A statement issued by the General Federation of Iraqi workers (GFIW) on the occasion of May Day the World Labour Day
Glory to the Iraqi working class in its glorious day.
To the working people of Iraq
Workers in Iraq and the world over are celebrating the first of May, with a full resolve and determination to continue the struggle for a better tomorrow of human rights, democracy and social justice and for a world free from exploitation and discrimination between people of different ethnic and religious affiliations, sectarian and political constitutes.
May Day is an opportunity for Iraqi working people to sharpen their resolve as they continue struggle for a better Iraq of Human rights, social justices and federal democracy, free from terrorism and sectarianism.
May Day symbolizes the struggle against all forms of exploitation, oppression, class oppression at the same time an opportunity to escalate the struggle for the achievement of the just and legitimate demands of our workers of decent jobs, decent wages and working conditions, a labour code that adhere to the ILO fundamentals.
The Iraqi trade union movement since its creation at the beginning of the last century linked the national and class struggle and assumed the lead in the struggle of the masses of our people against colonialism and reactionary successive governments. But the most difficult period, the most daunting was that of the former dictatorship of Saddam Hussein. Iraq workers suffered terribly as tens thousands of them were sent deliberately to Saddam’s internal and external wars.
The regime issued No 150 Law of 1987 that transformed workers in the state's institutions and the public sector to employees under the unjust law No 150 of 1987. The reason was quite simple to marginalize the political and social role of the trade union movement and thus converting it into a pliable tool, acting at wishes of Saddam’s regime.
Our country is witnessing, today, four years after the fall of Saddam’s regime, extremely complicated political process, full with contradictions and conflict raging around which direction our country should head to, democracy or theocracy or the return of the dictatorship.
On this historic occasion, we wanted the forces of our people and all segments of our Iraqi society, to be aware of the importance and the need to cooperate and coordinate their efforts to get the country back from the brink of disaster, and push the political process forward, and open the prospects for a new Iraq that safeguard the lives of its citizens and uphold their rights and dignity, and to lay the foundations of a new state of democracy and human rights in which so many people have paid heavy sacrifices in order to create.
On the other hand, our organization the GFIW is subjected to orchestrated campaign of killing and kidnappings by terrorist and militias and especially those workers in sectors such as construction, transportation, health, trade, oil, electricity and mechanics. Hundreds of our members were murdered in addition to large numbers of wounded.
The post Saddam democratically elected government still violate the rights of Iraqi workers and their trade union activities by upholding Saddam’s anti union law No 150 of 1987 and the new order 8750 issued in 2005 by the Council of Ministers under the former PM al Jafaari.
The GFIW is struggling to uphold the rule of the law, promote freedoms and respect for citizen's rights. The GFIW stand firmly against privatization of the public sector and the oil sector, hence we reiterate our position that the issue of oil must remain publicly owned -keep control of the oil wealth at the hands of the Iraqi people, as stipulated in new constitution-.
The GFIW resist any attempt to transfer control of the huge oil resources to multinational corporations. In particular, we stand against the so-called (Sharing Production CONTRACTS), which allows companies to control our national wealth for a period of up to 30 years while retaining a substantial share of the profits and essential.
The GFIW stand firmly against the privatization of education, health services and attempt to cancel the ration card on flimsy pretexts by the international financial institutions, particularly the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.
The GFIW demand the application of the new retirement law without amendments, abolish all anti union laws, and to tack the problem of unemployment as a cause of national urgency.
We proudly salute all Arab and international trade union federations for their solidarity with the GFIW.
On this May Day we declare our full solidarity with the workers and people of Palestine in their just struggle to achieve their legitimate demands to establish an independent sovereign state along side the state of Israel. The GFIW condemn the continued Israeli aggression on the Palestinian people and the occupation of the Arab lands in Syria, Lebanon and we call for the return of the Arab lands on the basis of international legitimacy.
Long live the First of May symbol of solidarity for social justices, democracy and human rights.
