Trade unionism took on a truly global dimension as colleagues from Iraq spent a week at NASUWT learning more about effective organisation and campaigning.
Being a trade unionist in Iraq takes immense courage and dedication. As well as having to deal with the everyday threats posed by the political uncertainty which still hangs over the country, anti-trade union laws brought in during Saddam Hussein’s reign have not been repealed, making it very difficult to organise and recruit members. Trade unionists are routinely killed and imprisoned for their activities.
Despite these problems, a group of leading trade unions travelled to NASUWT’s headquarters in Birmingham to spend 10 days gaining knowledge and information which they can use to advance the trade union movement in Iraq.
The members of the Iraqi Teachers Union observed an NASUWT National Executive meeting, took part in training events and met with British trade unionists during their stay. They were able to sample some culture, enjoying trips to a football match and the ballet and also had the opportunity to learn more about local government and the growth of the trade union movement in the UK.
“It is fundamentally important for fledgling unions in a fledgling democracy to see how democratic unions function, organise and interact with society, “ explained Abdullah Muhsin, the International Representative of the General Federation of Iraqi Workers who accompanied the teachers on their visit. He added: “It is not important whether we are men or women, Jewish or Muslim, Sunni or Shia, we just see ourselves as teachers and Iraqis who are committed to improving the welfare of our colleagues and improving the education system to produce a healthy society. We are committed to democracy because without it we cannot function.”
All of the delegation has stories to tell of the realities of trying to live and teach under a repressive regime. Headteacher Nasser Khdhim Nasser recounted the recent day when a group of masked men burst into his school, ordered all of the children out of the building and attempted to use the school as a space to set off mortar bombs. Suad Saleem Abdulla has to brave snipers just to collect basic classroom resources from a nearby Unicef building. Many others lost their jobs and homes as a result of their opposition to Saddam.
The added danger of being a trade unionist means that leaders have to take different routes to work, park their cars in different locations and even access their offices through different entranceways in order to keep a low profile.
One of the delegation, Ali Ahmed Sindal, was sentenced to death under Saddam’s regime for being a trade unionist and was only freed after serving four years in prison on death row. He was forced into exile on his release, but courageously returned to Iraq after the fall of the dictator to help rebuild the Iraqi Teachers Union.
In the post Saddam era, the education system in Iraq is slowly becoming less prescriptive, with students now able to learn about human rights issues and study a greater variety of subjects. However, teachers pay is still very low and many schools have shortages of teachers in certain subjects as it is too dangerous for teachers to travel far from home to work.
Despite all of these difficulties and dangers, the delegates’ commitment and enthusiasm for continuing to build a strong trade union movement remains undimmed and was evident in their keen interest in all aspects of NASUWT’s work.
The Union invited the group to visit the UK through its work supporting the establishment of independent trade unionism in Iraq. Sue Rogers, NASUWT’s Honorary Treasurer, is chair of the TUC Iraq Solidarity Committee and visited the country last year as part of a delegation of UK trade unionists to offer support and solidarity to colleagues.
During the visit, Ms Rogers led three days of training and advice for the group during which they met NASUWT staff and activists who explained more about the work the Union does and its organising and recruiting strategies.
Chris Keates, General Secretary of NASUWT, led a day of training focusing on national negotiations and Social Partnership. She explained how NASUWT has joined together with the Government, employers and other trade unions to form a committee which negotiates on all aspects of education reform including pay and conditions issues, curriculum revision and policy initiatives.
Ms Keates went on to detail the victories the Union has won for members as a result of working in partnership such as the National Agreement, changes to the Teachers Pension Scheme and revised performance management arrangements. The delegates were heartened to learn that trade unions like NASUWT can have such an influence with Government, saying this gives them great hope that in time, they too will be able to work in tandem with the Iraqi Government to bring about improvements to pay and conditions for teachers in their country.
The aim of the training was to provide the group with practical knowledge and strategies which they can use to build and strengthen trade unionism in Iraq, as well as empowering and giving the delegates confidence that trade unions can make a real difference to the lives of workers.
