On behalf of our union I have had the opportunity to go to Iraq twice. A country savaged by an illegal war, a country ruled by terror, by Saddam and his Ba'ath Party.
A man who invested in military power and accumulated massive personal wealth. But for over 30 years he made no investment in his country, no investment in his people.
Those who spoke about free and democratic trade unions would face imprisonment, torture and execution or would simply disappear.
The people of Iraq did not have freedom of choice and in to many ways they still do not.
I was there a few months ago working once again with the Iraqi Federation Trade Union. The FBU has supported, worked and assisted the IFTU since it emerged after the fall of Saddam.
The IFTU are creating a free and democratic trade union movement. Working for and knowing the needs of the people of Iraq.
Their General Secretary tortured and imprisoned for 10 years, his crime, speaking out against the Ba'ath Party.
Conference I was taken to a building, there was a long corridor both sides of the corridor had pictures on them, hundreds of pictures. Pictures of people, pictures of human beings, so many pictures so many young faces.
Faces of those who had been murdered, executed or had disappeared.
The people of Iraq need hope, most simply want peace and stability.
When I was in Basra many work places were still closed, unemployment is at 60%. Thousands still have no water, no power, no sanitation. There is a river running through Basra, dark red brown in colour, very polluted. Along side the river there is a road with refuge piled 4metres high, 30 metres long. Children 7, 8 years of age some holding babies play, scavenge for food or look for anything to sell amongst this.
As I said the people of Iraq need hope because they have little else. Death on the streets, tortured by occupying forces, no food, no medical supplies, just poverty.
We can make a difference; this union has made a difference. We transported some 600 sets of fire kit to Iraq at a cost of £5000. This was taken to the firefighters in Basra and Baghdad. At this point I want to thank Suffolk and Cambridgeshire who supplied that kit and without who that journey would not have been possible.
We will continue to support and work with the IFTU, we will continue to work with them for a free and democratic Iraq.
And so President I come to the qualification, the Executive Council seek an assurance from Conference that they will work with the IFTU to assist in the implementation of this resolution and that the Stop the War Coalition do not have links with or support the Ba'ath Party.
A party created by Saddam and used to spy and inform on working people, used to torture working people, used to execute and murder working people.
Posted at July 6, 2004 11:52 AM