Long live the Iraqi trade union movement.
Glory to the martyrs of the Iraqi trade union movement.
Executive Committee
GFIW
1 May 2007
On Tuesday, April 17, 2007 the GFIW Held an Open Forum To Discuss the Labour and Social Security Laws.
The forum was moderated by Mr. Taleb Kazim Tai / The Head of the Mechanics Workers Union, and Mr. Hussein Ali Mendan / Associate Director-General of the Department of Labour and Social.
The meeting was attended by Rahim Ali and the Mahdi Haseeb Members of the Executive Committee of the General Federation Iraqi Workers.
The forum disused the labour law 71 of 1987 and social security and retirement law 39 of 1971.
The forum concluded by emphasising on the importance to enact a new labour, social security and retirement laws that adhere to the ILO fundamentals’.
Teachers strike to protest against the Basra new salary scheme
The President of the Teachers Union in Basra Governorate said teachers went on strike on Sunday.
The president of the union added that the new salary scheme has impacted negatively on the living standard of a large number of teachers.
The Teachers Union in Basra was founded after the collapse of the former regime of Saddam in April 9 April 2003. The Union is striving to achieve the demands of teachers.
It worth noting that the Iraqi Teachers Union was founded in the 1950s.
Saturday 28 April,
The Journalist Union branch in Maysan Province concluded its conferene with the election of a new leadership , the founding of the first branch of the Journalists Union.
Brother Abdul Amir Ibrahim was elected as the president of the branch in Maysan. Elections procedures were supervised by a committee comprised of first deputy president and head of the Lawyers Syndicate in Maysan
ITUC May Day Manifesto
Working people in all corners of the globe, gathering together on the 1st of May, celebrate the tremendous achievements of the trade union movement and commemorate all those who have given so much in the cause of justice, equality and human dignity. For more information please click here: www.ituc-csi.org
Wednesday April 25 2007 a. P. B. Vienna:
One hundred journalists killed in the year 2006, which was the worst in the history of the profession of journalism, according to the annual report of the International Press Institute, which was published Wednesday in Vienna. A director of the Institute Johann Fritz, said " 2006' was the most brutal and the most barbaric in the contemporary history of the media" talking about "a real war against the press."
Iraq continued to be for the fourth year in a row the most murderous country for journalists, with 46 killed "as in almost all cases (the killings was deliberate and targeted assassination", according to the report, which covered 180 countries. Journalists were also killed in 23 other countries Mexico (7) and Sri Lanka (5) and Pakistan (4), Afghanistan (3), Colombia (3), Venezuela (2), Russia (2), India (2), China (2).
Maysan/ Iraq
The Journalists union in Maysan will hold its first conference this Saturday 28 April 2007.
The preparation for the first open conference has now been completed.
Basem Sheikh Ali is a member of the Preparatory Committee for organizing the first conference of the journalists Union branch in the province of Maysan said “that all the preparations to hold our conference Saturday 28 april 2007 finally been completed.
He added “that a delegation from the National Iraqi Journalists Union will supervise the electoral process in addition to one of the judges of the Court of Appeal of Maysan and in the presence of representatives of civil and governmental institutions in the province.
He also said “It is noteworthy that a number of governorates opened branches of the Iraqi Journalists Union in the south of Iraq in Waset and Dhi Qar provinces have now their democratically elected branches.
TO THE GFIW EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Brussels 25 April 2007
On behalf of the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers Unions, the Global Union Federation, representing 20 million workers in the Mine, Energy, Chemical and related Process Industries I was again shocked and appalled to hear of the death of trade union leader, Brother Moaaid Hamid, the Vice President of GFIW in the province of Nineveh as well as his wife, following clashes between forces of the Iraqi army and terrorist elements in the province.
Maysan
Demonstration of writers and intellectuals calling on local authority to activate cultural action in the province of Maysan.
Dozens of members of the Federation of literary writers, intellectuals and journalists picketed peacefully yesterday, Tuesday 24 April 2007 the main building of the Maysan Governorate in protest at the neglect culture has suffered under the current local authority.
