It was with great sadness that I learnt today of the horrific death of Hadi Salih, the International Officer of the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions. On behalf of UNISON and all its members I wish to pass on our condolences and sympathy both to the family of Hadi Salih and to the IFTU.
We in UNISON salute the courage, bravery and political determination of Hadi Salih, for his forthright opposition to the murderous regime of Saddam Hussein, his long term commitment to labour activism, his efforts to rebuild the trade union movement in Iraq and his opposition to the occupation of his country. Hadi Salih believed in peaceful solutions and condemned all those who used violence and terror to achieve their objectives. That he should be brutally murdered by assassins who broke into his home reinforces the urgency of his message.
I also wish to take this opportunity to express the outrage of UNISON over the recent spate of murders and attacks against the IFTU and its members. Can I assure you that we continue to stand alongside your efforts to build the trade union movement in Iraq, despite the enormous difficulties that you face, and your commitment to free and independent trade unionism as an integral part of a democratic society in Iraq.
Once again we express our deepest condolences and our sympathy
Yours fraternally
Dave Prentis
General Secretary