union (GFWCUI)
Awad Ahmed, President, Teachers Federation of Salahideen
Alaa Ghazi Mushatat, President, Agricultural And Food Substance Industries
Adnan Rathi Shakir, President, Water Resources Trade Union
Nahrawan Yas, President, Woman Affairs Bureau
Sabah Alyasiri, President (GFWCUI) Babil
Ali Tahi, President (GFWCUI) Najaf
Ali Abbas, President (GFWCUI) Basra
Muhi Abdalhussien, President (GFWCUI), Wasit
Ali Hashim Abdilhussien, President (GFWCUI) Kerbala
Ali Hussien, President (GFWCUI) Anbar
Mustafa Ameen, Arab Workers Bureau, President (GFWCUI)
Thameer Mzeail, Health Services, Union Committee
Khadija Saeed Abdullah, Teachers Federation, Member
Asmahan, Khudair, Woman Affairs, Textile Trade Unions
Adil Aljabiri, Oil Workers Trade Union Executive Bureau Member
Muhi Abdalhussien, Nadia Flaih, Service Employees Trade Unions
Rawneq Mohammed, Member, Media and Print Shop Trade Union
Abdlakareem Abdalsada, Vice President (GFWCUI)
Saeed Nima, Vice President (GFWCUI)
Sabri Abdalkareem, Member, (GFWCUI) Babil
Amjad Aljawhary, Representative of GFWCUI in North America

International Womens Day Celebration

This is an important announcement.

The Iraqi Federation of Oil Employee Union (IFOU) organised a celebration in honor of women's and mothers' day in Basra.

This included a bazaar in support of the Iraqi women. All organizations and political parties were invited to participate.

700 people- mostly women - attended the celebrations.

An array of programs in honored the day:

1. Opening: standing a minute of silence in honor of the martyrs

2. Ms. Saba Qassim will deliver a speech on behalf of the office of women's affairs

3. A speech by the president of IFOU

4. A speech by Mr. Yasser from a non-violence organization

5. the Iraqi national Anthem

6. Poetry recitation from numerous poets, and a children coral

7. a brief biography about the life of a deceased female union activist named Bushra

The activity coincides with the fifth anniversary of the criminal occupation of Iraq. It is a painful anniversary for Iraqis and all the honest and sincere people around world. We talked about the on going perpetual catastrophe on Iraq through that day. Though words and talks are not enough to rid ourself from this criminal occupation, struggle, hard work, and solidarity are the only way to do so.

Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions
March 2008

IFOU President UK Speaking Tour

Organised by the Stop the War Coalition www.stopwar.org.uk Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions president Hassan Jumaa Awad will be speaking in the following cities:

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 28TH - LONDON
Friends Meeting House, Euston Road, London, NW1 @ 6.30pmOpposite Euston station, map: http://tinyurl.com/3yw3pb
Tony Benn
Ibrahim Mousawi editor, Hezbollah’s newspaperLebanon
Hassan Juma’a president, Iraqi OilWorkers Federation
Lindsey German convenor, Stop theWar Coalition
Yasmin Alibhai-Brown journalist

FRIDAY 29TH FEBRUARY - BRISTOL
WORLD AGAINST WAR - UNCENSORED VOICES FROM THE MIDDLE EAST - PUBLIC MEETING -
Date: February 29th Time: 7.30pm Venue: The Council House, College Green, Bristol, BS1 5TR Map: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=BS1+5TR&iwloc=A&hl=en

Speakers:
Ibrahim Mousawi, Editor Al Intiqad, Hezbollah's newspaper
Hassan Juma, President Iraqi Oil Workers Union
John Rees, Stop the War and the Cairo Conference

SATURDAY MARCH 1ST - BIRMINGHAM
NO MORE WAR DAYSCHOOL
Birmingham Stop the War Coalition Anti War conference and Day School. Saturday 1st March 10.30am to 3pm Birmingham Council House, Victoria Square.

Speakers include:
Jeremy Corbyn MP
Haifa Zangana, Author
Hassan Juma'a, Iraqi Federation of Oil Workers
Chris Nineham, StWC
Ibrahim Mousawi, Editor of Hezbollah Newspaper
Salma Yaqoob, Birmingham Councillor and StWC
Clare Short MP
Roger McKenzie, Midlands TUC Secretary
Moazzam Begg, Former Guantanamo prisoner

SATURDAY MARCH 1ST - AFTERNOON - MANCHESTER
MANCHESTER WORLD AGAINST WAR RALLY
Saturday 1 March, 3pm, Friends Meeting House, Mount Street.
Speakers include:

Hassan Juma'a, President of the Iraqi Oil Workers Ferderation
Ibrahim Moussawi, Editor of Al Intiqad, Hezbollah linked paper
Andrew Murray, Chair of Stop the War Coalition