United Nations said in a report that Iraqi Kurdistan which enjoys autonomy harass and arrest journalists and in particularly those who are exposing government’s corruption and poor public services.
The report also criticized the regional government for not doing enough to stop the "honour killings" of women, and said that there are hundreds of Kurdish detainees in the Kurdish jails without charges.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq said that the Kurdish authorities "continued to expose journalists to harassment, arrest and legal proceedings for their coverage of corruption or low level of government services, or other issues of public interest." It praised the report reviewed recently by the Kurdish Parliament of legislation on freedom of expression and the start of the investigation in several cases relating to the imposition of restrictions on freedom of information. The United Nations report said that women's rights to life, personal safety is still a "serious concern" in the governorates of Arbil, Dohuk and Sulaymaniyah, which have high percentage of incidents of "honour crimes and other violations against women." The report went on "between January and March the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq about received 40 alleged cases of honour crimes.
24 April 2007
The Executive Committee of the General Federation of Iraqi Workers mourns the martyr Vice President of the General Federation of Iraqi workers of the province of Nineveh and his martyred wife on the 9th of April 2007.
A statement issued by the General Federation of Iraqi Workers: said we mourn our martyred trade union leader,brother Moaaid Hamid, the Vice President of our Federation in the province of Nineveh and his martyred wife following clashes between forces of the Iraqi army and terrorist elements in the province.
The deceased was one of the first trade union leaders who contributed to the creation of the IFTU after the fall of the former dictator in 2003 and has played an active role in building a genuine democratic trade union movement despite all the difficult circumstances.
The martyred was subjected to persecution and prosecution by the repressive machinery of Saddam's regime.
Two years ago, he was abducted by terrorist elements and was subjected to sever violence at the hands of terrorists before he was freed by Iraqi security forces.
Glory and eternity to our fallen comrade trade union leader Hamed and his wife.
Glory to the martyrs of the Iraqi working class.
Shame on the murderous terrorists.
The Executive Office of the General Union of Workers of Iraq March 16 April 2007
Posted at April 23, 2007 11:47 AM
A statement issued by the General Federation of Iraq of Workers.
The Executive Committee of the General Federation of Iraqi Workers mourns the martyr Vice President of the General Federation of Iraqi workers of the province of Nineveh and his martyred wife on the 9th of April 2007.
A statement issued by the General Federation of Iraqi Workers: said we mourn our martyred trade union leader,brother Moaaid Hamid, the Vice President of our Federation in the province of Nineveh and his martyred wife following clashes between forces of the Iraqi army and terrorist elements in the province.
The deceased was one of the first trade union leaders who contributed to the creation of the IFTU after the fall of the former dictator in 2003 and has played an active role in building a genuine democratic trade union movement despite all the difficult circumstances.
The martyred was subjected to persecution and prosecution by the repressive machinery of Saddam's regime.
Two years ago, he was abducted by terrorist elements and was subjected to sever violence at the hands of terrorists before he was freed by Iraqi security forces.
Glory and eternity to our fallen comrade trade union leader Hamed and his wife.
Glory to the martyrs of the Iraqi working class.
Shame on the murderous terrorists.
The Executive Office of the General Union of Workers of Iraq March 16 April 2007
INTERNATIONAL TRADE UNION CONFEDERATION (ITUC) ITUC
OnLine...075/240407
ITUC May Day Manifesto Brussels, April 24 (ITUC Online):
Working people in all corners of theglobe, gathering together on the 1st of May, celebrate the tremendousachievements of the trade union movement and commemorate all those whohave given so much in the cause of justice, equality and human dignity.
