BREAKING: Iraqi Unions Say Thwarted on All Sides (Reuters)

The international news agency Reuters is the first to post a story about today's news conference in which six Iraqi trade unionists, here in the US for a two-week, twenty-city tour, described the horrific conditions they--and the the hundreds of thousands of workers they represent--have endured since the US invasion and occupation of their country.  Story below....

Iraqi unions say thwarted by all sides

14 Jun 2005 19:31:36 GMT

Source: Reuters (posted on AlertNet)

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.

"We need to get our voices heard and by coming to the United States we hope this will happen," said Adnan Rashed, executive officer of the Union of Mechanics, Printing and Metal Workers.

"We are trying so hard to organize workers and make our lives better," he said, adding he hoped the new Iraqi constitution would take workers' rights into account.

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.

His union has actively opposed the use of U.S. companies in Iraq, such as Halliburton <HAL.N> , which was once run by U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney. It also opposes plans to privatize the oil sector.

The unionists are visiting 20 U.S. cities, including Atlanta, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago and Los Angeles, before returning to Iraq on June 26.

For more information on the Iraqis' tour, see my homepage. Lots of stories, links, etc.

•  Here's a list of tour stops

  http://uslaboragainstwar.org/calendar.php

  by Dump Terry McAuliffe on Tue Jun 14, 2005 at 01:24:19 PM PDT

  •  Thanks for putting that up front

    Very important.

    by Juno on Tue Jun 14, 2005 at 07:52:35 PM PDT

•  Good post.

  The existence of independent organized labor is one of the surest signs of a democracy.  That the Bush administration views unions as a threat is no surprise, but this is truly horrible.  These guys get no love from either side of this conflict (the Bushies or the insurgents) and for that they should be recognized as the heroes they are.

  by zenbowl on Tue Jun 14, 2005 at 01:27:08 PM PDT

  •  So true

    One of the stories I linked in a previous diary shows just how stupid this animosity toward the unions is on BushCo's part. It's hindering the rebuilding of Iraq.

    If anyone doesn't "get" what the real agenda was, all they have to do is look at how the workers in Iraq, as well as Iraqi business owners, are being treated. Shameful.

    by Juno on Tue Jun 14, 2005 at 07:55:17 PM PDT

•  Bad choice

  (Hrm, I posted this comment once, but it seemed to have gotten lost in the ether...)

  Coming to Bush's America to advocate worker's rights?  Good luck with that.  They'd be better off touring a nation that cared about worker's rights and trying to get them involved in the Iraq mess.

  Seriously, though, these are the kinds of people that will be required to rebuild Iraq.  Proactive people who are not only willing to put their life on the line for their nation, but who are willing to do it the right way, by picking up a microphone instead of picking up a gun.  By advocating rights instead of violence.

  These are the people our government should be supporting, not arresting.  These are the people who actually care about Iraq and the Iraqis.  Unfortunately for them, our leaders do not care for them or their ill fated nation.  Stories like this prove that point.

  PS- ill use of the word "breaking" in your title, just a pet peeve o' mine.

  by JoeOhioan on Tue Jun 14, 2005 at 01:30:13 PM PDT

  •  It was breaking....

    When I found it, it had been posted just 12 minutes. This is the first time I've used "Breaking".  I thought it was appropriate.

    by Juno on Tue Jun 14, 2005 at 01:39:05 PM PDT

•  I think all unions in the US

  should be embracing this tour--it's a great way to remind people in the U.S. of the history behind our unions, including the violence directed at union organizers.

  by SairaLV on Tue Jun 14, 2005 at 01:33:34 PM PDT

  •  Agree, but there's a problem

    ...and it's called the AFL-CIO. They don't support US Labor Against the War, which organized the Iraqis' visit here. They might support the visit, of course, but they have not come out with a strong position against the war and the occupation.  USLAW has tried pushing them on that. Hasn't happened so far.

    Still, there are a lot of unions backing the tour officially, whether international unions or locals.

    by Juno on Tue Jun 14, 2005 at 07:58:31 PM PDT

•  How very brave they are for speaking out here

  and telling the truth about what's going on over there.... by the way, it's seeming more and more like the main reason the US invaded Iraq was to just fill the pockets of the BushCo corporate cronies.  And now the troops are there to protect these companies and help keep the Iraqi people down.  A civil war would probably be even to their (Halliburton, etc.) benefit.  If the US has to leave and give the country back to the Iraqi people, think of all those billions of $$$ the companies will lose. It all really stinks, BAD.

  by Southern Bird on Tue Jun 14, 2005 at 01:35:21 PM PDT

  •  Bing!

