[WCUSP] Fw: [uslaw_contacts] Communique from Iraqi Unions
Libby or Mort Frank
lmfrank1 at verizon.net
Sat Apr 7 18:25:07 CDT 2007
(This is not to ask for funds, but to share little known information. Libby Frank)
----- Original Message -----
From: USLAW Coordinator
To: Recipient list suppressed:
Sent: Saturday, April 07, 2007 3:22 PM
Subject: [uslaw_contacts] Communique from Iraqi Unions
We received the following communique from Falah Alwan, President of the Federation of Workers Councils and Unions in Iraq, reporting on an historic meeting of five Iraqi labor federations with representatives of the World Bank and IMF in Amman, Jordan. John Sweeney and a delegation he led from the AFL-CIO also attended. The labor movement of Iraq strongly and unequivocally rejects the "structural adjustment" policies of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, and considers any agreements reached between those institutions and the regime in Baghdad to be illegitimate and not binding on the Iraqi people.
It also categorically rejects the Oil Investment Law imposed by the Bush administration on behalf of the oil industry on the government of Iraq. That law has been approved in secret by the Council of Ministers and has been forwarded to the Parliament for action. The unions have declared any effort to privatize Iraq's oil resources to be a line in the sand they will not allow the government to cross. ( More information about this law and the fight against it is available on the USLAW website.) A statement about this was made recently by USLAW Co-convenors Nancy Wohlforth and Fred Mason on behalf of USLAW.
This communique adds to the importance of the tour by Iraqi labor leaders being planned by USLAW for June. We urgently need to raise the more than $25,000 it will cost to underwrite the costs of this tour. Your contributions, both personal and organizational, are requested. Make checks payable to the USLAW Iraq Labor Solidarity Fund and send them to USLAW, 1718 M Street, NW, #153, Washington, DC 20036 - or make your contribution on-line with a credit card at www.uslaboragainstwar.org.
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On Amman Meeting between Iraqi Trade Union Leaders, IMF and World Bank on March 27-29th , 2007
The discussions among the Iraqi union leaders from one side and the representatives of the IMF and World Bank from the other resulted in forwarding many conclusions and viewpoints presented by the Iraqi unionists who shared in forming committees specialized in tackling all the issues forwarded.
The committee which discussed the core issues of the loans of Paris Club, programs of re-organizing and re-structuring Iraqi economy, reduction of governmental subsidies for petroleum products, scaling down and replacement of food ration system, and reduction of subsidies on public sector operation consisted of:
1- Abd Alkhaliq Saeed. General Federation of Kurdistan Workers. KGWSU
2- Khalida Shihab Ahmed. General Federation of Iraqi Workers. GFIW
3- Sirwan Sattar Jabbar. Federation of workers and craftsmiths of Kurdistan IKWSU
4- Falah Alwan. Federation of Workers Councils and Unions in Iraq . FWCUI
5- Munqith Abd Aljabbar Nasir. General Union of the Southern Oil sector. GUOE
The committee had accumulated all views and positions on the IMF and World Bank policies in a combined statement on the first day. These were presented by Falah Alwan on the second day of the meeting, 29th of March 2007.
All Iraqi unions and federations signed the following concluding statement regarding IMF and World Bank policies in Iraq . The statement addresses also the conditions set forward regarding re-organizing and restructuring Iraqi economy, reduction of the subsidies on petroleum products, scaling down the food ration program, reduction of subsidizing public sector operation.
Workers Media Center
3-4-2007
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Iraqi Unions Statement
On IMF &World Bank Economic Policies in Iraq
Whereas the war and occupation of Iraq has caused:
a.. Devastation of civil life and most social infra-structure
b.. Destruction of basic requirements of industry
c.. Unprecedented and accelerated rates of unemployment
d.. Obstruction of public sector and state owned projects
Whereas the last four years did not bring any improvement to the general circumstances of society;
Whereas Iraq is in need of entire rebuilding inclusive of all domains and sectors;
Whereas the majority of Iraqi population - about 70% - reside in urban settlements/large cities;
Whereas Iraq has a great reserve of oil and other natural resources which in turn will contribute tremendously to reconstruction;
Whereas the debts on Iraq are generally a result of post-war erroneous policies of the ousted Saddam r gime;
We find that:
a.. The suggested role and policies of the IMF are against the interests of the people and the workers.
b.. The pre-conditions determined by the IMF contribute to deepening the social dilemmas and deterioration of living standards.
c.. The authorities in Iraq which recently signed and approved laws and deals with the IMF and WB, did not inform or engage the public and the workers' representatives in the decision-making process.
According to the above given, we are calling for:
a.. Rejection of the conditions imposed by the IMF, including the policies decided in agreement with the authorities in Iraq .
b.. Full participation of the representatives of workers in generating the general decisions and policies.
c.. Informing the unions and the society of the recommendations and decisions agreed upon with the authorities in Iraq .
d.. Refusal of re-structuring and privatization of public sector industries such as oil, public services, education, health, water, and electricity.
e.. Expanding the social responsibility of the state to supporting: the public industries, adoption of broad employment policies, the prices and the public services.
f.. Issuing bills and laws of retirement and security which guarantee a decent pension for the retired, and ratification of unemployment benefits.
g.. Issuing a modern labor law which guarantees full rights for the workers, with total agreement with the International labor norms of the ILO.
h.. Participation of the representatives of workers in supervising anti-corruption bodies and legislations.
i.. Rejection of the draft of the Oil Investment Law, and instead developing the domestic oil industry.
Federation of Workers Councils and Unions in Iraq FWCUI, General Federation of Kurdistan Workers KGWSU, General Federation of Iraqi Workers GFIW, Federation of workers and craftsmen of Kurdistan IKWSU, General Union of the Southern Oil sector GUOE
3-4-2007
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U.S. Labor Against the War (USLAW)
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Co-convenors: Gene Bruskin, Maria Guillen, Fred Mason,
Bob Muehlenkamp, and Nancy Wohlforth
Michael Eisenscher, National Organizer & Website Coordinator
Adrienne Nicosia, Administrative Staff
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Have you checked out the USLAW website lately? New material is posted daily. The News section is one of the most comprehensive archives of information about labor in Iraq and U.S. policy regarding Iraq available on the Internet.
http://www.uslaboragainstwar.org
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