Iraqi Army used against oil workers

ADJUSTING VALVE IN BASRA OIL
REFINERY. Workers have kept their industry going in war, and say the oil belongs to the Iraqi people. Now they are threatened by army for asserting their rights.

THE Iraqi oil workers, who have maintained their industry despite years of sanctions and war, refuse to see this it taken over by foreign companies. Now they have exercised the basic right of workers everywhere to withold their labour in a dispute, only to find themselves under siege from the US-trained army of the new "democratic" Iraq.

This assault on workers' rights is a threat to us all. For us, the Iraqi workers' steadfast solidarity is an inspiration. For the big oil companies hoping to carve up Iraq it is a source of fear. For Western governments whose troops are occupying Iraq, the repressive measures taken against working people, if they succeed, can be a precedent for use elsewhere, just like the weapons they have been testing in ongoing war.

International trade union solidarity is being aroused. The Iraqi workers deserve all our support if we oppose oppression and value democratic rights.

Here are the messages I've recieved from the Iraqi oil workers' supporters:

1. IRAQI ARMY SURROUNDS OIL WORKERS ON STRIKE

2. TAKE SOLIDARITY ACTION

3. INTERNATIONAL UNIONS CALL FOR TROOPS OUT OF OIL UNION STRIKE

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IRAQI ARMY SURROUNDS OIL WORKERS ON STRIKE

On the third day of an oil strike in southern Iraq, the Iraqi military surrounded oil workers and the prime minister issued arrest warrants for the union leaders, sparking an outcry from supporters and international unions. "This will not stop us because we are defending people's rights," said Hassan Jumaa Awad, president of IFOU.

As of Wednesday morning, when United Press International spoke to Awad via mobile phone in Basra at the site of one of the strikes, no arrests had been made, "but regardless, the arrest warrant is still active." He said that the "Iraqi Security Forces," who were present at the strike scenes, told him of the warrants and said that they would be making any arrests. http://www.metimes.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20070607-080144-8705r

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TAKE SOLIDARITY ACTION

Please send faxes and emails of support for the union to Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki and Oil Minister Dr Hussein al Sharastani. Below is a model letter:

Model Letter:

Dear Mr Maliki
Dear Dr Hussein al Sharastani,

I am writing to express support for the Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions in their right to take industrial action over issues relating to their members' economic and social welfare.I am also concerned about the decision to arrest union leaders for deciding to take strike action. I trust that the Union will not be penalised for taking action which is legal according to the Iraqi constitution and a fundamental trade union freedom recognised all over the world.The Union has repeatedly asked for involvement in the drafting of the Hydrocarbon Law but has been ignored. Iraqi civil society should be involved in the decision making process over the future of the Iraqi economy - this includes trade unions. I will be monitoring the forthcoming news from the union and would like assurance that union members will not be harmed or punished for their actions.

Yours sincerely,
....

For the attention of:
Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki

Minister of Oil,
Dr Hussein al Sharastani

C/O Embassy of the Republic of Iraq

169 Knightsbridge London SW7 1DW
Phone: (020) 7581 2264Fax: (020) 7589 3356
E-mail:
mailto:lonemb%40iraqmofamail.net

Telephone: +44 207 602 8456 Fax: +44 207 371 1652

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INTERNATIONAL UNIONS CALL ON IRAQI GOVERNMENT TO PULL TROOPS OUT OF OIL UNION STRIKE

Due to the Iraqi military surrounding striking Basra oil pipeline workers, the 20-million-member International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM) today called on the government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to conclude peaceful negotiations with the Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions (IFOU) in order to resolve their legitimate trade union demands.

The ICEM is calling on all its 384 affiliated trade unions in 124 countries to send messages of support to IFOU. The ICEM is coordinating efforts to assist the IFOU together with the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), the US Solidarity Center, and the UK's Trades Union Congress.

http://www.icem.org/en/77-All-ICEM-News-Releases/2285-ICEM-Protests-Iraqi-Military%E2%80%99s-Involvement-i

The TUC has called on the Iraqi Government to withdraw troops from the Basra oil fields immediately. The strike - about wages, bonuses, health and safety, use of temporary workers and the future of the oil industry in Iraq - has suspended delivery of oil to Baghdad and the southern Governates of Iraq. Responding to urgent appeals for solidarity from the Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions, which called the strike, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: 'Military intervention is not the way to resolve industrial disputes. This strike began only after weeks of negotiation had failed to produce a deal, but negotiation is the only way to end the strike peacefully.'

As of Tuesday night, negotiations had recommenced, and workers had returned temporarily to work, but the troops remain in place.

http://www.tuc.org.uk/international/tuc-13358-f0.cfm

************************************************************************************** For latest information see:

http://www.basraoilunion.org/ or http://www.handsoffiraqioil.org/


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