Each and very person has the right to decent work and a decent life.For the vast millions to whom these rights are but an aspiration, it isthrough the determination and collective will of trade unionism thatthis aspiration can become a reality, and for those who today enjoythese rights in their daily lives, it is through their unions that theywill be defended and maintained. The historic unification of the world trade union movement, just half ayear ago, gives us new means and renewed vitality in our quest for abetter world. We will harness this new momentum to its very maximum, tobring solidarity to all those who need it, and to change the course ofthe global economy to make it serve the interests of the many ratherthan the few. Our commitment to build a better world, where economic progress servessocial needs, where those who live in poverty and at the margins ofsociety are empowered to live decent and fulfilling lives, remainssteadfast. The universal values which have underpinned more than acentury of proud trade union history remain as valid today as they didat the very birth of our movement. We oppose all forms oppression and exploitation, and proclaim ourdetermination to continue the struggle against all those who seek toprofit from deprivation, discrimination and despair. We stand unitedwith all women and men who suffer violations of their rights as workersand as human beings and will come to their aid in every way we can. Wecondemn all those who profit from the misery of others and will carryforward the fight against the rapacious excesses of corporate greed. Wewill maintain our struggle for a world where all can live secure andpeaceful lives, free from the threat of violence, war and destruction. The generations of today hold the very future of the planet in ourhands. Our actions will leave an indelible mark on the lives of thechildren of the world and those to come. We shall fulfill our solemnduty to work for sustainable economic and social progress, to play ourpart in tackling climate change, in providing health and education forall and confronting the enormous challenges which we face as a worldcommunity. We seek a world where all nations can cooperate to the common good,building and sustaining fairness and justice in economic relations,where no country is left behind and where the aspirations of all men,women and children to a decent life are met in full. We pledge, infurtherance of the great and durable traditions of our movement, toturns these dreams and hopes into reality. Founded on 1 November 2006, the ITUC represents 168 million workers in153 countries and territories and has 304 national affiliates. Website:www.ituc-csi.org For more information, please contact the ITUC Press Department on +32 2224 0204 or +32 476 621 018.
Government pressure to prevent journalists from performing their work
According to a group of Iraqi non-governmental organizations concerned with the defence of freedom of the press and journalists in Iraq,. Some Iraqi government agencies, and especially those associated with security have put a series of restrictions and pressure against journalists, and thereby hindering the work of journalists and expose them to danger.
At the same, media in the Iraqi Kurdistan region is facing «difficulties», and demanded that the Kurdish Parliament enacted «new legislation».
The observatory press freedoms is one of civil society organizations active in defending the rights and freedom of information and personnel in Iraq. In a statement, It said «that three days ago security forces stormed the building channel (Faha) space in the city of Sulaymaniyah second largest city in Iraqi Kurdistan, and beaten severely and arrested ten of its affiliates, for (24) hours without any legal justification ». The statement described the body that carried out the operation as an «elements outside the law».
The Secretary-General of the Press Syndicate in Kurdistan Zirk Kamal, the «enormous obstacles stand in the way of media Kurds, especially the lack of modern law and democratic society, as there is no law to protect press freedoms». But he stresses that «Syndicate prepared a draft bill early last year and submitted to the Kurdish Parliament and wish approval at the earliest possible opportunity to get rid of the Baath laws, restrictions and the suppression of free speech.
Abdullah Muhsin (International Representative of the General Federation of Iraqi Workers), Dave Anderson MP (Joint President Labour Friends of Iraq) and Sue Rogers (Chair TUC Iraq Solidarity Committee and Treasurer NASUWT), remember a fallen comrade.
The Iraqi labour movement has lost another courageous trade union leader - a patriot who wanted to see Iraq free, to see his family live in a decent and prosperous environment and to see the steady growth of free, independent and democratic unions.
Veteran leader, Najim Abd-Jasem, the General Secretary of the Mechanic Workers' Union, was abducted by criminal militias in Baghdad and found three days later on 30 March 2007. There were signs of torture all over his body.
We all met Najim almost exactly one year ago on a Labour Friends of Iraq delegation that held a summit in Erbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan, with twenty two leading figures from Baghdad, Basra and Babel.