Mr Muhsin explained how valuable this support was to his colleagues as they He said: “Having the support of NASUWT is fundamental, we are delighted to have this comradeship and it is very important to our growth. The work the Union has done in highlighting the extreme difficulties we face and bringing it to the attention of the politicians is helping to save lives.
“Last year I was invited to the NASUWT Annual Conference and saw trade unionists coming together from around the UK and the world. They all shared the commitment to an education system which benefits teachers and young people. We hope in time to establish a similar system and also hope that we will be able to invite our colleagues in the UK to come to visit us in the future.”
He added that the whole trip to the UK has helped to give his colleagues confidence and hope for the future, saying: “We visited the Black Country Living Museum and Cadbury World, both of which were eye openers for us. We saw at both places how through trade unions and solidarity the workers had managed to improve their living and working conditions and also the commitment the Cadbury family had to their employees by providing them with housing and services.
“This showed us that by coming together workers can create great strength and also that management and workers do not have to be antagonistic, they can work together to build a better society.”
A visit to Birmingham City Council also allowed the delegates the opportunity to learn more about the role of local and central Government in the UK.
Hosted by Cllr Les Lawrence, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families, the group were given a tour of the council buildings, sat in on a council meeting and learnt more about the work of Cllr Lawrence and the Council’s political role and functions.
There was surprise at the scale of the budget handled by Cllr Lawrence, as the £1.2 billion allocated for children’s services in Birmingham dwarfs the amount of money the Government in Iraq has to spend on the whole country.
The Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Mike Sharpe, also greeted the party, presenting them with commemorative pens and pin badges to mark their visit to Birmingham.
Following their trip to Birmingham, the delegation then spent several days in London, during which NASUWT officials again met up with the party. The Union helped to organise a meeting between the Iraqi colleagues and Secretary of State Alan Johnson, where the problems facing trade unionists in Iraq were discussed. As a result of the meeting, Mr Johnson raised the issue of the country’s prohibitive anti trade union laws in the House of Commons and has promised to push for their repeal.
The whole visit left the delegates feeling hopeful that a system of democratically elected and accountable government is possible in Iraq, “We are honoured to be able to have the opportunity to see democracy in action.” Mahdi Ali Lefta, leader of the delegation, said: “We will see if we can take what we have learnt and seen to use in our country. We know that the people want democracy and freedom and hopefully we will be able to establish similar systems of Government to move us forward towards a better future.”
Ali Shari Ali, Iraq Teachers’ Union
Ali stressed that his union was non-political and boasted 400,000 members, 75,000 in Baghdad. The union had shed its Ba’athist association post-Saddam. A primary committee was formed on 1 May 2003 with 2 branches in Baghdad. Ali recognised that women had a pivotal part to play in the reconstruction of Iraq as they made up a third of the Teachers’ Union membership.
In July 2003 a conference resulted in media coverage and a marketing drive for increasing union operations - it included producing union booklets, issuing a monthly newspaper, organising art exhibitions and the active sharing of festivals (at the National Theatre in Baghdad and on International Children’s Day).
This was a huge success - people who had been expelled from the union or had left through fear began returning: 30,000 teachers have returned to their jobs.
British colleagues were invited to visit schools and institutions in Iraq to see how reconstruction was progressing.
Tens of acres of land that was previously used by the military and security forces are now being used to build houses for teachers and their families. The following are also priorities:
* subsidised IT courses;
* trade union conferences;
* a modern education system;
* abolition of corporal punishment; and
* a focus on children’s rights.
What is needed?
* the reconstruction of buildings is paramount in getting unions back on their feet;
* training in trade union activities;
* sponsorship by the British government for trade unionists to take higher degrees;
* sponsorship and assistance to create a cultural centre in Kurdistan;
* colleges and academics here to get involved in sponsorship;
* modern education courses, that can be web-based and available online;
* introduction of citizenship and human rights as subject areas in the core curriculum; and
* a conference and workshops on human rights, organised by the Ministry of Culture.
The general election was referred to as the ‘scent of democracy and liberty’.
The 1987 law banning trade unions should be repealed and a new labour code should be established.
Attacks by extremists were seen as an obstacle to organising as many were afraid to join trade unions or attend meeting because of intimidation.
Extremists were feeding on unemployment so it is imperative that employment is seen as a priority.