SUNDAY MARCH 2ND - CAMBRIDGE
WORLD AGAINST WAR PUBLIC RALLY
McCrum Lecture Theatre, Corpus Christi College, Benet Street (next to Eagle Pub). 12-2.30pm

Speakers include:
Ibrahim Mousawi, Editor of Al Intiqad Journal, linked to Hezbollah
Hassan Juma'a, President of the Iraqi Federation of Oil Workers Union Andrew Murray, Chair of Stop the War Coalition

SUNDAY MARCH 2ND - EVENING - NORWICH
NORWICH: WORLD AGAINST WAR PUBLIC RALLY
St. Gregory’s Centre for the Arts Pottergate, Norwich. Sunday 2nd March 2008 7pm. More information Frank 01493 664499 or Peter 01603 405098. Email info@norwichstopwar.org.uk, www.norwichstopwar.org.uk

Speakers:
Hassan Juma’a President, Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions
Ibrahim Mousawi, Editor of Hezbollah Newspaper
Andrew Murray, Chair of Stop the War Coalition
John Rees, National Stop the War Coalition

MONDAY MARCH 3RD - CARDIFF
CARDIFF: WORLD AGAINST WAR RALLY
Law Lecture Theatre, Law Building, Cardiff University, Park Place, Cardiff. 7.30pm.
Speakers include:
Ibrahim Mousawi, Editor of Al Intiqad Journal, linked to Hezbollah
Hassan Juma'a, Presidentof Federation of Iraqi Oil Workers Union
Chris Nineham, Stop the War Coalition

TUESDAY MARCH 4TH - LIVERPOOL
MERSEYSIDE STOP THE WAR COALITION PUBLIC MEETING
TUESDAY 4th MARCH 7pm

Speakers; IBRAHIM MOUSAWI (Hezbollah Editor Al Intiqad)
HASSAN JUMAA (President Iraqi oil workers)
Dr ELAHEH ROSTAMI POVEY (Iranian writer)
JOHN REES (Stop the War Coalition)

VENUE: PRINCES PARK METHODIST CHURCH, PRINCES AVENUE, TOXTETH

IFOU petitions Labour Minister for recognition rights and a pluralistic Iraqi trade union congress

No. 5

Date: Jan. 3, 2008

To: His Excellency, Minister of Labor and Social Affairs

Re: Draft


Dear Excellency,

In order to establish a democratic status and having elected trade unions and labor federations and organizations which operate in accordance with by-laws that provide for the legitimacy of the elected worker representatives from real, hierarchical grassroots within the democratic trend for new Iraq, we would like to state the following:

After the collapse of the former regime, a group of labor activists reestablished the oil trade unions in the oil companies in order to maintain the production and safeguard the employees' rights. The security situation has been deteriorating due to the occupation. The oil facilities and stations have been subject to destruction, sabotage and looting. Because of this, the labor activists, on April 20, 2003, formed a preparatory committee in the South Oil Company which assumed the task of forming trade union committees in all the oil companies in the south of the country.

Thirty eight trade union committees were formed and distributed on all the workplaces in the oil companies. The committees were formed by direct secret ballot and in the presence of representatives from the governorate, political parties, the judiciary and the oil companies and a number of guests from outside the oil sector. All these actions are documented with pictures and filed at the Federation's secretariat. Ever since there establishment, these committees participated in restoring life to all companies that sustained damage and sabotage. The percentage of damage was 100%. The committees took part in the reconstruction process and the oil sector officials can confirm this. On September 15, 2004, all trade union committees met and elected the administrative bodies for all trade unions and then the general trade union was elected and started operating on October 15, 2004.

Due to the expansion in the trade union organization, the trade union committees in Thi Qar, Misan and Muthanna joined the General Trade Union. The trade unions boards of directors called for the first founding congress to elect the presidium on November 20, 2006. On November 22, 2006, the Presidium met and assumed its tasks and functions formally. The first executive bureau was elected in the Oil Unions Federation and the Federation convened under its new leadership for the first time on December 2, 2006. All the meeting minutes are duly documented, approved and filed at the Federation together with the by-laws. Based on the aforementioned, the Federation was officially recognized by all international organization that have contacts with the other Iraqi federations.

Your Excellency,

Article 22 (C) of the Iraqi Constitution states that: "The State guarantees the right of forming and joining professional associations and unions. This will be organized by law."

Article 15 of the Draft Labor Law for 2006 states that:

1. Workers are entitled, without previous authorization, to form and join their own trade unions.
2. Workers organizations have the right to draft their own by-laws and regulations, elect their representatives freely and organize their administration and programs.
3. Workers organizations may not be dissolved or suspended by an administrative decision from any administrative body.
4. Workers organizations may establish and join branch and general federations; and these organizations, federations and/or general federations have the right to join international worker organizations.
5. The Iraqi government shall take all necessary procedures and arrangements to ensure the freedom of association.
6. Workers shall enjoy the necessary protection from any discriminatory actions due to their trade union activity.

