International
Workshop of the workers trade Unions in Amman-Jordan
The Workers Councils and Unions in Iraq and the Union of Unemployed
in Iraq, reflect to the international Labour Organisations an actual
image of the Workers movement in Iraq. 22.12.2003
Between 17-19th.December.2003, an international Workshop was held
in Amman-Jordan by the International Labour organization- Arabic
Office in cooperation with the international confederation of the
free trade unions- ICFTU to discuss the future perspectives of the
workers trade movement and the ways to establish free trade unions
in Iraq. More than 23 delegations have attended this conference
from various regions of the world. A delegation of the worker councils
and unions in Iraq - WCUI and the union of unemployed in Iraq -UUI
including; Falah Alwan, Qasim Hadi and Akram Mahmoud participated
in this conference.
Also the representatives of the so called ( General Federation of
the Worker trade unions in Iraq ) which is the old trade union of
Baath Regime , the delegations of the Kurdish ruling forces in Iraq,
and a delegation representing the parties in the Iraqi governing
council leaded by Rasim Awadi took part in this workshop .The conference
commenced with a speech of the president of the Jordanian workers
trade unions then ICFTU General Secretary, Mr. Guy Ryder, who leaded
this international delegation made a speech to open officially the
agenda of the conference. It’s surprising to mention that the
delegation of the political parties in the Iraqi governing council
presented an appeal to ICFTU and leading committee of the conference
to not sit together on one board with the other delegations of the
Iraqi trade unions at the same time other Iraqi delegations also
appealed to meet alone with leading committee of the conference.
Nevertheless the delegation of workers councils and trade unions
-WCUI and UUI protested in an appeal against this request for secret
meeting to discuss the workers issues and demanded open and public
discussions in the conference.
This appeal from WCUI has diverted the attention of other delegations
there and with great interest; they followed the reports of WCUI
which included the main obstacles in front of the workers unions’
movement and the tragic living conditions of Iraqi workers and the
proposal of the WCUI to overcome these conditions and obstacles.
The representatives of WCUI met with different delegations in this
conference and presented a documentary film about the situation
of Iraqi workers and a short Film as an example of free and direct
elections of worker unions under supervision of the WCUI to Mr.
Guy Ryder, president of ICFTU.
WCUI exhibited these films to other delegations which diverted their
attention to the situation of Iraqi workers and activities of WCUI.
Different delegations of workers unions asked WCUI and UUI to continue
contacts and relationships with them and they promised to invite
WCUI and UUI to the future international and Arabic meeting of worker
trade unions .
The Worker s Councils and Unions in Iraq
22.12.2003
