king crab posted the announcement:
U.S. Labor Against the War is sponsoring a visit by Iraqi trade union leaders to cities across the country through June 24th.
Link for events:
http://uslaboragainstwar.org/article.php?id=8157
I attended one of the events and took notes--any errors are mine alone.
I highly recommend that you attend because it's inspiring to see our highest values at work. The sponsors and audience represented the wonderful and total diversity of America. They act with Democracy, Plurality, Respect, etc. A refreshing change. We can also learn a lot from these seasoned Iraqi labor representatives.
Note: The whole tour is being taped and will be made available.
TRANSCRIBED NOTES:
Topic: "The Role of Trade Unions in Building a Democratic and Peaceful Iraq"
Guest Speaker: Mr. Adnan Al Saffar, Executive Officer, Union of Mechanics, Printing and Metal Workers, spoke through an interpreter:
Iraq is going through a very complex situation with many aspects of complexity interweaving each other. It was expected that labor and democracy would be supported by international law -- not to be changed by war. There is a demand to end the occupation, withdrawal of all forces.
The Iraqi working class is a very important part of society. The labor unions do not discriminate on grounds of religion or gender. They stand for pluralism.
OUR FIRST GOAL: To end the occupation and build a democratic state.
War opens wide adores for disaster for the Iraqi people. The wounds are still open and burning from previous occupation. Before the war, working-class organizations warned against what war would bring (that it would be like the dictatorship). The goal was to be against war, against dictatorship. To refuse the American invasion and rule. Iraqis have the right to self-determination without domination or guardians from outside. (He cited "UN Resolution 1483" dated May 22, 2003. Excerpt of which: "Stressing the right of the Iraqi people freely to determine their own political future and control their own natural resources, welcoming the commitment of all parties concerned to support the creation of an environment in which they may do so as soon as possible, and expressing resolve that the day when Iraqis govern themselves must come quickly"--full text at http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/iraq/document/2003/0522resolution.htm).
The trade unions have a great role in the political process now -- 350 people who had been persecuted and banned by the previous regime came together to form trade unions. Now there are 12 trade unions; under Saddam there were six. But they face hostility from the Americans and occupying forces. The headquarters of the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions was occupied by Americans with tanks, and eight leaders were arrested. They were released after two days, due to the rallies by trade union workers and help from American and British unions.
OUR SECOND GOAL: To end unemployment which is approximately 50%.
Privatization brings problems to the Iraqi people. In the oil sector we can feel the appetite of the capitalists and corporations which are open to swallowing it. Also, Health, Education, Public Transportation -- these sectors face the risk of being privatized. We will prevent this from happening. (Audience applause).
Oil is an Iraqi resource, not to be made hostile against us.
Bremer was worse than the dictatorship of Saddam. Bremer introduced a law which prevents labor from being represented. Even under Saddam the workers elected their own representatives to government companies. Bremer's law against the formation of trade unions -- even though it was happening on the ground -- Bremer refused to accept the fact.
THIRD GOAL: To rebuild the infrastructure, to improve working conditions and salaries, and to increase the number of women working in the trade unions.... to have women and young people as leaders of unions and committees.
We want to BUILD THE PRESENT -- without a present there is no future. (He also said that the Iraqis regard as theirs all the infrastructure, etc. that they have built over the years and of which they are proud.)
Adnan Al Saffar said that during this American tour he watched the mainstream American television stations in his hotel, but none gave the truth, and that American media does not give the news.
He hopes this tour will help bring the truth to the American people. He said that since the mainstream and corporate media do not bring the truth, the American unions play an important role in bringing the truth to the American people.
-- -- Questions and Answer Period -- --
Question: Are there any media outlets that give good information?
Answer: The best way to get the truth is to keep in touch with the peace movement and the trade unions in Iraq. We understand the American media, he said, we understand the nature of monopolies.
Question: Are your different groups working together?
Answer: There are no contradictions in working together. (I think the better translation might be "disputes" instead of "contradictions"). The only "contradiction" is with the occupying regime and the anti-union laws. We have a long history of fighting against dictatorship. We act as the workers' representatives not as representatives of workers' political parties. Union membership is not dependent upon political affiliation, or religion, or gender, etc.
Describing life under the occupation, he said that Iraqis are living under bad conditions -- it starts in the beginning of the day when Iraqi workers are on the way to work and "pay American soldiers" (I don't think he meant a literal exchange of money). Where there are American soldiers -- roadblocks, etc. -- you must stay 300 feet away from the soldiers or be shot at. There is no room for error. (Innocent) People have been wounded and killed. As for working conditions, the economic system is working at only half capacity. Working conditions are bad and wages are low, although unions strike and protest in order to improve conditions.
In the oil sector, American corporations tried to bring in foreign workers. The oil trade union threatened to shut down the whole system if foreign workers were brought in WHILE IRAQI WORKERS WERE UNEMPLOYED. We have no objection to foreign workers, but we have plenty of unemployed, experienced Iraqi workers to employ first.
1987 was the worst year for trade union activism. Saddam's decree prevented workers to be unionized -- all workers were to be government employees instead. (For more, See history of Iraqi Labor Movement at: http://www.iraqitradeunions.org/archives/000071.html "Saddam's 1987 anti union Decrees (numbers 150 and 52) banned public sector workers from joining or forming unions. " )
The public sector -- 80% of the country.
Saddam Hussein had the worst labor laws in the Arab countries.
Now the Iraqi labor union movement is proposing new labor laws based on international labor criteria.
Question: The role of women in government and unions under Saddam?
Answer: Women refused to work under Saddam because it was not a democratic system; now 25% of government representatives are women. Each local union in all the provinces must have at least one woman member of the leadership. The agricultural workers have 37 women in leadership positions.
"Resistance." This word has to be used carefully because the word "Resistance" can also mean atrocities against our people. Resistance against occupation is a right, but is a car bomb alright? No. Neither is the destruction of resources such as oil, water, or bombing mosques and churches, kidnappings, threats, and killings. Ordinary workers are subject to this as are international aid workers. They have been killed in inhumane ways. This form of "Resistance" is strange (foreign) to the history of the Iraqi people.
Those who try to bring us to religious or ethnic conflict will fail because Iraq is a secular, pluralistic community and people, despite all the agitation and conflict. Adnan Al Saffar said emphatically: "I want you to be confident that Iraq and the trade union movement will not allow ethnic or religious conflict to be the main way of life in Iraq."
Question: Are American and other unions helping?
Answer: The British Firefighters Union contributed equipment and clothing for 1000 Iraqi firefighters. British unions gave money, as did "US Labor against the War," for equipment, computers, etc. which was used to rebuild our headquarters because our headquarters was subject to theft and destruction. British trade unions provided training and courses in Britain for the Iraqis. We need help preparing for outreach to other workers. "US Labor Against the War" gave $50,000 to organize this tour. In Iraq the teachers' union is separate, not part of our federation, and they have their own connections in Britain.
Bremer began his plan for the privatization of the public sector. He identified 192 businesses to be privatized. IMF, Paris Club, World Bank loans have bad, unjust conditions for the Iraqi people. The loans require no public sector loans -- which adds insult to injury, and adds poverty to poverty. (Under their terms) our economy and resources will be subject to manipulation by international___ (illegible word in my notes).
$35 per month was the Iraqi oil workers' (starting) salary. Imagine what it would be after privatization. Bremer proposed a salary scale. We refused Bremer's proposed scale. After a three-day strike they improved the scale. Other sectors will face privatization which will endanger lives and working conditions.
--END OF HIS TALK--
My comment about the guest speaker, Adnan Al Saffar. He is a white-haired gentleman with a very gracious and calm manner. He struck me as being long-suffering but determined and altruistic.
His biography: Guest Speaker: Iraqi Union Leader Adnan Al Saffar, Executive Officer, Union of Mechanics, Printing and Metal Workers, and editor of the Union paper, "Workers' Unity." He was a member of The Workers' Democratic Trade Union Movement (WDTUM), an underground workers' organization that resisted Saddam Hussein's Ba'athism. He remained active in Syria where he lived in exile for many years with his family. He returned to Iraq soon after the fall of Saddam and worked with other union men and women in The Workers' Democratic Trade Union Movement to form the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU). one of the events and took notes--any errors are mine alone.
I highly recommend that you attend because it's inspiring to see our highest values at work. The sponsors and audience represented the wonderful and total diversity of America. They act with Democracy, Plurality, Respect, etc. A refreshing change. We can also learn a lot from these seasoned Iraqi labor representatives.
Note: The whole tour is being taped and will be made available.
TRANSCRIBED NOTES:
Topic: "The Role of Trade Unions in Building a Democratic and Peaceful Iraq"
Guest Speaker: Mr. Adnan Al Saffar, Executive Officer, Union of Mechanics, Printing and Metal Workers, spoke through an interpreter:
Iraq is going through a very complex situation with many aspects of complexity interweaving each other. It was expected that labor and democracy would be supported by international law -- not to be changed by war. There is a demand to end the occupation, withdrawal of all forces.
The Iraqi working class is a very important part of society. The labor unions do not discriminate on grounds of religion or gender. They stand for pluralism.
OUR FIRST GOAL: To end the occupation and build a democratic state.
War opens wide adores for disaster for the Iraqi people. The wounds are still open and burning from previous occupation. Before the war, working-class organizations warned against what war would bring (that it would be like the dictatorship). The goal was to be against war, against dictatorship. To refuse the American invasion and rule. Iraqis have the right to self-determination without domination or guardians from outside. (He cited "UN Resolution 1483" dated May 22, 2003. Excerpt of which: "Stressing the right of the Iraqi people freely to determine their own political future and control their own natural resources, welcoming the commitment of all parties concerned to support the creation of an environment in which they may do so as soon as possible, and expressing resolve that the day when Iraqis govern themselves must come quickly"--full text at http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/iraq/document/2003/0522resolution.htm).
The trade unions have a great role in the political process now -- 350 people who had been persecuted and banned by the previous regime came together to form trade unions. Now there are 12 trade unions; under Saddam there were six. But they face hostility from the Americans and occupying forces. The headquarters of the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions was occupied by Americans with tanks, and eight leaders were arrested. They were released after two days, due to the rallies by trade union workers and help from American and British unions.
OUR SECOND GOAL: To end unemployment which is approximately 50%.
Privatization brings problems to the Iraqi people. In the oil sector we can feel the appetite of the capitalists and corporations which are open to swallowing it. Also, Health, Education, Public Transportation -- these sectors face the risk of being privatized. We will prevent this from happening. (Audience applause).
Oil is an Iraqi resource, not to be made hostile against us.
Bremer was worse than the dictatorship of Saddam. Bremer introduced a law which prevents labor from being represented. Even under Saddam the workers elected their own representatives to government companies. Bremer's law against the formation of trade unions -- even though it was happening on the ground -- Bremer refused to accept the fact.
THIRD GOAL: To rebuild the infrastructure, to improve working conditions and salaries, and to increase the number of women working in the trade unions.... to have women and young people as leaders of unions and committees.
We want to BUILD THE PRESENT -- without a present there is no future. (He also said that the Iraqis regard as theirs all the infrastructure, etc. that they have built over the years and of which they are proud.)
Adnan Al Saffar said that during this American tour he watched the mainstream American television stations in his hotel, but none gave the truth, and that American media does not give the news.
He hopes this tour will help bring the truth to the American people. He said that since the mainstream and corporate media do not bring the truth, the American unions play an important role in bringing the truth to the American people.
-- -- Questions and Answer Period -- --
Question: Are there any media outlets that give good information?
Answer: The best way to get the truth is to keep in touch with the peace movement and the trade unions in Iraq. We understand the American media, he said, we understand the nature of monopolies.
Question: Are your different groups working together?
Answer: There are no contradictions in working together. (I think the better translation might be "disputes" instead of "contradictions"). The only "contradiction" is with the occupying regime and the anti-union laws. We have a long history of fighting against dictatorship. We act as the workers' representatives not as representatives of workers' political parties. Union membership is not dependent upon political affiliation, or religion, or gender, etc.
