The Iraqi Federation of Workers Trade Unions (IFTU) was invited to attend a meeting organized by both the ICFTU and the ILO in Jordan 17-18 December 2003 to discuss ways and means to help and support Iraqi trade unionists to build new, transparent and democratic unions in post Saddam?s dictatorship era . Mr Rasem Hussien Abdullah the president of the IFTU, its first vice president Mr Hadi Ali laftah and Sobhi Abdullah Hussien the general secretary represented the IFTU for the Jordan meeting. The presidents of both the Iraqi Teacher and Journalist Unions were also present at the meeting. Mr Jutiyar Norri Abdulla from the Syndicate Union of Kurdistan Workers was also represented at the meeting.
Mr Guy Ryder the general secretary of the ICFTU chaired the meeting and Mr. Walid Hamdan of the ILO supervised it. The Meeting was also attended by 23 international and Arab trade union organizations including the ICATU.
The ICFTU general secretary Mr Guy Ryder stressed, that this meeting is an opportunity for us to become better acquainted with different groups seeking to build genuine unions and to learn together about the problems and difficulties facing Iraqi workers and the people of Iraq in general.
Mr Guy Ryder added that the capture of Saddam Hussein is a welcome development, and a major blow to those who are trying to stop Iraq becoming a democracy.
At the end of discussion the ICFTU emphasised its readiness to have a closer relationship with IFTU and saw its role (ICFTU) as a priority to help the IFTU to build a free and democratic trade union movement but on sector basis.
Mr Guy Ryder also stated the ICFTU position in regard to the issue of unity and reconciliation being put forward by the ICATU between the various Iraq trade union groupings, and that is the ICFTU would not wish to impose any model or formula upon the IFTU to follow, but is a matter for the IFTU to decide.
The IFTU held several side meetings with a number of trade unions present at the Jordan meeting. A meeting was held with CGIL of Italy and the CCOO of Spain. Both meetings were productive and business like. Both the CGIL and CCOO issued invitation to the IFTU to visit their respective countries.
The ICFTU was deeply concerned at the attack on the IFTU headquarters on 6th. December 2003 and has requested its US and UK affiliates to raise the matter with their respective governments so as to find the truth behind the unprovoked attack by US soldiers.
The Executive Bureau
IFTU
19 December 2003/.
At an emergency meeting of its Executive on 14 December 2003, the Iraqi Federation of Workers Trade Unions (IFTU) congratulated the people of Iraq and the world on the capture of the bloody dictator and the manner in which he was caught in his burrow near Tikrit. We hope this will contribute to uniting the Iraqi people for a new, unified and democratic Iraq, which will end dictatorship forever. In order for Iraq to move forward, Saddam must be tried in Iraq and the truth must come out about his crimes and those he killed, whose memory we honour.
Welcoming the capture of Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi Teachers Union called for public trial of the former bloody dictator not only in order to discover the truth about those who disappeared but also to bring about a unified and democratic Iraq. The union specifically pointed to one of their members who disappeared on 23 May 1980, Hassun Ali Al-Mousawi, a secondary school teacher from Najaf -- one of many thousands of honourable teachers who disappeared without trace.
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Statement of the Iraqi Federation of Workers' Trade Unions (IFTU) About the Vicious Attack By the Occupation Forces on its Headquarters on Saturday 6th December 2003.
To: Workers and the Iraqi Working Class,
Iraqi, Arab and World Public Opinion,
Supporters of Freedom, Democracy and Human Rights all over the world.
The American occupation forces, using a force of about ten armoured cars and
tens of soldiers, attacked the temporary headquarters of the IFTU (at the
headquarters of the Transport and Communication Union, in Karkh district,
Allawi Al Hilla, Baghdad) at 10.30 am on Saturday 6/12/2003, and arrested 8
of its leaders and cadres, who were handcuffed and taken away to an unknown
destination.
The attackers ransacked and destroyed the IFTU's possessions, tearing down
banners and posters condemning acts of terror, tarnishing the name of the
IFTU and that of the General Union of Transport Workers (on the building's main
front) with black paint and smashing windows glass, without giving any
reason or explanation.
Temporary headquarters of IFTU after US raid. Note the smashed windows, torn banner, defaced sign
The IFTU, as one of the most important organization of civil society, that
includes within its ranks sons of working class, the builders of a new Iraq and
the Democratic future of Iraq, strongly condemns this unjustified terrorizing
act by the occupation forces which targetted trade unionist cadres and
leaders who are well-known for their struggle against the hated
dictatorship.
While calling for the release of our detained colleagues as soon as
possible, and condemning any attempt to launch a new attack on trade union
centres, or further arrests of trade union leaders, we stress that the Iraqi
working class will not forgive this attack which constitutes a blatant
violation of democracy and human rights.
We, therefore, call upon all the forces of goodwill towards our people, as well as arab and international trade union organizations, to take a firm stand
against this act, and to call for the immediate release of detainees, and
compensation for the damages inflicted upon our colleagues and IFTU
headquarters as a result of this aggression
the Executive Bureau
The Iraqi Federation of Workers Trade Unions (IFTU)
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS: The 8 trade unionists of the IFTU who were detained by US troops under the command of US officer named Kelly (or Kealy) on Saturday 6th Dember 2003 without explanation, were released on Sunday 7th December 2003 unharmed.
Pictures of IFTU headquarters and leading trade unionists of IFTU available from I.S.S.
Abdullah Muhsin, London Representative of the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions
Mob': 00 44 (0) 79 31 41 63 44