Questions and comments from delegates
It was noted that the Teachers’ Union had been a front organisation for Saddam and wondered what changes had occurred. Ali responded that the union had collapsed with the regime and everything stolen or destroyed. The union had begun completely anew with voluntary help from members. The old regime had gone and with it the corruption. The Teachers’ Union was looking forward and recruiting for a free, multicultural organisation.
A question was asked about unity. The movement was being built across Iraq and embraced all cities and all workers. Organising in Kurdistan was not only for Kurds. The movement supported pluralism so people were free to join any trade union.
It was noted that language would be a barrier to providing direct training.
One delegate asked when the new draft labour code might be passed. He was told that it was going to be put to the incoming assembly for ratification. The Federation had problems with some articles and these reservations would be put to the ICFTU and ILO.
One person who had spent time in Iraq on active duty during the Gulf War said he was pleased with the statistics on the increase in teacher and student numbers since 1993. He aimed to visit Iraq to observe developments as well as to enjoy the ‘wonderful’ tourist opportunities!
Address to the Association of University Teachers (AUT):
"The Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU) is proud to accept your invitation to address the Annual Conference of the AUT - it is great honour to address you today.
"The AUT is known and respected by Iraqi academics and trade unionists. It is therefore a great pleasure for me as a representative of Iraqi workers to openly renew our friendship with your union through our trade union federation the IFTU and on behalf of the Iraqi Teachers’ Union (ITU) that now organises legally in post-Saddam Iraq.
"The principled position that the AUT took against the war and the occupation of our country and now your call for the return of sovereignty to Iraqis is highly appreciated by the IFTU and the ITU.
"In my talk I want to deal with the way in which trade unions have survived through the dark years of fascist-style rule in Iraq, how they have taken off in the last two years and how we can work together in the future.
"I have been living in exile from my country for over a quarter of a century. Alongside many others I was forced to flee after Saddam Hussein assumed total political power in 1978 and initiated a campaign of terror against all independent trade unions, students’ and women’s organisations. He modelled the Iraqi state and government explicitly on fascist lines in which all aspects of civil society became fronts for Saddam’s project (the veneration of the dictator and a transmission belt from the regime to Iraqi society) and thus part of the state apparatus of terror.
"Independent trade unions leaders were executed or imprisoned in a systematic campaign of repression waged by the regime against democratic forces in the late 1970s. In short, the General Federation of Trade Unions (GFTU) became a tool of control for Saddam’s totalitarian state. It spied on workers and its offices became centres of interrogation and torture. The very term ‘trade union’‚ became associated with oppression for many Iraqis. A leading member of Saddam’s 'yellow unions' was a close collaborator of ‘Chemical Ali’, the monster who gassed the Kurds at Halabja, as well as the Marsh Arabs, Iranian soldiers and many thousands of Iraqi democrats including communists. And, when Saddam launched his war against Iran from 1980 to 1988 and his invasion of Kuwait in 1990 the GFTU acted as Saddam’s recruiting sergeants.
"On 11 March 1987, Saddam’s regime introduced a new Labour Code, which redefined public sector workers as ‘state officers’ and removed their right to form independent trade unions or take strike action.
"As a reaction to this political repression and to the violation of workers’ rights to form or join real trade unions, an illegal underground trade union movement was formed by those Iraqi trade unionists who had fought for the right to establish independent labour organisations during the 1930s, 40s and 50s and who refused to accept the emasculation of the working class by the Ba’ath regime. Formed inside Iraq in 1980, the Workers Democratic Trade Union Movement (WDTUM) existed throughout the 23 years of rule of Saddam’s Ba’ath party. The WDTUM was composed of trade unionists, intellectuals, liberals and communists, and women, youth and students’ advocates.
"It was the WDTUM that took the initiative to organise the open meeting of Iraqi trade unionists in Baghdad on 16 May 2003, after the collapse of Saddam's regime. This first open trade union meeting since the 1970s was attended by over 350 Iraqi trade unionists. It was at this meeting that the IFTU was formed.
