AFL-CIO Calls on Iraq to Stop Threatening Workers in Oil Fields

[slipslidingaway]

Previous threads

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=1058808


http://www.aflcio.org/mediacenter/prsptm/pr06072007.cfm

"The AFL-CIO has called on the Iraqi Government to immediately stop using the threat of force to intimidate workers in Basra oil fields. The American labor federation issued a joint statement with the British Trade Union Congress today calling on Iraq to “pull back its security and military forces and cease its menacing threats to arrest and attack these workers immediately.” In addition, AFL-CIO President John Sweeney wrote a letter to Secretary of State Rice urging her to use diplomatic channels “to convey to the Iraqi government that military intervention is not the way to resolve this dispute.”

A strike of oil workers began on Monday, June 4 and on Tuesday these workers were surrounded and threatened by Iraqi armed forces while attempting to exercise their legitimate right to strike. These pipeline workers belong to the 26,000 member Iraqi Federation of Oil Workers (IFOU).

The strike was called after months of discussions between the union and the government over wages, health and safety, the use of temporary workers and the future of Iraq’s oil industry failed to produce a negotiated settlement. The strike Tuesday temporarily suspended delivery of oil products to Baghdad and the southern Governates of Iraq. As of Tuesday night, workers had returned temporarily to work after receiving a promise of further talks, but the troops remain in place.

The AFL-CIO joins the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and other global unions in urging the Iraqi Government to negotiate with the oil workers.

(The joint statement with TUC and letter to Rice are available upon request.)"

[slipslidingaway]

1. Arrest Warrants Still in Force on Union Leaders

Strike Planned for Monday

http://www.basraoilunion.org/2007/06/arrest-warrants-still-in-force-on-union.html

"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRESS RELEASE

Friday 8th June 2007

The president of the Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions (IFOU), HassanJuma’a has informed Naftana* at about 3.30 PM London time (Friday 8thJune 2007) that the arrest warrants against the leaders of the Federation have not been withdrawn, and he made an urgent appeal to world trade unionists and the anti-war movement to step up the solidarity campaign with Iraq’s oil workers and trade unionists.

Hassan Juma’a said “the arrest warrants, issued by the prime minister’s office, are still in force, despite the Federation’s decision to postpone the strike till Monday 11th June to allow for further negotiations.” US jet planes were buzzing the skies of Basra as he spoketo Naftana on the phone. He added that Iraqi army tanks and other forces were still besieging workers in Sheiba, in Basra governorate, but that the workers will resume the strike on Monday if their demands were not met.

IFOU members started strike action on Monday in the pipeline section, paralyzing oil and gas supplies to many areas, including Baghdad. The very effective strike action was postponed on Wednesday to allow for further talks regarding the union’s 16 demands, relating to salary scales, better health and work conditions and demanding consultation on the proposedoil law. The so called Hydrocarbon Law is opposed by the union, which regards it as being against the Iraqi people’s interests and an imposition by the occupation governments."

[katsy]

2. If the AFL-CIO isn't careful...

*bushco will have them declared enemy combatants.

They should have sent that memo directly to *bushco. It's his puppet government in Iraq.

[slipslidingaway]

3. Or the 20-million-members of ICEM ???

http://www.icem.org/en/24-North-Africa-Middle-East-/2285-ICEM-Protests-Iraqi-Military’s-Involvement-in-Basra-Oil-Strike

[katsy]

5. Good Read... thank you.

[slipslidingaway]

7. YW and thank you for your interest n/t

[slipslidingaway]

4. Rep. Dennis Kucinich: Stealing Iraq's Oil "Is a War Crime!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTb3SLa_2VE

[Omaha Steve]

6. I love it when other people post labor stories

THANK YOU!!!

[slipslidingaway]

8. There does not seem to be much interest in the Iraq unions

here on DU?

:shrug: