The national secretary of the FIM-CISL, the Italian Metalworkers' Federation, would like to express its happiness, on behalf of 200.000 members, for released of Talib Khadim, President of the Iraqi Mechanics', Metalworkers' & Printworkers’ Union (IMM&PU).
FEDERAZIONE ITALIANA METALMECCANICI
CISL - Confederazione Italiana Sindacati Lavoratori
EMF- European Metalworkers Federation
IMF- International Metalworkers Federation
Prot. GA/ga/050205/1
IFTU
c/o ICTUR International Head Office,
UCATT House,
Abbeville Road,
London SW4 9RL
UK
Dear Colleagues,
The national secretary of the FIM-CISL, the Italian Metalworkers’ Federation, would like to express its happiness, on behalf of 200.000 members, for released of Talib Khadim, President of the Iraqi Mechanics’, Metalworkers’ & Printworkers’ Union (IMM&PU).
In this moment we’d like to remember, since a month from brutal assassination, Hadi Saleh, the International Secretary of the Iraqi Federation of trade unions.
After being imprisoned for five years for his labour activism, under Saddam Hussein's regime, Hadi Saleh became a political refugee in Sweden. He returned to Iraq after the collapse of Saddam Hussein’s dictatorship to build an independent trade union in Iraq and he was working tirelessly to achieve this goal.
Therefore we point out our strong remonstration against the attempt to put under pressure the Iraqi workers and to hinder the work of the ones which, like Hadi Saleh, are trying to build in Iraq a democratic and free trade union movement.
The entire FIM-CISL expresses its deepest condolences to the wife of Hadi Saleh, to his family an to all his friends.
Our veritable solidarity goes to the Iraqi workers and the IFTU members. FIM will continue to support IFTU efforts with the purpose that also in Iraq, starting from trade union rights, can develop a just, free, democratic civil society, respectful of human rights.
Gianni Alioti
FIM-CISL International Officer
News Release:
DATE: Wednesday, 2 February 2005
SUBJECT: TALIB KHADIM RELEASED!
The Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU) have announced that Mr. Talib Khadim Al Tayee, the kidnapped President of the Iraqi Mechanics’, Metalworkers’ & Printworkers’ Union (IMM&PU), has been released on 1 February 2005 in Baghdad.
On 27 January 2005, Mr Talib Khadim was on union business with workers of the company when gunmen attacked him, hitting him repeatedly on the head using the butts of their guns. They tied his hands and legs and kidnapped him, taking him to an unknown location. All this happened in front of workers, after locking the company security guards in an office.
The IFTU Executive Committee would like to thank the international labour movement for their efforts in demanding the release of Talib Khadim. With the help of our international labour movement colleagues, the IFTU will continue to campaign to end terrorism against those brave patriotic working class fighters who are striving to organise Iraqi workers.
Further information will be made available on the condition of Mr. Talib Khadim and the circumstances of his kidnapping and his release as soon as possible.
- Statement ends -
Talib Khadim, the President of the Iraqi Mechanics, Metalworkers and Printers Union (IMM&PU) has been kidnapped by Iraqi Armed Resistance.
"A free trade union movement is fundamental to the operation of a democratic society in any country" Tim Daly the West Australian Branch Secretary of the AWU said today.
"The kidnapping of Mr Khadim while he was conducting legitimate union business is to be condemned" Mr Daly said.
"The reconstruction of Iraq and the development of and movement to a free and democratic society demands the right of workers to free speech and the right to act collectively".
Acts such as the Kidnap of Mr Khadim will not enhance the well being of the Iraqi people but will further restrict the right of ordinary people to freedom of association."
"On behalf of the West Australian Branch of the Australian Workers Union I call on those holding Mr Khadim to release him immediately unharmed" Mr Daly said.
"Workers around the world should be appalled that a representative of workers has been beaten and kidnapped", Mr Daly said.
Contact: Tim Daly Branch Secretary AWU 041 9907036
Iraq: ICFTU Calls Election a "Key Step", Condemns Kidnap of Union Official
BRUSSELS, 21 January 2005, (ICFTU Online): The ICFTU today described the holding of the elections in Iraq as a key step towards democracy and condemned the kidnapping of Talib Khadim Al Tayee, President of the Iraqi Mechanics', Metalworkers' and Printworkers' Union (IMM&PU). Following the vicious torture and murder of Hadi Saleh, International Secretary of the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU) on 4 January, this kidnapping highlights the dangers facing Iraqi trade unionists, as anti-democratic forces seek to eliminate and instill fear into those who defend workers' rights as cornerstones of democratic development.
Dear Trade Unionists,
I was very sorry to hear of the ill treatment and kidnap of Mr. Talib Khadim Al Tayee, President of the Iraqi Mechanics, Metalworkers & Printworkers Union (IMM&PU).
Good Luck to you all in your ongoing struggle.
Our thoughts are with you.
Kind Regards,
Denise McGuire
President of Connect - the union for professionals in communications
News Release:
DATE: Friday, 28 January 2005
SUBJECT: TALIB KHADIM KIDNAPPED: IFTU CONDEMNS FURTHER ATTACK AGAINST A LEADING IRAQI TRADE UNIONIST.
The Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU) denounced yesterday further attacks on one of its key leading elected officials.
At 9:30am on Thursday 27 January 2005 a group of six gunmen using two cars broke into the main building of the Carton Board Manufacturing Company in Al Zafarania District of Baghdad and kidnapped Mr. Talib Khadim Al Tayee, President of the Iraqi Mechanics', Metalworkers' & Printworkers' Union (IMM&PU), after attacking him violently in front of workers.
TALIB KHADIM, President of the Iraqi Mechanics', Metalworkers' & Printworkers' Union (IMM&PU)
Mr Talib Khadim was on union business with workers of the company when the gunmen attacked him, hitting him repeatedly on the head using the butts of their guns. They tied his hands and legs and kidnapped him, taking him to an unknown location. All this happened in front of workers, after locking away the company security guards in an office.
Mr Talib Khadim lives in Al Zafarania district. He is very well known there as a good community activist and a champion of workers' rights. Mr Talib is a brave patriotic Iraqi who put himself forward and was elected as President of the IMM&PU at the union's first open Conference on 31 May 2004 in Baghdad.
This latest criminal act, which targets trade union leaders and especially leading figures of the IFTU, was instigated by extremists who want to stop Iraq moving forward to embrace a new politics of tolerance, peace and democracy.
This criminal act is closely linked in its methods and its intentions to the recent brutal assassination of Hadi Saleh, the IFTU International Secretary.
The Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU) declares that this criminal attack will not intimidate our workers' federation continuing its struggle to build an independent, democratic and open trade union movement.
The IFTU Executive Committee condemned the attack on a trade union official, declaring: "Disgrace and shame on the terrorists! Glory to the Iraqi working class!" and demanded the release of Talib Khadim and an end to terrorism against those brave patriotic working class fighters who are working to organise Iraqi workers.
The IFTU calls on all legal and labour movement bodies to urgently use all their means to demand the release of Talib Khadim our comrade.