We spent five hours in their company and agreed a strategy of moral and material assistance to the fledgling Iraqi labour movement, which has since been taken up by the TUC.
Assembled in that room were men, and some women, who had taken great risks in standing up for freedom against Saddam's fascist-type regime and who were trying to build a movement that brings together workers regardless of religion.
They asked us to provide aid so that they could stand on their own two feet and contribute to social justice in their war-ravaged country.
Each had a distinguished record of bravery in confronting Saddam and then the sectarian militias.
Najim was one of the key leading trade unionists who help to establish what has now become the General Federation of Iraqi Workers after the fall of Saddam's dictatorship and was elected as the General Secretary of the Mechanics Workers Union in late 2003.
Under the former dictatorship of Saddam, Najim worked for the Health Ministry as a mechanic before he was dismissed because of his opposition to Saddam's yellow unions.
He joined the underground trade union movement (WDTUM) and fought against the former dictatorial regime.
Najim was one of a generation of trade union activists who each knew the risk they were running. There have been many attacks on union activists and they all knew Hadi Saleh, an exiled printer who had returned home to revive free unions in 2003.
In January 2005, he was tortured at his home and murdered by remnants of Saddam's secret police. A world-wide chorus of condemnation greeted his tragic fate. But it is clear that the murder of Hadi (who had impressed people with his cheerful disposition in meetings at the Commons and elsewhere) and now Najim are part of a concerted campaign to eliminate the leadership of the newly formed independent and democratic unions that strongly oppose sectarianism.
Najim leaves a wife and four children. He also leaves a movement that needs urgent assistance for they are facing attacks from all sides. The barbaric murder of Najim and Hadi illustrate the lengths to which sectarian militias and former Baa'thist security men will go.
But, sadly, the unions are also being frozen out by the current central government in Baghdad. Saddam's ban on public sector organisation remains in place. A decree freezing other unions' assets was issued in 2005 and needs to be rescinded. After decades of totalitarian government, ministers remain suspicious of independent unions. They should come to recognise that such unions are the best friends a decent civil society and democracy can have.
And to cap it all, the movement faces occasional and inexplicable hostility from US and Iraqi military forces. The headquarters of the GFIW has been raided on two occasions in the last few weeks.
Yet the new Iraqi trade union movement is a success story. It unites all sectors of Iraq society. It does not see itself as Shia or Sunni, Kurd or Arab, Assyrian or Turkoman but as workers, citizens and above all Iraqis though they celebrate their differences.
It has gone from nearly nil in 2003 to many hundreds of thousands of members across Iraq. Its leaders were mostly opposed to the invasion of Iraq, preferring to rely on internal means to overthrow of Saddam's fascist-type dictatorship, but they are enthusiasts for the political process of building a democratic, federal and pluralist society.
Najim was murdered for advancing the cause of social justice, equality and human rights. He wanted a free Iraq with lasting and genuine democracy and independent trade unions at its heart.
He was brave and outspoken person. He firmly opposed all forms of sectarianism. He championed workers' and women's rights. He lived in a very poor and ordinary working class area of Baghdad and spared no efforts to advance the fundamental rights of workers, as enshrined in International Labour Organisation conventions.
His killers have silenced him, as they silenced Hadi before. Their martyrdom is a heavy tragedy for their families and comrades. But we are sure that if either Hadi or Najim were with us now, they would be saying that the loss of a comrade should not be in vain.
The loss of Najim must spur people here to increase their solidarity with the Iraqi labour movement. They are on the same side as ourselves. Let's stop ignoring them or sitting on our hands.
Gary Kent interviews an Iraqi Kurdistan trade union leader
Iraqi trade unionists often turn up at the Commons nowadays. They are very down to earth people with inspiring tales to tell of their own past – though they are always far too modest about their brave battles against Saddam and contemporary Iraqi terrorism – and to win allies for the future of their movement and country.
