Birmingham City Hall, 27th January, 2004: Over 100 trade unionists and anti-war campaigners braved a cold Tuesday evening to attend a packed meeting jointly organised by Birmingham Trades Union Council and Birmingham Stop The War Coalition. A range of speakers addressed the continuing US/UK illegal occupation of Iraq and discussed proposals for organising solidarity with Iraqi trade unionists.
IFTU representative Abdullah Muhsin with Birmingham TUC President
For Birmingham Stop the War Coalition Salma Yaqoob said: "the line of resistance to neo-liberalism and imperialism today is in Iraq."
Alex Gordon from the National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers (RMT) reported on the recent British trade union delegation (in October 2003) to Baghdad to visit the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU) and on the impressive growth of independent, democratic trade unions. Alex called for British trade unionists to make defence of international labour standards in Iraq a central demand on the UK government and called for practical solidarity with Iraqi trade unionists including direct links between British and Iraqi trade unions and trades councils.
Abdullah Muhsin, the IFTU?s London representative spoke movingly about the immense difficulties faced by Iraqi workers in organising trade unions.
Condemning the unprovoked attack by US troops on IFTU offices in Baghdad on 6th December 2003 and the arrest of eight IFTU leaders, who were subsequently released without charge or explanation, Abdullah said: "Friends, we must ask for your support to defend our new trade union movement against repression and intolerance, whether it comes from elements loyal to the former regime or from the military powers illegally occupying our country."
He described trade unionism as "a crucial component in re-building civil society in Iraq" and echoed the appeal for British trade unions and trades councils to form direct links with Iraqi trade unions.
Posted at January 30, 2004 08:26 PM