By virtue of these state-guaranteed rights and in accordance with the Constitution and Draft Labor Law for 2006, we, in the Oil Unions Federation, suggest forming multiple federations and unions to cover various professions and industries. We suggest (establishing a high central council which includes all the elected federations operating in Iraq in order to promote and advance the democratic work which will definitely be in the interest of the organizational process and the Iraqi working class.)

In this regard, we ask you not to make the same mistake of the former regime which recognized one central federation that represented the one party views and opinions. We appeal to you to approve a pluralistic approach whereby sectoral federations and professional associations are recognized in the union work. Ever since the collapse of the former regime, Iraq has witnessed the birth of independent federations and trade unions that are not affiliated to the GFIW but are recognized by the international and regional organizations.

While the Oil Unions Federation is proud of the elections, we reiterate their integrity and fairness. We followed a modern and civilized approach through involving all the existing Iraqi federations in the preparatory committees and the elections were conducted under the supervision of the international trade union leaderships. Our Federation saves no effort to ensure the success of this pioneering experience. We also hope that all existing trade union leaders take part in the elections starting from the grassroots, i.e. from the trade union committees in the plants or factories where the trade unionists work. We do believe that in order to have a successful organization, we have to follow the bottom-top approach. We hope that our proposal would receive your attention.

May God guide you to the best interest of Iraq.


Best regards,
Hassan Jum'a
President of the Oil Unions Federations in Iraq

Attachments:
Layout for forming the Trade Union Council



CC:

The Council of Ministers, for your information with regards;

The Ministerial Committee for following up elections, for your information with regards;

His Excellency, the Governor of Basra, for your information with regards;

GFIW, for your information with regards;

FWCUI, for your information with regards;

ILO, for your information with regards;

ALO, for your information with regards;

ICEM, for your information with regards;

TUC, for your information with regards;

ITF, for your information with regards;

CGIL, for your information with regards;

AFL-CIO, for your information with regards;

US Labor against the War, for your information with regards;

SC in Jordan, for your information with regards;

ITUC, for your information with regards

Influential Iraqi trade union leader in London

Press advisory from Naftana
29 November 2007

Influential Iraqi trade union leader in London – available for interviews

WHO: Hassan Juma’a, President of the Iraq Federation of Oil Unions
WHEN: Friday 30 November – Tuesday 4 December
WHERE: Hassan will be in London for 4 days, including at Stop the War Coalition’s ‘World Against War’ conference, Westminster Central Hall SW1 9NH, Saturday 1 December, 10am – 6pm
CONTACT: to arrange an interview, please contact SABAH JAWAD, 07985 336 886


Anti-war activists will meet on Saturday with one of Iraq’s most influential civil society leaders, who has played a central role in defending the rights of Iraqi oilworkers, and in successfully opposing US and British moves to privatise Iraq’s oil.

Hassan Juma’a, the President of the Iraq Federation of Oil Unions (IFOU), will be speaking at Stop the War Coalition’s ‘World Against War’ conference.

The IFOU, which represents more than half of the oilworkers in Iraq’s oil-rich south, has been at the forefront of the campaign by Iraqi civil society groups to stop a US-sponsored oil law – a law which has still not passed, in spite of intense pressure.

If passed, the law would give the primary role in developing Iraq’s oil to multinational companies such as BP, Shell and ExxonMobil, under fixed contracts of up to 30 years. The IFOU opposes the law for surrendering Iraqi sovereignty, and for reflecting the interests of foreign companies over those of the Iraqi people.

Sami Ramadani of Naftana, the UK support committee for the IFOU, comments:

“Whilst our media give a consistently one-sided picture of events in Iraq, on Saturday people in Britain will have a chance to hear some good news: that there is a growing and effective civil society in Iraq. Hassan Juma’a is an inspirational figure, who has worked tirelessly for an Iraq that is peaceful, democratic and non-sectarian. Meanwhile, the occupation forces have claimed these same goals but their actions have sought precisely the opposite.”

The USA has put enormous pressure for the passage of the oil law, including making it a condition for economic assistance, and for political support for the government of Prime Minister al-Maliki. Yet five successive US-imposed deadlines for passing the law – December 2006, and March, May, July and September 2007 – have all been missed in the face of powerful Iraqi opposition.

The IFOU has faced severe repression for its stand. Following strike action in June, the Iraqi government issued arrest warrants issued for Hassan Juma’a and other union leaders, and militarised their workplaces. A month later, the Oil Minister declared the IFOU an illegal organisation, citing legislation from Saddam Hussein’s dictatorship.