"Despite the enormous difficulties caused by the terrible security situation, the scourge of terrorism, a military and economic occupation that is both brutal and incompetent, massive levels of unemployment and a society shattered by Saddam, sanctions and war, free trade unionism is growing fast in this more fertile political climate. The IFTU now represents 13 individual national unions and has a membership of more than 200,000. The new independent Iraqi Teachers Union, which had its first open national conference on 23 August 2003, works closely with the IFTU. We all work together for a federal, democratic and secular Iraq. Mr Mahdy Ali Lafta, a leader of the Teachers' Union in Baghdad has just concluded a successful week-long visit to the UK, during which he was a guest of the National Association of School Masters/Union Women Teachers (NASUWT) at their national conference from 27 March-1 April in Brighton and the TUC.
"I also specifically want to mention the very important public solidarity shown by the IFTU towards Iraqi students. On Monday 22 March the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU) Basrah branch organised a public demonstration in one of Basrah's main streets in support of the Iraqi students from the Engineering faculty of Basrah University who were the victims of a horrific and barbaric attack by religious zealots in a park in the city a week earlier while holding a mixed picnic with boys and girls.
"The IFTU Basra branch supports students as they struggle to build civil society. The IFTU marched in Basrah in support of the students believing that it is important to publicly demonstrate that the condemnation of the savage attacks comes not only from young people, but from workers in Basrah. The IFTU has clearly stated to the population of Basrah, to the Iraqi civil and political authorities and to the outside world that the legitimate trade union movement of Iraq stands shoulder to shoulder with the students in their demands for full civil and political rights, that the perpetrators of these brutal acts must be punished, for the abolition of "the Committees for University Security and Protection" established by some Islamic political parties on university campuses and that offices of political parties should be removed from the colleges.
"The IFTU supports a democratic Iraq and opposes any political or social repression reminiscent of the movement of the Taliban.
The Iraqi Teachers’ Union
"The history of labour and student organisation in the education sector in Iraq goes back to the birth of our country. Iraq’s first ever strike movement in 1927 was led by school students: Anis an-Nusuli, a Baghdad Secondary School teacher published a book incurring the wrath of Shi’i clergy. Three teachers protesting against clerical interference in education criticised the Education Minister’s "bigoted" attitude and the "disaster to freedom of thought" and were sacked. The same day 600 Sunni and Shi’i students led angry street demonstrations and signed a manifesto explaining that they "in no way intended to injure the religious susceptibilities of the various sects but [sought] to preserve the right of freedom of thought." The school re-opened after ten days only when all teachers and students were re-instated.
"After the fall of Saddam on April 2003, a group of teachers sought to form an independent, democratic and free union, and thus a preparatory committee (PC) was formed. The preparatory committee visited schools and universities and met with many teachers. An open statement was published by the preparatory committee on May 1, 2003 calling on teachers to co-operate together to rebuild an independent Teachers’ Union and a genuine education sector in Iraq. The statement was sent out to a large number of schools and universities in Baghdad and other Iraqi governorates and was published in various national and local newspapers and newspaper affiliated to various political parties.
"Committees were established in Baghdad and throughout Iraq after holding an open conference for Baghdad teachers in July 2003 at which two executive committees were elected, one for Al-Risafa and one for Al-Kharkh, the two main University districts of Baghdad. The first national conference was held on 23 August 2003 and openly elected a leadership for three years. Next June or July the union should hold its second conference.
"Iraq has about half a million teachers and more than half of them are now belong to the union.
"Membership is voluntary and is open to all those working in the education sectors from nursery teacher to university professors. Membership fee is $1 a year.
"The union campaigns on many fronts:
* We negotiate with government to reinstate teachers who were dismissed by the former regime and those who resigned because of economic hardship and threats. To this end over 30,000 teachers have been returned to their jobs from which they were fired or resigned due to the enormous ideological priority that Saddam Hussein put on ensuring the loyalty of teachers to the Ba’athist version of history and culture;
* We need smaller class sizes of between 25-30 to avoid stress for teachers and for the students. Schools need to be properly equipped with decently sized rooms and be healthy places to work and learn in.
