January 6, 2004
On behalf of the 3 million members of the Canadian Labour Congress, I wish to express our condolences at the horrible torture and murder of Brother Hadi Saleh in Baghdad yesterday.
I agree entirely with ICFTU General Secretary, Guy Ryder, that "this vicious murder is nothing less than an attack on the right of Iraqi workers to trade union representation. It is aimed at destabilising and undermining the development of trade unions as cornerstones of development and respect for human rights".
I and several of my colleagues had the pleasure of meeting Brother Saleh during the ICFTU World Congress in Miyazaki, Japan last month. We were impressed with his sincerity as he spoke about the necessity for a peaceful resolution to the crisis in Iraq and we are pleased to read on the IFTU’s website that your organization will not be intimidated by this brutal killing of your colleague.
The Canadian Labour Congress reaffirms our solidarity with the struggling workers of Iraq. We will continue to work with you and others in the international trade union movement to bring about Brother Saleh’s dream of building an authentic workers' movement in Iraq.
Finally, I ask you to please convey our condolences to the family of Brother Saleh.
In solidarity,
Kenneth V. Georgetti
President of the CLC