Iraqi Union Leaders Arrive In U.S.: Call For The End Of U.S. Occupation

[Itsthetruth]

Iraqi unions say thwarted by all sides
By Sue Pleming

WASHINGTON, June 14 (Reuters) - Iraqi trade unionists called on Tuesday for a bigger voice in Iraq where they said they were targeted for attacks by insurgents and intimidated by the U.S and Iraqi military. Six leaders of the Iraqi trade union movement, who said they represent hundreds of thousands of workers in Iraq, are on a two-week visit to the United States to raise the profile of their groups.

Brought to the United States by a group called U.S. Labor Against the War, which opposed the U.S. invasion of Iraq, the union leaders also called for foreign forces to leave. Speaking at a news conference translated from Arabic, the unionists said their attempts to mobilize workers were being thwarted by all sides -- from foreign companies working in Iraq to insurgents and the U.S. and Iraqi military.

Rashed said at least 10 of their unionists had been killed and tortured by insurgents and others were constantly harassed and intimidated for trying to mobilize workers. Union offices have been shut down and raided, and eight activists were arrested by U.S. forces in 2003 and held for seven months until they were released, said Rashed. "We have a very difficult time," said Rashed.

Falah Alwan of the Federation of Workers Councils and Unions of Iraq, cited a case where a woman working at a grain silo was labeled mentally unstable for organizing protests. Faleh Abbood Umara of the General Union of Oil Workers demanded that U.S. forces quit Iraq.


http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N14177333.htm



Landing in Washington, DC: From left to right Traven Leyshon (USLAW Escort), Falah Alwan (FWCUI), Amjad Ali Aljawhary (FWCUI), Faleh Abbood Umara (GUOE), Gene Bruskin (USLAW Co-Convenor), Adman al Saffar (IFTU), Abed Sekhi (IFTU), Hassan Juma'a Awad Al Asade (GUOE), Rami El-Amine (Interpreter), and Thomas Bacon (USLAW Tour Coordinator)



Yesterday in DC at the Plymouth Congregational Church, Reverend Hagler (2nd from right) gave a passionate, rousing welcome to the delegates, calling for a united anti-war movement and further solidarity building projects like this tour. As he concluded his speech, all six Iraqi delegates rushed to the stage, embraced the Reverend warmly and grabbed his hands in solidarity and raised them as the crowd roared and rose to its feet. It was a beautiful, moving moment.



Falal Alwan, Federation of Workers' Councils and Unions in Iraq (FWCUI), at Plymouth Church in Washington, DC, June 12, 2005

[patrice]

1. Power to the People! Go Labor!!! Do they realize that *Co.

are Union-killers?

Solidarity!!

[Itsthetruth]

8. Yes They Are!

They are very aware of Bush's labor anti-policies. That's yet another reason why they want an end to the U.S. occupation of their nation.

[GetTheRightVote]

2. My gosh, if this does bring back some old union feelings to me

I am from a blue collar town with all the workings of unions, I hope they win in the end.

:kick:

[Itsthetruth]

3. kick

eom

[proud patriot]

4. Yippee

:bounce:

[Itsthetruth]

5. "There Is No Safety Net In Iraq" Says Iraqi Union Leader

'Solidarity tour' brings 2 Iraqis to St. Paul

Minneapolis Star Tribune
Washington Bureau
June 15, 2005

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Two Iraqi labor leaders will visit St. Paul Thursday to promote workers' rights and to urge an end to the U.S. occupation. They are part of the "Iraq Labor Solidarity Tour," launched Tuesday in Washington and bound for 20 U.S. cities.

Falah Awan and Amjad Ali Aljawhry, of the Federation of Workers Councils and Unions in Iraq, will host a public forum at 7 p.m. at the Concrete Creations & Design building, 710 Olive St.

In Washington, both decried the labor situation in Iraq, saying workers face constant intimidation, threats and violence, and work for salaries that Americans would find unacceptable.