* Earnings have improved since the fall of Saddam but most teachers don't have secure homes. As a result of negotiations and continuous pressure, teachers’ salaries have increased from the equivalent of $3 under Saddam to a range between $200 for elementary school teacher and $400 to $500 for a University teacher a month. Teachers often have to spend two-thirds of their salary on rent. Ironically, the union has plenty of land but no money to develop homes. In Baghdad the Iraqi Teachers’ Union is seeking to build 4,000 homes if it can raise the money.
* We campaign along side the IFTU and our sisters and brothers in the Kurdish labour syndicate for a labour code to be incorporated in the new Iraqi Constitution that guarantees our rights to organise freely, to join or form a trade union, to take strike action and to enjoy trade union representation;
* But we also campaign to be actively involved in rebuilding of civil society and ultimately Democracy in Iraq, together with other social movements such as those campaigning for women’s rights in society, the workplace and particularly women’s and girls ability to access all levels of the education system. We also seek to increase role of women members at all levels, including the national leadership level within our union in the belief that this will ensure the strong foundations for the Teachers’ union in wider civil society;
* We seek co-operation with Arab, regional and international labour movements and also to seek their help to equip Iraqi working people with new skills and knowledge.
* But we can’t build on the modest success of Iraq workers within the IFTU and teachers within our union unless we have a secure, stable and democratic environment that is why our union is also concerned with the overall political situation in Iraq.
"We want to see the UN and world community honour its pledge and thus allow full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1546. This will allow Iraq to develop a democratic and federal and united Iraq.
"Our new priorities are to keep Iraq intact (the risks of Iraq descending into civil war are still real), to build a strong independent and democratic trade union movement and to create a federal democratic and fully sovereign Iraq.
"The Iraqi election on 30 January represented an historic breakthrough. 60 per cent of Iraq's population, 8.5 million people went to the polls to elect a 275-member Transitional Assembly. Without intimidation, elections irregularities and incompetence, we would have seen an even higher turnout.
"But the bland expression ‘went to the polls’‚ hardly captures what happened on January 30 2005. Even as lines of voters were being blown up by homicide bombers from the so-called ‘resistance’‚ they cast their ballots. One family saw their son blown up, did their duty to his body in the morning and then insisted they vote in the afternoon in honour of his memory. These are the martyrs of the new Iraqi democracy. January 30 2005 was a triumph of democracy and the human spirit and humanity.
"Of course, the shadow of Saddam’s brutal dictatorship is long. Iraq has not been transformed overnight. And now, after decades of repression, sanctions and war, we are now facing a terrorist network that actually targets trade unionists.
"A railway worker beheaded, his head placed on his stomach and prominently displayed. My friend and colleague, Hadi Saleh, the IFTU's International Secretary, tortured and murdered, horribly, by remnants of Saddam's secret police. Rocket-propelled grenades fired at trade union headquarters. The international labour movement has risen as one to condemn the killing of Hadi and to extend the hand of solidarity to the IFTU. If Hadi had survived he would have been vindicated by the tremendous turnout at the elections.
"This election has enabled Iraqis to move forward. Already the terrorists and ex-Saddam loyalists are in retreat. The great majority of Iraqis are battling for a new democratic, federal and united Iraq, governed by a secular constitution and the rule of law, parliamentary democracy and a proper separation of powers between the legislature, the executive and an independent judiciary. A new police force and army that are culturally different from Saddam's repressive apparatus are being trained and will be ready soon. They played a crucial role in providing security during the 30th January elections and should be commended.
"But the process of building new Iraqi security forces is slow. They are insufficiently trained and remain small in size. As yet they are incapable of taking full responsibility for securing Iraqi large borders and protecting civilians and maintaining law and order. It is vital that efforts are redoubled until Iraq has security forces able to defend the country and the civilians. These forces must be beholden to no political party or individual but loyal only to the Iraqi constitution and its people.
"The political key to defeating sectarian violence is to develop a secular constitution that accommodates the aspirations of all Iraqis, including the Iraqi Kurds, for autonomy within a federal structure.
"Will Islam be the main source for the new constitution? Compromise must be reached here. Iraq has many other religious communities and discrimination against non-Muslims would be unjust.
"The success of Iraqi nation-building also lies with the growth of civil society. Genuine democracy cannot be imposed from above but must be built from below, through a strong social movement composed of free political parties, non-governmental organisations, environmental agencies and free unions."
