Strike Averted - Maliki Accepts Federation's Demands - negotiations on implementation continue

Following an hour and a half meeting with the Prime Minister of Iraq on Wednesday May 16th, the IFOU reported that Maliki has accepted all 16 of the Federation's demands. A committee has been composed to look at the implementation of these demands. Federation President Hassan Jumaa Awad said that the meeting had been very positive and the Prime Minister had been very responsive.

He said that a month had been allocated for the demands to be fulfilled. Strike action is by no means excluded in the event of demands remaining unfulfilled.

The committee for implementing changes is composed of represnetatives from the Ministry of Oil, the Prime Minister's office, the Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions and the Southern Oil Company. The Federation's statement said that this won't be the last meeting with the Prime Minister and that ' Solidarity and will have achieved our aims and we consider this to be recognition of the Federation'