6 Iraqi trade unionists visiting Britain as guests of UNISON from 8th – 18th November 2004, as part of an international solidarity and capacity-building exercise with Iraqi trade unions. The delegation of 6 representatives of the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU) took part in organising and education courses and was introduced to UNISON’s Conference, Equality, Branch and Regional structures.
IFTU delegates with UNISON's Energy Conference Chair following their standing ovation from UNISON delegates.
In addition to receiving training on negotiation and campaigning skills, ‘mapping exercises’ and other organising tools, the delegation met with union officers and lay representatives from a number of different unions, including UNISON, TGWU, RMT & CWU in both Bristol and Glasgow. The IFTU members were also introduced to a number of leading figures in the trade union movement including Bill Spiers, General Secretary of the Scottish TUC and the head of the TUC’s International Department, Owen Tudor.
The IFTU members in the delegation included two women members, Alia Hussein, an Executive Committee member and Naafa Najib, President of a local branch of the Agricultural Workers Union. The four men in the IFTU delegation are Hassan Shabar, Culture/Media Officer for the Transport & Communication Workers’ Union; Muhsin Jasim, Baghdad Regional Secretary and Abdul Hasan, Treasurer of the Public & Social Service Workers’ Union; and Arkan Jewad Kadhum, a member of the Railway Workers’ Union.