The National Association of Schoolmasters & Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) recently invited Abdullah Muhsin of the IFTU and Mahdy Ali Lafta of the Iraqi Teachers’ Union to attend their national conference 27 March-1 April 2005 in Brighton. NASUWT organised a well-attended fringe meeting on 29 March for the Iraqi Teachers’ Union (see text of address below) and the Colombian Teachers’ Union under the title: 'Perscuted Teachers', chaired by Pat Lerew former President of NASUWT 2004-2005.
The meeting was opened by a brief speech of support from the current NASUWT President Peter McLoughlin. Jerry Bartleft, NASUWT Deputy General Secretary also spoke in support of teachers’ struggles in both Iraq and Colombia.
On the evening of the 28 March the President addressed his speech to Conference after introducing foreign delegates. On 30 March the Education Minister and Brendan Barber, TUC General Secretary addressed conference. On 31 March the shadow minister for education also addressed conference.
Iraqi Teachers' Union representative, Mahdy Ali Lafta’s speech to NASUWT Conference:
"First of all let me pass on the greetings of my union to your conference and to all your members.
"Iraq today is bleeding and this must be stopped. It must come to an end now.
"We are sure that Iraq will be a democratic and secure state where Iraqis will enjoy freedom, pluralism and a federal state.
"Extremists - both Saddam's loyalists and foreign fundamentalists - will not be allowed to succeed.
"The 30th of January (Iraqi elections) was a truly a victory for the people of Iraq against the forces of darkness and dictatorship.
"We are pleased and honoured to be invited to attend your conference and now let me tell you a little about the history of the Teachers’ Union in Iraq.
"The Teachers’ Union was formed in mid-1940 as an independent and democratic union. In May 2003 we began to rebuild the union on the same principles of independence and transparency.
"The union held its first conference in 1959 and in subsequent years the union gained many progressive achievements for Iraqi teachers in both industrial and educational fields.
"But the union faced extreme pressure and violent attacks under the regime of Saddam. The Union was transformed by the regime into instrument of violence and of the state. Thus the union became only a shell representing the interests of the state and Saddam’s Party and not the needs and aspiration of teachers.
"During this period in the 1980s and after, the Union was led by high leading members of Saddam’s Ba’ath Party. Saddam transformed the union into fascistic state-front. Thousands of teachers were killed, imprisoned and dismissed from their jobs.
"This situation continued from 1979 till the fall of Saddam in April 2003.
"After the fall of the regime on 9 April 2003 many patriotic trade unionist teachers sought to build a new teacher union based on real values and democratic principle regardless of political affiliation, race or religion.
"As result of this political commitment and the need to build civil society, key Iraqi political forces helped the union with structural resources to organise conferences for the union branches across Iraq and as a result many officials were elected.
"In Baghdad the union branch held its Open Conference in July 2003 and elected the leadership of the Teachers' Union in Baghdad. I was elected as the head of union in Baghdad, Al Rusafah district.
"This has culminated in holding the Teachers' Union national conference on 3 August 2003, which elected members of its National Executive, of which I am a member. The union now represents over a quarter of a million members with in Baghdad alone over 100,000 members."
Posted at March 31, 2005 02:51 PM