An open letter to/

Union of Unemployed in Iraq UUI

Federation of Workers Councils and Unions in Iraq FWCUI

International Labour Organization ILO

All workers organizations in the world

Workers leaders and Comrades everywhere

We have a great responsibility towards the millions of unemployed workers in Iraq, whose life and those of their families are under great danger, especially the displaced workers who fled from the war-torn areas of Iraq to a safe zone in the north of Iraq like the cities of Sulaimaniya and Erbil.

I, as a workers’ leader, living the difficulties of the working class in the city of Sulaimaniya feel a crucial responsibility towards the situation of migrant workers who fled from the middle and southern parts of Iraq to our cities. The construction workers namely endure lower living standards, situations, and wages than their fellow workers who are Kurdish or foreigner. This happens at this time of the year when the icy cold of winter had just started. Furthermore, the racist discrimination policy imposed by the local authorities which is of ethnic/nationalist and sectarian nature works on segregating the ranks of workers along these lines.

Brothers!

In these tragic times and circumstances, you have a responsibility to work against these dreadful conspiracies put in place by the capitalist authorities and the companies\ corporates which exploit our work force. Our struggles for the workers’ demands through the workers’ councils need your solidarity to mobilize and rise.

Thus, I am hereby asking you to form monitoring committees to check on the circumstances of the migrant workers in Kurdistan, and try to find a solution for these workers.

With due appreciation to your efforts,

Your brother, Ousta Mahdy Al Banna

Sulaimaniya

December 8, 2006