ITF letter to Iraqi Minister for Transport

Change low graphic options | Change language | Skip content to navigation

Page context: Home > Solidarity > 2006 Solidarity > Dockers in Iraq > ITF letter

Mr. Salam Al-Maleky
Iraqi Minister for Transport
c/o Embassy of Iraq
169 Knightsbridge
London SW7 1DW

27th April 2006

By fax: + (020) 76028456

Dear Minister,

Closure of trade union in Khour Al-Zubeir Port and intimidation of union officers

The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) is a Global Union Federation of 642 transport trade unions around the world who collectively represent 4.5 million workers in 142 countries.

The ITF is alarmed to learn that the Port Workers’ Union at Khour Al-Zubeir Port, a member of the General Federation of Iraqi Workers, has had its offices and committees closed by the port authority - the General Company of Iraqi Ports - for which the Ministry of Transport is responsible. Both the Port Workers’ Union and the Federation are affiliated to the ITF. We understand that union officers and their families have also been subject to serious intimidation and harassment.

This affiliate has informed the ITF that it wrote to a consultant to the Minister of Transport on 23 March 2006 setting out the demands of workers represented by the union in the port, which included a request for improvements to the current poor working conditions. The Ministry has not responded, let alone made any attempt to address the issues raised by the union. Instead, the union has faced closure and intimidation by the General Company of Iraqi Ports with what appears to be the collusion of the Iraqi authorities.

I understand that besides having its offices and committees closed, the union’s board members have also had their salaries held back and have been transferred to a location 550km away from their normal workplace and their homes. Given the heightened security crisis in Iraq, there is also concern for their safety in this new location. In addition, the board members’ families have received intimidating visits and an order has been issued for the arrest of these union officers under Convention No. 150 (1987), a law introduced by Saddam Hussein banning public sector workers from joining trade unions.

It is deeply regrettable that while Iraq is seeking to rebuild itself and to rejoin the international community, the government has chosen to retain an unjust law denying fundamental human rights that was introduced by one of the world’s most notorious dictators. The ITF is appalled to see this law being used against our affiliate to curtail the rights of workers in Khour Al-Zubeir Port.

The ITF and its affiliated unions around the world stand united with their brothers and sisters in the Port Workers’ Union at Khour Al-Zubeir Port. I call on you as the Minister responsible for the General Company of Iraqi Ports to act urgently to stop this unjust treatment of our affiliate.

The union has the right under internationally agreed laws to carry out its work without
interference or fear of intimidation by either the port authority or the government, and should therefore be allowed to reopen its offices and to re-convene its committees. Its board members are also entitled to return to their jobs and homes, and to have their salaries paid in full. All intimidation and harassment of union board members and their families must stop. Should this fail to happen, the ITF will take immediate steps to complain to the ILO.

The ITF will not hesitate to use our influence in both international and national spheres in our effort to end this unacceptable treatment of its affiliate and will be seeking an urgent meeting with your diplomatic representatives in London.

I look forward to hearing from you soon with regard to this very serious matter.

Yours sincerely,

David Cockroft
General Secretary

c.c. Mr. Guy Ryder, International Confederation of Free Trade Unions
Mr. Juan Somavia, Director-General, International Labour Organisation
Mr. Brendan Barber, Trades Union Congress, UK
Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK

top

Section home:
Solidarity

Other pages for Solidarity:
Solidarity Guidelines | 2008 Solidarity | 2007 Solidarity | 2005 Solidarity | 2004 Solidarity

Other pages for Dockers in Iraq:
Sample letter

Transport International Magazine

Full graphics version

accessibility | site help | site map

ITF House, 49-60 Borough Road, London SE1 1DR | +44 20 7403 2733 | mail@itf.org.uk