The latest comrade to pitch up for tea at Portcullis House was Wishyaar Hamad Haji, a member of the secretariat of the Iraqi Kurdistan Teachers' Union. Wishyaar is based in the region's capital of Arbil where he is head of the literacy department at the Education Ministry as well as an author and journalist.
He was on a whistle-stop tour which had taken him from Arbil to Belfast, where he was a guest of the NASUWT teachers' union at their annual conference, and back to London for a couple of days. The Education Secretary Alan Johnson had been a guest speaker at the Belfast gathering and praised the secular trade union movement in both Northern Ireland and Iraq.
I began by asking him about the priorities of his 104,000 strong union. Not surprisingly, wages and living standards topped the list as did what he saw as the increasingly successful battle to root out what he called "the culture of domination" – physical violence against pupils which was part and parcel of Saddam's totalitarian regime. He added that democracy required a human rights ethos in the curriculum and that current teaching methods lagged far behind modern ideals.
Politically, the union is full-square behind current efforts to build a sustainable federal democracy. I pressed him on whether he and his colleagues would prefer independence. He maintained that "we have the right to that aspiration but we know the reality " and emphasised that the name of the game was a new federal Iraq.
He also emphasised the need for a resolution of the status of Kirkuk to which Iraqi Kurds have historical claims and stressed the importance of holding a referendum in the nearish future.
He argued that unions are a vital building block of civil society and democracy. I know from meeting Iraqi union leaders that they are very committed to increasing the participation of women in their movement and in society as a whole. So I next asked for his views on current attempts to import Sharia law into the constitutions of both the Kurdistan Region and Iraq. He supports the Union of Kurdistan Women's opposition to it and favoured the separation of mosque and state.
We briefly talked about the new Iraqi passports which are only available to women on a restricted basis – with permission from their men folk. The Kurdistan Region has done much more than many parts of the Middle East in the last decade to enable women but this part of our conversation was a salutary reminder of the low base from which women's liberation begins in the region.
The UK has a good reputation in the Kurdistan Region where English is a compulsory second language from the first year of school, though Arabic only starts a couple of years later. When I was there last year as part of the LFIQ delegation, this was stressed many times by all those we met who were keen on external investment as a means of creating jobs and thereby building a stronger labour movement which could then argue more effectively for social justice.
As with every other Iraqi trade unionist I have ever met, he argued that troops out now would be a "catastrophe" without first building up the capacity of the Iraqi security forces, for which he wanted training from British troops. If only more people on the left would heed what trade unionists like Wishyaar are asking for – political and material solidarity.
informed sources said that Ahmed Mohamed Rashid Myrrh, the famous Myrrh Ahmad, chief editor of the magazine «the Finn» monthly, published in the city of Sulaymaniyah In Iraqi Kurdistan, who had been arrested yesterday morning, 18 April 2007, at his home in central Sulaymaniyah, was released late yesterday evening.
On the fringess of the international conference on the status of refugees and displaced Iraqis being held in Geneva. A number of Iraqi journalists held a press conference to publicize the suffering of the Iraqi Journalists and the risks to which they are exposed during the performance of their duties releases.
The presence of a delegation of Iraqi journalists to Geneva at the international conference on Iraqi refugees came at the invitation of the International Campaign for the protection of Iraqi journalists.
The Iraqi journalists delegation was headed by the General Secretary of the union Mr Al-Alami.
The Union condemned the arrest of the editor of a monthly magazine in Sulaymaniyah.
In a statement issued by the union yesterday said: The Journalists union in Iraqi Kurdistan deplore the arrest and calls on the authorities to release him immediately.
Some 60 Iraqi parliamentaians, Ministers and experts have arrived in Dubai for a meeting on the Iraqi Oil Law Wednesday 18 April 2007.
According to an Iraqi official working for the Iraqi parliament told reporters in Dubai that " members of the Iraqi parliament will meet with technical experets to discuss the oil law in Dubai away from the influences in Baghdad"
the offical said at least three ministers will attend the meeting including the Iraqi Oil Minister Mr Hussein Shahastani.