"There are no guarantees whatsoever," Awan said, speaking through a translator. "There is no safety net." "Workers need a say in shaping the future," Awan said. The tour is sponsored by a group called U.S. Labor Against the War.

http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/5457567.html?SID=eqeupdt5b83f0luqg64k4s3g97

[Selatius]

6. I feel incredible sadness for these guys

They're basically in a room where everyone wants to kill or intimidate them. If the war lasts 5 to 10 years, I don't think there will be much of a union movement left because so many of them would end up dead or in prison.

It takes guts to go up against so many opponents at the same time. They're deserving of respect for that.

[Itsthetruth]

7. Who Are These Iraqi Union Leaders?

They certainly have a great deal of courage and obvious ability to function under extremely difficult conditions. However, the Iraqi trade union movement is growing and beginning to have a real impact. The Iraqi labor movement has been almost totally ignored in the mass media. This tour will help end that media blackout and get out information to thousands of progressive trade unionists and others in the United States.

Here's some biographical information on the labor leaders touring.

IRAQI FEDERATION OF LABOR (IFTU)
Abdullah Muhsin, International Representative, fled Iraq in 1978 in the wake of a reign of terror waged by Saddam Hussein against all civil society organizations not under Ba’athist control. As a student activist, he has been targeted by the regime. He worked against Hussein from Italy and England in an underground trade union organization, the Workers Democratic Trade Union Movement. He resided in England until he returned to Iraq after the fall of the regime. He serves as the International Representative of the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions.

Adnan A. Rashed, Executive Officer, Union of Mechanics, Printing and Metals Workers

FEDERATION OF WORKERS COUNCILS AND UNIONS OF IRAQ (FWCUI)
Falah Awan, President. The federation was founded after its first conference on December 8, 2003 which had included representatives of several syndicates, elected councils, and preparatory committees in several plants, enterprises, and factories.

Amjad Ali Aljawhry, Representative of the FWCUI and Union of the Unemployed in Iraq (UUI) for North America, was born in Baghdad in 1966. He earned a bachelor's degree in biology at Mosul University in 1989. Because of his political views, and organizing among sewing workers, he was blacklisted by the regime and was unable to find employment in any state enterprise. With his family, he fled to Turkey in 1995 and was active among Iraqi refugees there. Since 1996 he has lived in Toronto, Canada where he has spoken widely on Iraqi issues and has been active in the anti-sanctions and anti-war movements. He was invited to deliver lectures and hold conferences in Japan, France, United States, and Iraq regarding the labor movement before and after the US led war on Iraq. He is currently the FWCUI’s official representative in North America.

GENERAL UNION OF OIL EMPLOYEES (Basra)
Hassan Juma’a Awad Al Asade, Chief of the Executive Bureau, was born in Basra, Iraq, in 1952. He lives in the Jhoumouria neighbourhood with his wife, three daughters and three sons. He was an opponent of the Ba’athist regime, a human rights activist, and unionist who was imprisoned by the Ba’athist regime three times for “subversive” activity. He has served for thirty-one years as a technician in the Basrah Petroleum Company, the National Oil Company, and the Southern Oil Company. He is a founding member of the Oil Sector Union, and was elected its Chief Executive in July of 2004. This year, he traveled to Britain to meet with labor unions and British PM’s.

Faleh Abbood Umara, General Secretary, is 46 years old. He is married with two sons and two daughters. He is a founding member of the oil workers union and worked for the Southern Oil Company in Basra for 28 years. He is also a member of the local council in the Al-Hadi district in Basra. In 1998, he was detained by the Hussein regime for his activities on behalf of his coworkers. He as served on the union’s negotiating team with both the Oil Ministry and British occupation authorities to defend the rights and interests of oil industry workers in the post-Saddam era.

[understandinglife]

9. Let's get these pictures on the DU Homepage!!

Peace.


www.missionnotaccomplished.us - MNA new website now posted

[Itsthetruth]

10. I Like Your Idea!

eom

[LynnTheDem]

11. IRAQ FOR IRAQIS!!!

HAGUE for BUSH!!!

[Karenina]

12. I'll bring the pom-poms!!!

:bounce::bounce::bounce:

[cthrumatrix]

13. maybe FU Cheney will finally get his "roses"

[patrice]

14. Shit - The big one with the beard looks kinda like my baby brother.

God bless and protect these Union Leaders, Please!