RMT president Tony Donaghey welcomed a delegation to Unity House on 20 January from the Iraqi Federation of Workers Trade Unions (IFTU) led by international secretary Hadi Salih and Abdullah Muhsin, London Based IFTU Representative .
TUC International and European secretary Owen Tudor and representatives from the FBU, NUJ, public services union PCS and TSSA joined the Iraqi delegation for discussions on how to build solidarity and support for trade unionists in the occupied country.
Hadi Salih outlined the problems facing Iraqi trade unionists including lack of funds, the continued implementation of anti-union laws brought in by the Ba’athist dictatorship and attacks from US forces on IFTU offices.
“After years of repression workers do not know their rights and there is a dire need to organise democratic structures.
“We need new progressive laws that recognise and guarantee workers’ rights and trade unions need to be involved in the formulation of any new labour laws,” he said.
He said that the IFTU had established 12 industrially-based unions in 14 provinces but it was difficult to maintain contacts under the present circumstances.
Owen Tudor said that was a need to campaign for collective bargaining rights for Iraqi workers and to assist in the fight to resist plans by occupation forces to privatise the economy.
Tony Donaghey said that the union had committed itself to supporting the struggle to build free, democratic and independent trade unions.
PCS representative Pat Budu presented the IFTU with a cheque for £500 and RMT has already supplied the IFTU with a laptop to assist in their work.
Posted at January 21, 2004 08:44 AM