In February 2007, the Iraqi Council of Ministers adopted the draft Oil Law. The Oil law awaits ratification by the Iraqi parliament.
According the Iraqi oil Minister that average production in December 2006 was 2.3 millions barrels a day. Iraq is the third largest oil reserve in the world but with an ailing econmoy that needs billions of dollars to revive.
Workers and employee (coaches and administrators) at the Technical Institute in the city of Nasiriyah held a day of protest at the main square. Workers called for the improvement of their working conditions and wages.
Protesters called on the local authorities to respond positively to their demands
The Iraqi Communist Party has strongly condemned the cowardly murder of comrade Najim Abed Jassem (Abu Zainab), the party workers cadre, trade unionist leader and member of the executive committee of the Mechanics Union.
A statement issued by the Politburo of the Party's Central Committee, issued on 1st April 2007, said that "the criminal murderers, enemies of life, peace and democracy, kidnapped and then assassinated comrade Jassem, in cold blood, on the eve of the celebration of his party's 73rd anniversary."
The statement, published on the first page of the party's central organ "Tareeq Al-Shaab" on 2nd April 2007, condemned "this abhorrent crime and its perpetrators". The martyr's only crime was "his passion for his people, homeland and working class for which he struggled to achieve their just rights and a better life."
The Iraqi Communist Party called upon the Iraqi government "to launch an urgent investigation of the kidnapping and assassination" of comrade Jassem, and "to declare the results of the investigation" and ensure "that the perpetrators receive just punishment for the crime they committed against a national, trade union and social figure."
The statement expressed confidence that this barbaric act, "which is totally alien to all traditions and values, will only make us more determined to continue our struggle, regardless of the sacrifices, in defence of the interests of the people, the homeland and the causes of toilers and all workers."
"As we bid farewell to the martyred comrade (Abu Zainab), whose death has constituted a big loss to the party, the working class and its trade unionist movement, we convey the deepest sentiments of solidarity and condolences to his family, comrades, friends and colleagues."
Journalists receive training in Basra
BAGHDAD, 9 April 2007 (IRIN) - The arrests, abductions and murders of journalists in Iraq are severely limiting the ability of media outlets to effectively report the escalating humanitarian crises in the war-torn country, specialists say
to celebrate the 73rd anniversary of the Iraqi Communist Party
The ITUC fully supports the International Chemical, Energy and Mine Workers’ Federation (ICEM) in its resounding condemnation of the murder of a leader of the General Federation of Iraqi Workers (GFIW).
For more information please click here:
www.ituc-csi.org
Brother Najim was abducted by criminal militias in Baghdad on the afternoon of the 27th March 2007 . His body was found three day later on 30 March 2007. Signs of torture were evident all over his body.
Brother Najim was one of the key leading trade unionists who helped to establish the IFTU now the GFIW after the fall of Saddam’s dictatorship and was elected as the General Secretary of the Mechanics Workers Union in late 2003.
Under the former dictatorship of Saddam, brother Najim worked for the Health Ministry as a mechanic before he was dismissed because of his opposition to Saddam’s yellow unions.
He joined the underground trade union movement (WDTUM) and fought against the former dictatorial regime.
His murder is a sign of a systematic campaign to eliminate the leadership of the newly formed independent and democratic unions that strongly oppose sectarianism.
Najim A- Jasem leaves a widow and four children.
Glory to the martyr of Iraqi working class brother Najim A Jasem
Long live the Iraqi labour movement
Najim was kidnapped on 27 March 2007
His Body was found on 30 March
Signs of torture was visible on his body
Najim Joined the under ground trade union movement (WDTUM) in the 1980s
He was dismissed from his job as a mechanic where he worked for the Iraqi health Ministry
He was reinstated to his job after the fall of Saddam’s dictatorship.
