Workers at the University of Basra protest, demanding better wages and better working conditions.
On Tuesday 8 May 2007, dozens of university workers protested to the presidency of Basra University and to remind them to implement the pledged the University made earlier.
Idris Alaakili Vice President of the Association of the University of Basra (part of the Iraqi teachers union) who led the protest said that "our strategy is to broaden the acceptance rate in post graduate studies for university staff and in order to provide staff with opportunities of higher diploma studies in humanities." He added: "We also protested over the temporary staffs’ contract and called for all temporary staffs to be employed on a permanent contract.
Idris Alaakili added that "this protest was not the first to strike, but and he warned the university authority to honour their pledged within 10 days otherwise the union will conduct general strike