    The more I read about this, the more I'm convinced what the ulterior motive was.

    The Iraqis know it too. One of them, in an interview I reported in a previous diary, said that they all know this was just a grab of Iraq's resources.

    Go to USLAW's website; they have lots of info there about the companies doing business in Iraq. Really shocking shit.

    by Juno on Tue Jun 14, 2005 at 08:02:37 PM PDT

•  thanks, juno

  for keeping us informed about this tour. it seems these diaries you've written often slip by relatively unnoticed. i just wanted to say i've noticed.

  thanks.

  "after the Rapture, we get all their shit"

  It's time: the albany project.

  by lipris on Tue Jun 14, 2005 at 01:37:53 PM PDT

  •  Thanks for the encouragement

    I know some people are noticing and are following the story.  

    I just want people to spread the word to their communities, the media, etc.--especially if they are anywhere near where one of the cities on the tour.

    We owe the Iraqis BIG TIME. The least we can do is pay attention to what they say--and believe them.

    More to come, I'm sure.

    by Juno on Tue Jun 14, 2005 at 01:41:35 PM PDT

    •  i'll post something

      about their NYC stop on Daily Gotham and drop it to the local lists.

      "after the Rapture, we get all their shit"

      It's time: the albany project.

      by lipris on Tue Jun 14, 2005 at 01:47:55 PM PDT

      •  Bless you.

        by Juno on Tue Jun 14, 2005 at 01:50:23 PM PDT

•  About the cartoon

  Forgot to give the artist his propers.

  The cartoon is from Mike Konopacki, one-half of the team Huck/Konopacki Labor Cartoons.  He and Gary Huck have been syndicating labor and political cartoons for over 20 years.  

  Mike also did the tour logos and buttons, commissioned by US Labor Against the War. Here's one of them:

  

  by Juno on Tue Jun 14, 2005 at 01:45:52 PM PDT

  •  I have to say

    that it really makes me happy to see that picture and think of the virtual smack from one of your previous diaries.

    Anything else I can do for you? :-D

    BTW, good job for bringing this to everyone's attention and keeping it there.

    by marathon on Tue Jun 14, 2005 at 07:07:45 PM PDT

    •  Thanks....

      Glad you like the artwork. The artist is a very good friend of mine, and of the labor movement's. We're having 100 buttons made up for distribution at the meetings in Madison and Milwaukee on Monday, June 20.

      Must say, I don't remember a "virtual smack."  Was I testy to you or something? If I was, apparently it was fleeting and you have forgiven me.

      Appreciate you following the story. I'm thinking of doing something else real soon, but it's just kind of a goofy idea, something to show our solidarity with the Iraqi workers. Working on it.

      An Injury to One Is an Injury to All

      by Juno on Tue Jun 14, 2005 at 07:29:04 PM PDT

      •  Oh, I've "forgiven" you for that

        but I probably won't forget it for quite some time. :-)

        by marathon on Wed Jun 15, 2005 at 06:20:46 AM PDT

    •  I'm an idiot.....

      Just remembered. YOU got that image for me. I gave you big "smooooooch".  

      I am SO sorry. I have been using it regularly; almost every time I write about this, and that includes in other diaries as well.  

      Couldn't have done that without your help. You're a sweetheart.

      Please don't be offended if I forgot. In addition to all this stuff with the Iraqi tour, I'm going through a kitchen remodel and running my 15-year-old around to driving lessons, guitar lessons, singing lessons, the mall, the movies, friends houses...

      I remember having a life once. Sort of.

      Anyway, you're a mensch.  THANKS HEAPS!

      by Juno on Tue Jun 14, 2005 at 07:50:41 PM PDT

      •  No idiot

        Just human.

        I was a lurker here for several weeks, then joined because of the "pie fight". I felt like I might be able to offer a little facilitation to difficult or contentious discussions. Because it's all so new to me, and I'm still feeling my way into this community, I think I'm far more intensely aware of the responses I've gotten than someone who is highly active here.

        I remember having a "life of my own" once. Then kids came and it was a "new normal". Now they are 14, 11 and 6. In school, band, piano lessons, scouts, soccer, track . . . I just wish our 14-year old was as involved with friends as it sounds like yours is.

        Oh, one other thing. I had seen the word "mensch" before but never knew what it meant. And, since it had never been directed at me before, never had enough of a reason until now to look it up. Thanks!

        by marathon on Wed Jun 15, 2005 at 06:35:14 AM PDT

•  Jamboi, is that you?

  What is this, your 5th Kos account?

  by Bozos Rnot4 Bush on Wed Jun 15, 2005 at 06:44:15 PM PDT