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UK visit by Iraqi transport workers in bid to see anti-union legislation repealed
28 February 2008
A delegation of Iraqi transport workers visited the UK last week to call for international solidarity with Iraqi trade unionists who are facing the brunt of anti-union laws.
The delegation, representing civil aviation, dockers’, railway, road transport and communications workers’ unions, which was hosted by the Trades Union Confederation, met with a number of key union respresentatives, including those from UK transport trade unions and the ITF. Their aim was to press for trade union solidarity with Iraqi unions; they are battling against legislation - decree 150/87 – brought in during the Saddam Hussein regime, which imposes restrictions on trade union activities. The decree, which continues to be implemented today, changes the status of workers to state employees and bans union organisation rights in the public sector; all transport workers are considered to be public sector workers.
The delegates also outlined the plight of Iraqi trade unionists to Ann Clwyd MP, the UK Prime Minister’s Special Envoy to Iraq, during a meeting with her on 20 February. They urged her to help repeal the anti-union legislation and called on her to assist in bringing about the removal of foreign troops in Iraq. According to the delegation, this is a move that would be favoured by most Iraqis.
Turki Lazm Jbara, President of the All Ports Workers’ Union said: “The law does not allow us to collect subscriptions from members or to have bank accounts. So we have to pay out of our own pockets if we organise anything.”
Slafa Mahmood Mohammed, a member of the Baghdad Railway Workers’ Union Committee, representing women added: “It’s not easy because the law has changed the status of many workers to state officials. Unions are only allowed in the private sector. That’s why it’s hard to get people to join a union.”
The ITF, the first global union federation to have built up a relationship with the Iraqi unions, has pledged its support in their struggle to exercise fully their trade union rights.
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