Urgent Appeal From Iraq Federation Of Oil Unions

[Better Believe It]

Urgent Appeal From Iraq Federation Of Oil Unions

Dear USLAW Affiliates:

We have just received an urgent message from Hassan Juma'a Awad, President of the Iraq Federation of Oil Unions. A translation follows below. The action he reports represents a dangerous escalation of the Oil Minister's hostility to the IFOU and its leadership. Oil Minister Hussein Al-Shahirstani is the same Maliki government official who some months ago directed the management of the oil companies not to have any dealings with the union.

USLAW calls on all its affiliates to immediately send a letter of protest to the Iraqi Embassy in Washington, DC. Some suggested text and the address are provided below.
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Here is the translation:

The Iraqi Oil Minister, Hussein Al-Shahirstani, has ordered the transfer of eight Oil Union activists. They used to work at the oil refineries in the south. This act reflects the minister's anti-union policy, and lack of respect for unions and union activists in the oil sector. Those activists, through their hard work, are well known for fighting corruption and corrupt-ministry gangs in the oil sector.

They have been transferred to Baghdad Al-Dorah neighborhood (known for worsening security situation, and high level of sectarian killings). In the context of Iraqi security situation, such a transfer is rightfully regarded as human rights crime.

We call upon all people of good will in the world to take a stand to denounce these despicable and criminal acts by the Iraqi Oil Ministry against trade unions and their activists. The trade unions have been reestablished and revitalized through the hard work of union activists without any protection from the state, which keeps bragging about democracy.

This act is a clear evidence that the Iraqi state seeks to liquidate trade unions in this important Iraqi economic sector, oil. It is important to note that the south is the main source of oil in Iraq. The oil sector there employs more than 39,000 workers. The Iraqi state has no intention of allowing an Oil Trade Union in that sector because it represents a threat to its authority.

We call upon you from all parts of the world to stand with us, for the sake of labor and workers interests.

Respectfully,

Hassan Juma Awad, President
Iraq Federation of Oil Unions

http://www.kclabor.org/from_us_labor_against_the_war4.htm