However, pressure for the law – and subsequently for long-term production contracts – remains, and the IFOU’s struggle is far from over.

Hassan Juma’a comments:

“We know that the majority of the people of Britain opposed the war. We call on those people in stand with us in defending our economic future, and preventing our resources from being stolen by the brutal occupation and its oil companies”

US Occupation Forces Kill Oil Engineer Talib Naji Abboud

For Immediate Release

Naftana Press Release
Thursday 20 September 2007

Oil Union declares: US occupation forces kill oil engineer

The Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions (IFOU) has announced that US occupation forces carried out an unprovoked attack against a crew of workers in the Rumaila oilfields in Basra on the morning of Monday 18 September. As a result of this cowardly and criminal act, Chief Engineer Talib Naji Abboud was wounded and taken to hospital where he died in the evening of Tuesday 19 September.

This comes one day after the massacre perpetrated by the Blackwater mercenary gang in Baghdad's Mansour district on Monday, in which Iraqi officials say 11 people were killed, but unofficial reports speak of up to 50 deaths, all innocent victims of all ages and both genders. Instead of curbing and punishing the Blackwater mercenary gangs, the occupation is escalating unprovoked attacks on Iraqi citizens.

The IFOU has called on the Iraqi Government to take action to protect the lives of Iraqi citizens, and the Federation held a protest rally at the Southern Oil Company headquarters in Basra today at 10am local time to condemn this premeditated murder and the continuing occupation of Iraq.

In the meantime, the Minister of Oil Hussain Al-Shahristani has remained silent about the latest criminal attack directed at workers who are under his direct remit and who were ambushed while going about their normal business of running this vital industry. Indeed, the latest attack seems to be designed to show that the occupation forces will act with impunity, and that there is going to be little distinction between mercenaries and regular US troops.

The attack in the oilfields seems also to be designed to push the Iraqi Government to take further harsh and repressive measures against the oil workers at a time when they are resisting the privatization of the industry. The murder of Chief Engineer Talib Naji Abboud should also be laid at the door of the oil corporations that are trying to force their way into Iraq and to control its resources at any cost.

We call upon the Trade Union and anti-war movements in Britain to condemn this heinous crime and send letters of protest to the Foreign Office and the US embassy.

Naftana

For further information contact:

Sami Ramadani – 07863 138748 sami.ramadani@londonmet.ac.uk
Kamil Mahdi – k.a.mahdi@exeter.ac.uk
Sabah Jawad – 07985 336886 sabah.jawad@idao.org

Notes for editors:

Naftana (‘Our Oil’ in Arabic) is an independent UK-based committee
supporting democratic trade unionism in Iraq. It works in solidarity
with the IFOU. It strives to publicise the union’s struggle for Iraqi
social and economic rights and its stand against the privatisation of
Iraqi oil demanded by the occupying powers.

IFOU Statement on Attack by Minister of Oil

August 20th 2008

In the name of God the gracious the merciful

Statement

It is clear to everyone that the bygone dictatorial regime worked diligently to confront worker's unions by invalidating them in the public sector in accordance to decree number 150 issued in the year 1987. After the fall of the regime, activist workers from the oil sector reconstituted their unions.

The foundation was laid out by the Southern Oil Company, and later spread to all oil sector companies. The union has lead many strikes in all oil companies in order to expel foreigners from the oil sector. This lead to the formation of the Federation of Oil Unions with two main goals regarding the oil sector:

1- To maintain Iraq's oil wealth

2- To struggle for workers' rightsThe union has organized scientific conferences discussing the situation of the oil sector of which the first and second scientific conferences against privatization were held in the years 2005 and 2006 respectively.

Preparations are still underway to hold the third such conference and to confront the passage of the oil and gas law, which lies under American administration pressure. Consequently, a symposium to discuss this law was held on February 6th 2007.

The Federation of Oil Unions, which is leading the struggle of the working class in the oil sector in order for the workers to receive their rights and in order to protect Iraq's oil wealth, is currently being subjected to a vicious attack headed by the Minister of Oil.

The minister has issued decree number 12774 on July 18th 2007 banning union work [management working with or recognizing unions], using false pretexts based on decree number 150 that was issued in 1987 by the dictatorial regime.

The position of the minister contradicts all conventions of the International Labor Organization, especially relating to the "freedom of union work" which was signed by Iraq and should therefore abide by it.

This position is due to our union's position towards the American imperialistic project known as the oil and gas law. We view this law as an illegal way to seize the wealth of Iraqis without any economical or political excuse.

We call on all labor and vocational unions and all political movements to join our union in solidarity and to sign this statement which condemns the decision of the minister of oil. We call on him to withdraw his decree.

This is what all unions and movements demand and desire since our union is an integral part of the national Iraqi movement.May God be of assistance.

The Federation of Oil Unions