Interview with Head of the Teachers' Union in Baghdad
Gary Kent, Director of Labour Friends of Iraq saw Mahdy Ali Lafta on his recent trip to the UK when he was a guest of the TUC and the NAS/UWT and was able to conduct this interview.
Teachers lost little time in building a new union. As soon as Saddam Hussein was overthrown in April 2003, they were off and by July had organised the first open conference to set up the Baghdad branch of the Iraqi Teachers' Union. Other open conferences were held and the first open national conference was held in August 2003, which elected a central leadership which also draws representatives from each of the branches in Iraq's 14 governorates. There are equivalent organisations in Iraqi Kurdistan.
The activists were starting from scratch. According to the Head of the Teachers’ Union, Mahdy Ali Lafta, on a recent trip to the UK, “The union under Saddam had merely been a transmission belt for the Baa'thist regime. Instead of defending workers it had assisted the torture squads. Many teachers were jailed, tortured or just disappeared.”
Mahdy's brother was one of the many victims: “He just disappeared without trace and his family was never given any compensation or his pension and had to fend for themselves. Even now there has been no trace of him although many mass graves have been discovered. The Mukhabarat secret police used to tag the bodies with identity numbers but increasingly didn't do this because there were so many bodies.”
The new Teachers' Union has issued 250,000 union cards throughout Iraq and there are more than 75,000 in the Baghdad region alone. The union organises educationalists throughout the education sector – from nurseries to schools to universities.
Mahdy outlined the union's priorities: “Education is fundamental to a healthy society. Teachers need proper training and to retrieve the dignity robbed from them by Saddam. We need smaller class sizes of between 25-30 to avoid stress for teachers and for the students. Schools need to be properly equipped with decently sized rooms and be healthy places to work and learn in. Earnings have improved since the fall of Saddam but most teachers don't have secure homes.”
He said that teachers often have to spend two-thirds of their salary on rent. But the union has plenty of land but no money to develop homes, “In Baghdad we could build 4,000 homes if we could raise the money.”
As for the future, he said, “we are positive that a free, democratic, peaceful and federal Iraq will be built and one that is at peace with its neighbours. We are sure that the extremists will wither away but the news you see only shows chaos and suicide bombs but doesn't show how the police and army are making progress in catching extremists by the score. The Iraqi people now have the confidence to co-operate with the police. The election was an historic moment. The terrorists' back was broken by the election and we hope that turnout will be even bigger in the next election.
We opposed the war but the fall of the dictatorship was wonderful. To those who say they are against the war, we say what war are you fighting. The old regime fell so what should we do now. People should support Iraqis against terrorism and for democracy. We need to reconstruct the economy and not blow up pipelines and destroy jobs.
We want to convince the peace movement to support the struggle for democracy. We are very eager to be exposed to the virtues of well-established mature democracies and ask people to come and see for themselves what we're doing.”
The union is not just concerned with its industrial role but also works with the IFTU. A symbol of this is that the ITU has authorised Abdullah Muhsin who is also the IFTU Foreign Representative to represent the union in the UK.
"We are the resistance"
Morning Star, Tuesday April 19
Interview by Richard Bagley
Iraqi trade unionist MAHDY ALI LAFTA talks about the huge challenge of renewing education in his country.
WHEN Mahdy Ali Lafta, the head of Iraq's teaching union in Baghdad, started his career in 1970, he had no idea what life would later hold in store. That was the year that he first started out as a teacher in Iraq. After Saddam Hussein became president in 1979, Lafta's life, like those of many other Iraqis, was changed forever.
When the new regime began to force all teachers to join the Ba'ath Party, he refused and was dismissed.
Eking out an existence taking any job that he could find, he worked as a taxi driver and even a labourer. "I did any job to survive," says Lafta.
He was arrested several times by the authorities but released. Lafta's brother was not so fortunate. "My brother lost his life, we don't know his fate. He was a teacher as well," he says.
Lafta took part underground political activities within Iraq and, when Saddam's regime collapsed, he saw his chance to return to education to build a free teaching trade union.
"I'm a patriot, I love my country and I love my profession. I am committed to rebuilding a proper civil society and teaching is a part of that."