He was a key founder the of the IFTU now the GFIW
He was elected to the position of the General Secretary of the Mechanics Workers Union 2003
He attended many national and international seminars and traning
The executive committee
GFIW
Baghdad
31 March 2007
On Wednesday 4 April workers staged a day strike at Mula Abdullah Plant in Kirkuk calling on the plant management and the local authorities to provide security while performing out the duties.
Many workers were kidnapped and killed in the recent months and seven of the strikers colleagues were killed the same day while they were on their way to work.
The strikers threatened cut supply if the Government the PM Nuri Al Maliki and Kirkuk Local authority do not respond to just their demands.
Thursday 5 April, more than 450 municipals workers at the main Water Drainage system in Karbala protested outside the main office of Karbala governor calling on him to improve their working condition, increase their wages and health care.
On behalf of the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers Unions, the Global Union Federation, representing 20 million workers in the Mine, Energy, Chemical and related Process Industries I was shocked and appalled to hear of the abduction, torture and subsequent murder of Najim Abd-Jasem the General Secretary of the Mechanic Workers Union, a member union of .the General Federation of Iraqi Workers (GFIW). The whole ICEM joins the GFIW in mourning the death of martyr Najim Abd-Jasem.
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On Monday 2 April workers at Karbala Technical College staged a day protest outside the main office of Karbala Governor calling on the local authorities to increase their wages to meet the rising inflation.
Eleven electricity plant workers were murdered as they drove to work in the city of Kurkuk northern Iraq on Wednesday 4 april 2007 .
www.threescoreyearsandten.blogspot.com
Harry Barnes, A former Labour Party British MP Reports on the murder of Brother Najim Abd Jasem
Ref : ICEM07/ENGC/37
Brussels, 3 April 2007
Prime Minister of Iraq Jawad al-Maliki
iraqigov@yahoo.com
Dear Prime Minister,
On behalf of the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers Unions, the Global Union Federation, representing 20 million workers in the Mine, Energy, Chemical and related Process Industries I wish to express to you my utter condemnation of the abduction, torture and subsequent murder of Najim Abd-Jasem the General Secretary of the Mechanic Workers Union, a member union of the General Federation of Iraqi Workers (GFIW).
We have been informed by GFIW that Brother Najim was abducted by criminal militias in Baghdad on the afternoon of the 27th March 2007. His body was found three days later on 30 March 2007. Signs of torture were evident all over his body.
Brother Najim was one of the key leading trade unionists who help to establish the IFTU now the GFIW after the fall of Saddam’s dictatorship and was elected as the General Secretary of the Mechanics Workers Union in late 2003. Under the former dictatorship of Saddam, he worked for the Health Ministry as a mechanic before he was dismissed because of his opposition to Saddam’s yellow unions. He then joined the underground trade union movement (WDTUM) and fought against the former dictatorial regime. 2003 He was well known internationally having attended many national and international seminars and training programs. He leaves a widow and four children.
His appalling murder is yet another sign of a clearly systematic campaign underway in Iraq to eliminate the leadership of the newly formed independent and democratic unions that strongly oppose sectarianism. Following recent attacks on the head office of the General Federation of Iraqi Workers (GFIW) as well as previous murders and abductions of union officials we call on you to ensure that your government upholds internationally recognised rights, including full respect for the fundamental human and trade union rights of workers. Workers and trade unionists must be able to carry out their normal activities in your country without fearing for the lives. Genuine and democratic trade unions are a cornerstone of democracy and at the same time are a force for reconciliation, peace and stability in a society.
It is essential that you order an immediate and thorough investigation into this appalling murder as well as other recent attacks on the GFIW.
Yours sincerely,
Manfred Warda
General Secretary
For Iraqi workers, poverty, unemployment and chaos are spiraling out of control. At the same time, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund are proposing economic reforms that would fundamentally change how the Iraqi government has historically structured public sector wages and pensions, aspects of the oil industry and social safety nets. Barbara Shailor, director of the AFL-CIO’s International Department, provides this update as part of an AFL-CIO Executive Council delegation to Amman, Jordan.
Demonstration of solidarity with the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU
