With Solidarity from biggest labour unions worldwide, the workers in Basra held their first open conference

Press Release Nr. 2

With Solidarity from major labour unions worldwide, the workers in Basra held their first open conference

On 26.November 2004 under the slogan the power of working class is in its unity and organisation und with participation of 350 workers who represented 42 preparatory committees for establishment of trade unions in different industrial and public sectors ,the first open conference of workers in Basra was organised .Many solidarity letters were sent to the conference from the following Organisations; Union of Education workers in France , International Lasion Committee in France, Solidarité Irak France, , Union of Steel Workers in Australia, the union of Harbour workers in Australia, the National Assembly for peace and democracy in Japan( Zenko) , Marxist Comrade Group in Japan, the Confederation of Korean Trade Union in South Korea, the Union of Railway workers in Japan, Central organisation of trade union in Kenya COTU-K , No Sweat Campaign in UK, Unemployed Workers Centre of TUC from Bringhton und Hove in UK, Freedom socialist Party in USA, also delegations from organisations of civil society in Iraq ,delegations of Trade Unions from Suleimania, Erbil and Bgahdad ,University teachers, among the delegates were Nadia Mahmoud, member of political Bureau of WCPI and president of Middle East Centre for Women rights, Yanar Mohammad , president of OWFI, Falah Alwan , president of FWCUI, Qasim Hadi , general secretary of UUI ,Dr. Riyau Asadi, president of the Centre to defend freedom of ideas, Dr. Namir Nazir Alkayat from college of Literature, Abduljabar Kazim , president of Prosecutors Office in Basra, Muhamd Inwan, Judicial Assistant, Harth Alwazan , Judicial Assistant , Abdulla Al- Maliki, the famous Unionist of Sothern Oil Company -SOC and prominent figure Hasan Al Khafaji.

Falah Alwan, president of FWCUI presented a lecture about the freedom of trade unions, Adul karim Al Sada presented a research about the unity of the working class and

Ali Abas presented an assessment about the realities and current situation of the labour movement in Basra.

Qasim Hadi, general secretary of UUI made a speech about the unemployment in Iraq after wars and under the occupation, Yanar Mohamad, gave a speech who stressed the support of progressive women movement and organisation of Women Freedom in Iraq to the workers in Basra and this conference. Nadia Mahmoud, member of the political Bureau of the Worker Communist Party of Iraq gave a speech and she said that millions of workers worldwide following the events of this conference which was held in a historical moment where the occupying forces and political Islam confronting each other in a terrorist conflict in Iraq which is the reason of tens of daily causalities of civilian people in Iraq .She also explained the importance of international solidarity with labour movement in Iraq. Mrs. Samira Hassan representative of the Association to Defend Homeless Families-Basra expressed in her speech that FWCUI and the Association to Defend Homeless Families were established to lead the protests for Freedom and Prosperity.

Before the conclusion of the conference, the elections of leading committee concluded with 19 candidates to elect 8 members and 4 substitute Members of FWCUI branch office in Basra .The elections carried out in democratic and transparent way in which two ladies got the most votes who are Mrs. Kifah Hassan Ibrahim from the petrochemical company and Mrs. Khlud Mahdi .Their election promoted the participants and they all welcome the female unionists and expressed their great consideration for the position of Iraqi women .
The names of the leadership members of FWCUI in their first meeting on 30.November 2004 are as following:

1. Ali Abas Khafif , president of the branch office of FWCUI in Basra

2. Abdulkarim Abdulsada, primary Vice President

3. Ali Ziyara Ubaid, secondary Vice president

4. Sami Hassan Musa, Secretary of FWCUI

5. Relationship Committee: Auda Abdulnabi Zabun in charge of this committee and with memberships of:

A- Khlud Mahdi,

B- Kifah Hassan Ibrahim

C- Muhamad ZAki

D- Abdulkarim Farhan.

6. Supervision Committee: Fisal Kasim in charge for this committee and memberships of;

A-Raid Mahmud Kazm,

B-Akil Mustafa,

C- Haidar Abdulla Muslim

7. Publication committee from Basim Khalil Ibrahim in charge for this committee and Ismail Hussein as a member

8. Admin committee:

A-Fahkir Tryak,

B-Karim Juji,

C- Maih Jamil

9. Juristic committee from Nasir Talib in charge of this committee, and Ahmad Mujhar as a member

10. Finance committee: Adnan Hanun

Long live the Unity of Working class

Forward to end the occupation of Iraq

FWCUI

1.12.2004