UNI Brussels, 25 January
(ICFTU OnLine) Alaa Issa Khalaf, a member of the Executive Board of the Baghdad branch of the mechanics union, and a prominent member of the recently created General Federation of Iraqi Workers, GFIW, has been killed. He was shot dead at around 7.30 am on January 25 by several unidentified men as he left for work from his home in Baghdad.
In a letter http://www.icftu.org/displaydocument.asp?Index=991223343&Language=EN to the authorities of the country, the ICFTU firmly condemned what it considers to be a targeted attack on a trade union activist.
In its condemnation of this murder, the ICFTU also recalled that Iraq, as a member of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), has an obligation to respect the fundamental labour standards established by it, particularly Convention 87 on freedom of association, and urged the Iraqi authorities to immediately ratify this convention. It is unacceptable that Iraqi trade unionists should exercise their activities in a climate of extreme tension and violence.
The case of Alaa Isaa Khalaf is unfortunately not unique. It is not the fist time that a trade unionist has been murdered or abducted in Iraq. The ICFTU strongly urged the Iraqi authorities to ensure that this case is fully investigated and that those responsible for the murder are detained and brought to justice. It also called for immediate steps to be taken to ensure that trade unionists are able to carry out their work without fear for their safety and their lives.
The ICFTU represents 155 million workers in 236 affiliated organizations in 154 countries and territories. The ICFTU is also a partner in Global Unions: http://www.global-unions.org
For more information, please contact the ICFTU Press Department on +32 2 224 0204 or +32 478 32 91 03. http://www.icftu.org
UNI Global Union has sent the following letter in support:
Ibrahim Jaafari
Prime Minister
Office of the Prime Minister
Baghdad
Iraq
C/O Embassy of Iraq
Switzerland
Fax: 031 351 83 12
Nyon, 26 January 2006
Our Ref : CDM/sol/iraq/pj
Dear Prime Minister,
Murder of Alaa Issa Khalaf of General Federation of Iraqi Workers (GFIW)
We are writing to protest at the murder of Brother Alaa Issa Khalaf, Executive Board member of the GFIW, on Wednesday 25 January 2006. Mr. Khalaf was shot by
several unidentified men who were awaiting him outside his house in Baghdad when he left for work.
UNI Global Union, which represents 15 million workers, considers this to be a
targeted attack on a trade union activist. On a separate matter, UNI Global Union is also concerned at reports of government interference in union affairs, namely the GFIW-affiliated engineers' and lawyers' unions.
Mr. Prime Minister, as a member of the International labour Organisation (ILO), Iraq has an obligation to respect the fundamental labour standards established by Convention 87 on freedom of association, regardless of ratification. It is totally unacceptable that trade unionists should exercise their activities in a climate of violence, and it is your government's responsibility to ensure security for trade unionists.
I therefore strongly urge you to ensure a full and immediate investigation is launched into the murder of Alaa Issa Khalaf, and that adequate steps are taken to provide security for trade unionists, so they can do their legitimate trade union work without having to fear for their security or their lives.
Finally, I also urge you to ratify ILO Convention 87 on the right to freedom of
association.
I look forward to a positive response.
Yours sincerely,
Philip Jennings
General Secretary