Iraqi Trade Unionist Addresses Sheffield Trades Council
solidarity | 03.10.2003 15:49 | Sheffield
This excerpt from the minutes of the Sheffield TUC meeting on 23 Sept. is an address by an Iraqi trade unionist. The meeting also issued a press statement calling for UK Troops to be withdrawn
repost from Labournet
Address by Abdullah Muhsin, UK Representative, Workers` Democratic Trade Unions of Iraq.
The history of trade unionism in Iraq has been a history of struggle, struggle for survival, and struggle for the welfare and the betterment of the conditions of the Iraqi people. I am going to tell you about what has happened since the fall of the Regime of Saddam Hussein.
After he assumed power in 1979 there was the commencement of the campaign of terror against Iraqi working people, progressive forces, and against anyone who disagreed with his politics and his policies. Since 1980 the Iraqi people have suffered under an internal war, under genocide, and from external wars. The wealth of Iraq, including many of its people, were destroyed. Since 1980 Saddam Hussein has been responsible for the killing of 3 million Iraqi people.
Following the fall of Saddam Hussein on 9th May, 2003, the Workers` Democratic Trade Union Movement of Iraq (WDTUM), which had been working in underground conditions for 23 years, reclaimed its place. The WDTUM contacted workers who had not been tainted by, or implicated in, the crimes committed by the Hussein Regime. Under the Hussein Regime the offices of the trade unions were not just used to administer these organisations but were used to detain, torture, or to kill Iraqi working people. On 10th May we issued a statement calling upon the Iraqi people and Iraqi trade unionists to come and help in the process of building the new trade unions - trade unions which will be independent and whose only concern will be for the welfare of their members.
On 16th May more than 400 trade unionists attended a Conference in Baghdad and the result of that meeting was the election of various trade union committees. Subsequent to this National Committee Meeting several visits were made factories and places of work and as a result of that several trade union committees have been established all over the Country, including Baghdad, Basra and other major cities. Then they all met after a while and established what is known as The Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions. This is a National body comprising of 21 trade unionists. Most of them are people who campaigned illegally while Saddam Hussein was there. They worked under underground conditions. The President of the new trade union organisation is a also a member of the WDTUM of which I am a member.
Fourteen trade unions, maybe more, have now been established in the `blue` sectors of the economy. There is a difference between the `blue` and the `white` sectors of the economy. Historically, they have worked as two parts but we are working to bring them together under one trade union umbrella. The economy is in disarray and almost 70% of the Iraqi workforce is currently unemployed. We now have trade unions in the oil and gas industry, in the railway industry, in the transport and communications industry, and in teaching. They are not only confined to Baghdad, Basra and Mosul but now operate in more than 10 cities. Iraq is in a transitional period. Harry, in his Address, mentioned that in 1958, Iraq did manage for a period of time to transorm itself and put Iraq on a good course towards stability. Had that been allowed to continue we would most probably now have been able to enjoy a decent life. Unfortunately, that period was aborted violently by external and internal forces. We need your support in the struggle to create a stable Iraq because we cannot achieve it on our own.
Of course, you have to be sure. The best way to be sure is to see what is going on in Iraq by sending a Delegation. I have been campaigning since May trying to persuade the TUC to send a Delegation to see for itself how Iraqi unionists are re-building their trade union movement.
Most of the Iraqi trade union officials are unpaid and the offices they work in do not have basic office equipment. As the UK representative of the WDTUM I have to get in touch with other organisations by using resources provided by public libraries. We have nothing - absolutely nothing. So, any help the British Trade Union Movement can give would be very much appreciated. Thank you very much. ;
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Following their respective Addresses Harry Barnes, M. P. and Abdullah Muhsin responded to questions and discussion to the satisfaction of the meeting.
The President, in Moving a Vote of Thanks to the two Speakers proposed that Delegates be requested to raise in their respective organisation the question, as a matter of urgency, of giving assistance, including financial assistance, to the re-established Iraqi Trade Union Movement. The Motion was Seconded and Carried by Applause.
Address by Abdullah Muhsin, UK Representative, Workers` Democratic Trade Unions of Iraq.
The history of trade unionism in Iraq has been a history of struggle, struggle for survival, and struggle for the welfare and the betterment of the conditions of the Iraqi people. I am going to tell you about what has happened since the fall of the Regime of Saddam Hussein.
After he assumed power in 1979 there was the commencement of the campaign of terror against Iraqi working people, progressive forces, and against anyone who disagreed with his politics and his policies. Since 1980 the Iraqi people have suffered under an internal war, under genocide, and from external wars. The wealth of Iraq, including many of its people, were destroyed. Since 1980 Saddam Hussein has been responsible for the killing of 3 million Iraqi people.
Following the fall of Saddam Hussein on 9th May, 2003, the Workers` Democratic Trade Union Movement of Iraq (WDTUM), which had been working in underground conditions for 23 years, reclaimed its place. The WDTUM contacted workers who had not been tainted by, or implicated in, the crimes committed by the Hussein Regime. Under the Hussein Regime the offices of the trade unions were not just used to administer these organisations but were used to detain, torture, or to kill Iraqi working people. On 10th May we issued a statement calling upon the Iraqi people and Iraqi trade unionists to come and help in the process of building the new trade unions - trade unions which will be independent and whose only concern will be for the welfare of their members.
On 16th May more than 400 trade unionists attended a Conference in Baghdad and the result of that meeting was the election of various trade union committees. Subsequent to this National Committee Meeting several visits were made factories and places of work and as a result of that several trade union committees have been established all over the Country, including Baghdad, Basra and other major cities. Then they all met after a while and established what is known as The Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions. This is a National body comprising of 21 trade unionists. Most of them are people who campaigned illegally while Saddam Hussein was there. They worked under underground conditions. The President of the new trade union organisation is a also a member of the WDTUM of which I am a member.
Fourteen trade unions, maybe more, have now been established in the `blue` sectors of the economy. There is a difference between the `blue` and the `white` sectors of the economy. Historically, they have worked as two parts but we are working to bring them together under one trade union umbrella. The economy is in disarray and almost 70% of the Iraqi workforce is currently unemployed. We now have trade unions in the oil and gas industry, in the railway industry, in the transport and communications industry, and in teaching. They are not only confined to Baghdad, Basra and Mosul but now operate in more than 10 cities. Iraq is in a transitional period. Harry, in his Address, mentioned that in 1958, Iraq did manage for a period of time to transorm itself and put Iraq on a good course towards stability. Had that been allowed to continue we would most probably now have been able to enjoy a decent life. Unfortunately, that period was aborted violently by external and internal forces. We need your support in the struggle to create a stable Iraq because we cannot achieve it on our own.
Of course, you have to be sure. The best way to be sure is to see what is going on in Iraq by sending a Delegation. I have been campaigning since May trying to persuade the TUC to send a Delegation to see for itself how Iraqi unionists are re-building their trade union movement.
Most of the Iraqi trade union officials are unpaid and the offices they work in do not have basic office equipment. As the UK representative of the WDTUM I have to get in touch with other organisations by using resources provided by public libraries. We have nothing - absolutely nothing. So, any help the British Trade Union Movement can give would be very much appreciated. Thank you very much. ;
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Following their respective Addresses Harry Barnes, M. P. and Abdullah Muhsin responded to questions and discussion to the satisfaction of the meeting.
The President, in Moving a Vote of Thanks to the two Speakers proposed that Delegates be requested to raise in their respective organisation the question, as a matter of urgency, of giving assistance, including financial assistance, to the re-established Iraqi Trade Union Movement. The Motion was Seconded and Carried by Applause.
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