Describing life under the occupation, he said that Iraqis are living under bad conditions -- it starts in the beginning of the day when Iraqi workers are on the way to work and "pay American soldiers" (I don't think he meant a literal exchange of money). Where there are American soldiers -- roadblocks, etc. -- you must stay 300 feet away from the soldiers or be shot at. There is no room for error. (Innocent) People have been wounded and killed. As for working conditions, the economic system is working at only half capacity. Working conditions are bad and wages are low, although unions strike and protest in order to improve conditions.
In the oil sector, American corporations tried to bring in foreign workers. The oil trade union threatened to shut down the whole system if foreign workers were brought in WHILE IRAQI WORKERS WERE UNEMPLOYED. We have no objection to foreign workers, but we have plenty of unemployed, experienced Iraqi workers to employ first.
1987 was the worst year for trade union activism. Saddam's decree prevented workers to be unionized -- all workers were to be government employees instead. (For more, See history of Iraqi Labor Movement at: http://www.iraqitradeunions.org/archives/000071.html "Saddam's 1987 anti union Decrees (numbers 150 and 52) banned public sector workers from joining or forming unions. " )
The public sector -- 80% of the country.
Saddam Hussein had the worst labor laws in the Arab countries.
Now the Iraqi labor union movement is proposing new labor laws based on international labor criteria.
Question: The role of women in government and unions under Saddam?
Answer: Women refused to work under Saddam because it was not a democratic system; now 25% of government representatives are women. Each local union in all the provinces must have at least one woman member of the leadership. The agricultural workers have 37 women in leadership positions.
"Resistance." This word has to be used carefully because the word "Resistance" can also mean atrocities against our people. Resistance against occupation is a right, but is a car bomb alright? No. Neither is the destruction of resources such as oil, water, or bombing mosques and churches, kidnappings, threats, and killings. Ordinary workers are subject to this as are international aid workers. They have been killed in inhumane ways. This form of "Resistance" is strange (foreign) to the history of the Iraqi people.
Those who try to bring us to religious or ethnic conflict will fail because Iraq is a secular, pluralistic community and people, despite all the agitation and conflict. Adnan Al Saffar said emphatically: "I want you to be confident that Iraq and the trade union movement will not allow ethnic or religious conflict to be the main way of life in Iraq."
Question: Are American and other unions helping?
Answer: The British Firefighters Union contributed equipment and clothing for 1000 Iraqi firefighters. British unions gave money, as did "US Labor against the War," for equipment, computers, etc. which was used to rebuild our headquarters because our headquarters was subject to theft and destruction. British trade unions provided training and courses in Britain for the Iraqis. We need help preparing for outreach to other workers. "US Labor Against the War" gave $50,000 to organize this tour. In Iraq the teachers' union is separate, not part of our federation, and they have their own connections in Britain.
Bremer began his plan for the privatization of the public sector. He identified 192 businesses to be privatized. IMF, Paris Club, World Bank loans have bad, unjust conditions for the Iraqi people. The loans require no public sector loans -- which adds insult to injury, and adds poverty to poverty. (Under their terms) our economy and resources will be subject to manipulation by international_____ (illegible word in my notes).
$35 per month was the Iraqi oil workers' (starting) salary. Imagine what it would be after privatization. Bremer proposed a salary scale. We refused Bremer's proposed scale. After a three-day strike they improved the scale. Other sectors will face privatization which will endanger lives and working conditions.
--END OF HIS TALK--
My comment about the guest speaker, Adnan Al Saffar. He is a white-haired gentleman with a very gracious and calm manner. He struck me as being long-suffering but determined and altruistic.
His biography: Guest Speaker: Iraqi Union Leader Adnan Al Saffar, Executive Officer, Union of Mechanics, Printing and Metal Workers, and editor of the Union paper, "Workers' Unity." He was a member of The Workers' Democratic Trade Union Movement (WDTUM), an underground workers' organization that resisted Saddam Hussein's Ba'athism. He remained active in Syria where he lived in exile for many years with his family. He returned to Iraq soon after the fall of Saddam and worked with other union men and women in The Workers' Democratic Trade Union Movement to form the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU).