Basra -
Hundreds of railways Workers in Basra went on strike today, Tuesday 15 May 2007 demanding that the new salary scheme past by the Iraqi government two months ago for all state employees should include rail workers as well. The union also called for the local authorities to grant railways workers annual bonuses like other state employees.
The President of the Railways workers Union in Basra said that "the objective of the strike that is supported by more than 800 Railway workers in Basra is to seek fair wage for railway workers.”
He added: "We also demand that the annual wage increase should be restored after it was stopped in 2003 when Saddam’s regime collapsed."
He pointed out that "the strikers received messages of solidarity from the General Federation of Iraqi Workers (GFIW) in Basra and from a number of trade unions such as the electricity and Mechanics and the public services unions. He also indicated that the above mentioned sister unions are ready to strike in solidarity if our demands are not met." He said that the strike will include other provinces and will continue until our demands are met.