INTERNATIONAL LABOUR IRAQ:

PROTEST REPRESSION OF IRAQI UNION:

Well, the new Iraqi government is proving itself to be following the methods of the old one. Last month they banned the Iraqi electricity unions. But what did you really expect ? Here's an appeal from the online labour solidarity organization Labour Start for support for the Iraqi unionists.

ILILILILIL
Iraq: Minister closes all union offices in Saddam-style move
Police raided and shut down electricity unions across Iraq in mid-July, carrying out an order from the Minister of Electricity that could have been lifted from Saddam Hussein’s rule book.

The order prohibits "all trade union activities at the ministry and its departments and sites" and authorizes the police "to close all trade union offices and bases and to take control of unions' assets properties and documents, furniture and computers."

The leader of Britain's Trades Union Congress has called upon the Iraqi government "to withdraw the order, and allow unions to operate freely, underpinned by a fair, just and ILO-compliant labour law."

The Iraqi trade union movement is calling on trade union members everywhere to raise their voices in protest.

ILILILILIL

THE LETTER:

Please go to this link to send the following letter to the Iraqi authorities.

ILILILILIL

To Mr Hussain al-Shahristani
Minister of Electricity
Baghdad, Iraq

Sir:

I have learned about Ministerial Order No 22 244 issued on 20 July 2010 which "prohibit all trade union activities at the ministry and its departments and sites" and orders police to raid union offices across the country.

This order is a clear violation of international labour standards which your government is obligated to uphold, and I call upon you to reverse course and stop this assault on Iraqi unions.
Thank you.