Education was one of the key pillars for the former regime and Ba'athist propaganda dominated the curriculum and textbooks. But years of war and sanctions have taken a heavy toll. The country's schools and universities are now in a dire situation. Lafta describes the challenges as "enormous."
"First, there needs to be a demilitarisation of education and deba'athification of education. You can't just change things overnight," he says.
"The curriculum must be based on proper consultation with teachers. Human rights and respect for rights must be paramount in education."
Lafta highlights the kind of pressure that teachers are currently being placed under, with teachers in Iraq often taking classes of around 50 children, in three shifts a day.
But he reports that wages have increased since the collapse of the former regime. Before, many teachers were forced to take on side jobs just to make ends meet, but pay rises mean that this is no longer the case.
Textbooks still contain many reminders of the dictatorship. While for some subjects, like science, the old books are useable, Lafta points out that there are references to Saddam and war even in geometry textbooks, for example.
A new curriculum is currently under discussion by a committee convened by the education minister with consultation from unions and civil society.
Lafta says: "Education has to be separate from politics and must not be dominated by one political party.
"But you can't transform education overnight, you're talking about the legacy of dicatorship over decades, a generation that's lived under dictatorship."
Teachers and lecturers have been frequent targets for attacks by Iraq's insurgency.
Lafta is adamant that such attacks are being carried out by enemies of democracy, "Saddam remnants and forces from across the border."
He condemns the attacks, which have seen union members in universities and schools have been killed across Iraq, from Mosul to Baghdad, Al-Ramadi and Basra.
"We are patriots," Lafta says. "We are defending unions and our members, we are struggling under a difficult situation to build our country.
"They target the most prominent people with a lot of things to say about the occupation, about terrorism and who are prominent defenders of Iraq's integrity.
"Those who are targeting and killing our members are not resistance fighters but terrorists," he says.
When the possibility of Islamic or US influence on the curriculum is raised, Lafta points out that, since the Shi'ite group in the country's interim parliament does not have a government-forming majority, it would be difficult for it to get its own way.
Besides, he adds, when Islamists talk publicly, they say that they don't want an Iran-style regime.
The US, says Lafta, is working to ensure that no group has outright power in the country in order to protect its strategic interest.
He argues that trade unions can play a large part in educating the people to ensure that outside influence is not brought to bear on Iraq's education system.
"We can't just sit and wait. We must campaign to educate our people," says Lafta.
"You cannot build democracy without proper civil society and trade unions are at the heart of that. We are the real resistance."
The trade unionist says that he is "pleased and grateful" to have met British education trade unions and the TUC.
Some have offered physical support and training and others have pledged to take part in delegations to the country to witness the situation on the ground.
This support is welcome, while some things are improving, Iraq's teachers, like most of the country, still face plenty of hardship.
Report on the recent visit to the UK of the head of the Teachers Union in Baghdad.
Abdullah Muhsin
11 April 2005
Mahdy Ali Lafta, the leader of the Teachers' Union in Baghdad, Al Risafa (east of the river Tigris) has just concluded a successful week-long visit to the UK, during which he was a guest of the National Association of School Masters/Union Women Teachers (NASUWT) at their national conference from 27 March-1 April in Brighton. He was also a guest of the TUC from 1-7 April 2005.
Mr Mahdy Ali Lafta, along with Abdullah Muhsin of the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU) and the Iraqi Teachers' Union (ITU) representative in the UK, attended the NASUWT conference and the TUC Young Activists' Conference in Newcastle.
The IFTU and ITU representatives addressed NASUWT delegates and informed them of the current political and industrial struggle of workers as they strive to build a free and democratic unions while campaigning alongside other independent Iraqi civil society organizations and patriotic political parties to end the occupation, restore Iraq's full sovereignty and build a lasting genuine and democratic federal Iraq.
Mr Mahday Ali Lafta and Abdullah Muhsin also met Owen Tudor, the Head of the TUC European and International department as well as Tom Wilson, the Head of the TUC's Organisation and Services Department.
Both Mr Lafta and Mr Muhsin met Mary Senior, the Assistant General Secretary of the Scottish TUC, in London in the office of Owen Tudor.
Mr Lafta met Harry Barnes MP, who is retiring as an MP, and informed him of the political situation in Iraq and how best the teachers are functioning. Gary Kent, Harry Barnes, Secretary and political adviser was present at the meeting and later interviewed Mr Lafta, for the web site of Labour Friends of Iraq, of which he is the Director.
Mr Lafta met also with head of education at the Department of Work and Pensions. The meeting was informative and useful. An official of the Foreign office attended the meeting.
Before leaving for Iraq on the 7 April 2005, Mr Lafta had a very constructive and business like meeting with Paul Mackney, the General Secretary of the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education (Natfhe) and Owen Tudor at the NASUWT London region office.
Both the Guardian and the Morning Star interviewed Mr Lafta. The Guardian interview 'We want to build our nation' by Polly Curtis can be found on the IFTU and the Guardian websites.
The Guardian’s Polly Curtis interviews Mahdy Ali Lafta, a teacher in Baghdad and head of the Iraqi Teachers' Union.
The National Association of Schoolmasters & Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) recently invited Abdullah Muhsin of the IFTU and Mahdy Ali Lafta of the Iraqi Teachers’ Union to attend their national conference 27 March-1 April 2005 in Brighton. NASUWT organised a well-attended fringe meeting on 29 March for the Iraqi Teachers’ Union (see text of address below) and the Colombian Teachers’ Union under the title: 'Perscuted Teachers', chaired by Pat Lerew former President of NASUWT 2004-2005.
The meeting was opened by a brief speech of support from the current NASUWT President Peter McLoughlin. Jerry Bartleft, NASUWT Deputy General Secretary also spoke in support of teachers’ struggles in both Iraq and Colombia.
On the evening of the 28 March the President addressed his speech to Conference after introducing foreign delegates. On 30 March the Education Minister and Brendan Barber, TUC General Secretary addressed conference. On 31 March the shadow minister for education also addressed conference.
Iraqi Teachers' Union representative, Mahdy Ali Lafta’s speech to NASUWT Conference:
"First of all let me pass on the greetings of my union to your conference and to all your members.
"Iraq today is bleeding and this must be stopped. It must come to an end now.
"We are sure that Iraq will be a democratic and secure state where Iraqis will enjoy freedom, pluralism and a federal state.
"Extremists - both Saddam's loyalists and foreign fundamentalists - will not be allowed to succeed.
"The 30th of January (Iraqi elections) was a truly a victory for the people of Iraq against the forces of darkness and dictatorship.
"We are pleased and honoured to be invited to attend your conference and now let me tell you a little about the history of the Teachers’ Union in Iraq.
"The Teachers’ Union was formed in mid-1940 as an independent and democratic union. In May 2003 we began to rebuild the union on the same principles of independence and transparency.
"The union held its first conference in 1959 and in subsequent years the union gained many progressive achievements for Iraqi teachers in both industrial and educational fields.
"But the union faced extreme pressure and violent attacks under the regime of Saddam. The Union was transformed by the regime into instrument of violence and of the state. Thus the union became only a shell representing the interests of the state and Saddam’s Party and not the needs and aspiration of teachers.
"During this period in the 1980s and after, the Union was led by high leading members of Saddam’s Ba’ath Party. Saddam transformed the union into fascistic state-front. Thousands of teachers were killed, imprisoned and dismissed from their jobs.
"This situation continued from 1979 till the fall of Saddam in April 2003.
"After the fall of the regime on 9 April 2003 many patriotic trade unionist teachers sought to build a new teacher union based on real values and democratic principle regardless of political affiliation, race or religion.
"As result of this political commitment and the need to build civil society, key Iraqi political forces helped the union with structural resources to organise conferences for the union branches across Iraq and as a result many officials were elected.
"In Baghdad the union branch held its Open Conference in July 2003 and elected the leadership of the Teachers' Union in Baghdad. I was elected as the head of union in Baghdad, Al Rusafah district.
"This has culminated in holding the Teachers' Union national conference on 3 August 2003, which elected members of its National Executive, of which I am a member. The union now represents over a quarter of a million members with in Baghdad alone over 100,000 members."