info@uuiraq.org

 

Hundreds of Students, Labour   activists and Unions in South Korea endorsed the complaint of UUI and FWCUI to ILO and demand that ILO Conventions 87 and 98 be fully enforced in Iraq.

 

Update on 24. November, 2004

 

 

(Complaint lodged to the ILO trade union freedom committee by the Federation of Workers Councils and Trade Unions in Iraq (FWCUI) and the Union of the Unemployed in Iraq (UUI)) .Please look to the attachment of this press release to read text of  the complaint

 

 

 

List of the Korean Labour Activists and Workers who endorsed our Compliant to ILO

 

An Hye Jin  University Student

An Jong Ho  University Student

An Ju Tong  'Gia Motor Union'

Bae Jeong Ran  worker

Bae Kyung Won  University Student

Baek Ja Young  worker

Cha Geun Whan  University Student

Choi Chan Il  University Student

Choi Cheol Ku  worker

Choi Dong Gyu  'Doowon Union'

Choi Eun Tak  worker

Choi Ho Dae  'Hyun-dai Motor Union'

Choi Kwang Kil  worker

Choi Myung Sook  worker

Choi Nak Hyun  'Hyun-dai Motor Union'

Choi Sang Ho  'Hyun-dai Motor Union'

Choi Yong Soo  'Service Allied Union'

Choi Young  'Social Insurance Union'

Eom Gil Jeong  'Hyun-dai Motor Union'

Gye Chang Hee  'Doowon Union'

Ha Ju Wha  worker

Ham Pyung Ki  worker

Ham Yung Bae  'Service Allied Union'

Han Dae Sik  worker

Han Jun Woo  University Student

Han Mi Jeong  worker

Han Sae An  University Student

Han Seong Woo  worker

Her Yun Seok  University Student

Hong Lee Seon  worker

Hong Min Kyung  worker

Hong Seong Hee  University Student

Hong Seung Hun  University Student

Jang Ho Jong  'All-together'

Jang Kyung Joo  University Student

Jang Myun Hoon   'Doowon Union'

Jang Woo Seong  'All-together'

Jeon Byung Young  worker

Jeon Yong Seong   worker

Jeong Eun Jin  worker

Jeong Hye Jeong  'Service Allied Union'

Jeong Hyung Yong  worker

Jeong Jae Yun  'Committee for Dismissed Workers' Reinstatement'

Jeong Seong Kyu  'Gia Motor Union'

Jeong Yeon Yong  worker

Jeong You Kyung  University Student

Jeong Young Sook  worker

Jeon-Kim Myung Hoon  University Student

Ji Myung Ku   'Worker-Student Solidarity'

Ji Tae Whan  'Jeon-nam General Union'

Jin Rak Hee 'Health & Medical Union'

Jo Byung Kil  'Service Allied Union'

Jo Dae Whan  'Equality Union'

Jo Eun Sam  University Student

Jo Hae Ryong  'Samseong worker'

Jo Yun Mi   worker

Kang Jin Man  "Clerical Workers' Union in Seoul & Kyeong-In"

Kang Jin Young  University Student

Kang Kyung Ok  University Student

Kang Mi Seong  "Clerical Workers' Union in Seoul & Kyeong-In"

Kang Min Gu  'Doowon Union'

Kang Sam Cheol  worker

Kang Yeon Ja  'Institute of Labor Theory & Policy in Korea'

Kee Kwang Jin  worker

Kim Dong Gyu  worker

Kim Geun Ho  University Student

Kim Ha Young  worker

Kim Hae Dong  'Social Insurance Union'

Kim Han Ki  University Student

Kim Ho Kyung  worker

Kim Hong Hyun  'Hyun-dai Motor Union'

Kim Hoon  worker

Kim Hoon Hee  worker

Kim Hye Jin  University Student

Kim Hyung Kee  'Service Allied Union'

Kim In Soo  University Student

Kim Jae Gyu  worker

Kim Jong Pil  worker

Kim Jong Soo  worker

Kim Joo  worker

Kim Ju Ik  'Hyun-dai Heavy Industries Subcontract Plant Union'

Kim Jung Hee  worker

Kim Kee Whan  'City Rail Union'

Kim Keon Tae  worker

Kim Ki Cheol  worker

Kim Kwang Il  'Anti-Dispatch Action'

Kim Kyo Soo  'Service Allied Union'

Kim Mi Suk  member of 'Democratic Labor Party'

Kim Min Kyung  University Student

Kim Sa Won  worker 

Kim Sang Woon  University Student

Kim Seol Min  University Student

Kim Seong Cheol  'Gia Motor Union'

Kim Seong Doo  University Student

Kim Seong Girl  worker

Kim Soo Hyun  University Student

Kim Su Jong  worker

Kim Tae Young  'Gia Motor Union'

Kim Whang Woo  'Hyun-dai Motor Union'

Kim Yong Jun  'Gia Motor Union'

Kim You Jin  worker

Kim You Jin  worker

Kim Young Cheol  'Hyun-dai Motor Union'

Kim Young Whan   University Student

Kim Yun Soo  University Student

Kim Yung Min  worker

Kin Hyung Jin  'Hyun-dai Motor Union'

Ko Hee Tae  worker

Ko Jo Il  'Hyun-dai Motor Union'

Kong Seung Hyuk  University student

Kong Yung Ok  'Jeon-buk Equality Union'

Kwon Eun Young  worker

Kwon Hyun Jeong University Student

Kwon O Jeong  worker

Kwon Yong Hee  worker

Lee Bong Hee  'Doowon Union'

Lee Chang Han  University student

Lee Chun Bae  'Social Insurance Union'

Lee Dan Bee  University Student

Lee Dong Jun  "Clerical Workers' Union in Seoul & Kyeong-In"

Lee Dong Sik  'Gia Motor Union'

Lee Geun Jae  worker

Lee Gyu Cheol  University Student

Lee Hyun Jeong  worker

Lee Hyun Kyung  'City Rail Union'

Lee Jae Hyung  University Student

Lee Jae Seon  'Taxi Union'

Lee Jae Yun  'Metal Union'

Lee Jeong Hee  'Kang-won General Union'

Lee Jeong Sik  worker

Lee Ji Young  'Social Insurance Union'

Lee Jong Ho   worker

Lee Ju Heon  University Student

Lee Jun Ho  'Gia Motor Union'

Lee Kab Joo  University Student

Lee Kyung Mi  University Student

Lee Man Hyung  University Student

Lee Mi Hee  worker

Lee Mi Sook  worker

Lee Sang Hee  'Workers' Power'

Lee Seok Woo  worker

Lee Seong Chan   'Public Officer Union'

Lee Seong Jin  'Hyun-dai Motor Union'

Lee Seong Ron  University Student

Lee Soo Jeong  worker

Lee Tak Jin  'Labor Council'

Lee Young Hee  worker

Lee Yun Chang  worker

Lim Dae Whan  'Hyun-dai Heavy Industries Subcontract Plant Union'

Moon Sun O  'Doowon Union'

Na Se Woong  University Student

O In Whan  University student

O Jong Mu  worker

O Seong Whan  'Gia Motor Union'

Park Byung Jun  University Student

Park Chang Jo  'Hyun-dai Motor Union'

Park Eun Ju  worker

Park Hae Seob 'Hyo-Seong Dismissed Workers' Committee'

Park Hyun Ho  'Doowon Union'

Park Hyun Jun  'Gia Motor Union'

Park Hyun Seok  worker

Park Jeong Yeol  worker

Park Jong Hee  worker

Park Jong Wan  University Student

Park Ju Gi  'Gia Motor Union'

Park Jun Ho  University Student

Park Jun Seon  worker

Park Kyung Yeol  'Gia Motor Union'

Park Seong Yeong  University Student

Park So Young  University Student

Park Yong Hun  'Hyun-dai Motor Union'

Park Yun Hee  University Student

Park Yun Seong  'Hyun-dai Motor Union'

Park-jo Eun Mi  'All-together'

Park-o Hyun Jung  worker

Seo Eun Hee  worker

Seo Eun Jeong  worker

Seo Ki Chun  'Metal Union in Kyung-ju'

Seo Sang Bin  University Student

Sim Hee Kyung  University Student

Sin Dong Cheol  'Metal Union'

Sin Hye Sook  University Student

Sin Hyun Seok  University Student

Sin Kwang Hee  'Gia Motor Union'

Sin Kyung Hyun  'Seong-seo Industrial Complex Union'

Sin Myung Wha  University Student

Song Kweon Bong  worker

U Dong Yeon  "Clerical Workers' Union in Seoul & Kyeong-In"

U Ki Man  worker

Whan Seong Jo  'Busan Subway Union'

Whang Hee Suk  'Jeon-buk Equality Union'

Whang Seong Hae  University Student

Yang Kee Chan  University Student

Yeem Hyo Jin  University Student

Yeem Kwang Guk  University student

Yeem You SEon  'Hyun-dai Motor Non-regular Union'

Yeom Sin  'Gia Motor Union'

Yeon Seong Cheol  'Gia Motor Union'

You Byung Kab  'Hyun-dai Motor Union'

You Byung Seong  University Student

You Jeong Seok  'Gia Motor Union'

You Yeong Ho  'Metal Union'

Youn Yang Soo  University Student

Yun Dong Ha  'Workers' Power'

Yun Ji Won  'Seong-seo Industrial Complex Union'

Yun Young Tak University Student

 

 

 

 

Complaint  to the ILO trade union freedom committee

 

 

Dear Sirs and Madams 

 

We, the undersigned duly elected representatives acting on behalf of the Union of the Unemployed in Iraq (UUI) and of the Federation of Workers' Councils and Unions in Iraq (FWCUI), wish hereby to lodge a complaint to the International Labour Organisation's Trade Union Freedom Committee

 

- Whereas, several trade union organisations were set up by the Iraqi workers themselves after the fall of the previous regime, including the Federation of Workers' Councils and Unions in Iraq (of which the Union of the Unemployed in Iraq is an affiliate);

 

- Whereas, the Federation of Workers' Councils and Unions in Iraq was set up at its founding national conference held December 8, 2003 in Baghdad with worker delegates representing workplaces from across Iraq;

 

- Whereas, the Federation of Workers' Councils and Unions in Iraq is now grouping 300,000 Iraqi workers;

 

- Whereas, the Union of the Unemployed in Iraq was formed in May 2003, when they elected an Executive Council that elected their General Secretary;

 

- Whereas, the Union of the Unemployed in Iraq now has formed local branches in 7 provinces recording so far 150,000 affiliated workers from around the country;

 

- Whereas, on January 28, 2004 Decree No 16 issued by Interim Governing Council President Adnan Pachachi granted recognition to one of the existing trade union federations in Iraq, the IFTU, by stating that the IFTU and its President, Mr Rasem Hussein Abdullah, are "the legitimate and legal representatives of the labour movement in Iraq"; and

 

- Whereas, at various workplaces such as the Baghdad railway station or Basra Refinery, after the adoption of Decree No 16 of January 28, 2004 Iraqi workers were told by the management that they should join the legalised union, thus implying that the other unions would be illegal.

 

- We therefore consider that the current situation created by the introduction of Decree No 16 is not consistent with ILO standards and more specifically violates dispositions of ILO Conventions 87 and 98.

 

Regarding ILO Convention 87

 

- In its Articles 1 & 2, ILO Convention 87 stipulates that, "Workers and employees without any distinction have the right, without prior authorisation, to set up organisations of their own choosing as well as the right to join these organisations" (Article1), and "Workers and employees' organisations have a right to elaborate their rule book and to elect freely their representatives" (Article 2).

 

Is there not a contradiction between the fact that the public authorities decided that a trade union was the "legitimate and legal representative of the labour movement in Iraq" and the fact that "workers and employees without any distinction have the right without prior authorisation to set up organisations of their own choosing as well as the right to join these organisations" ?

 

Is it not a violation of Article 1 of ILO Convention 87 when workplace managements instruct the workers on which trade union they should affiliate?

 

- Article 3 of ILO Convention 87, stipulates that, "Public authorities must abstain from any interference, any act restricting those rights or at preventing the legal exercise of these rights."

 

Is there not a violation of Article 3 of ILO Convention 87 when the public authorities decree which is the representave union?

 

We say that by passing Decree No 16 on January 28, 2004, which selects the union to be granted recognition, the public authorities took the right to decide which organisation should be recognised and thus barred the way to the freedom to affiliate to the union of own's own choosing.

 

It is a clear public interference in violation of ILO Convention 87. It perpetuates the previous system of official selection and recognition of trade unions, excluding the right to organise in the union of one's own choosing.

 

Regarding ILO Convention 98

 

- Article 1 of ILO Convention 98, stipulates that, "The organisations of workers and employees must be adequately protected against any mutual interference when for instance company managers threaten to dismiss workers for joining unions which are considered illegal."

 

Subsequent to the fact that the shameful law passed by Saddam Hussein in 1987 banning the right to strike in all public enterprises has not been repealed, Iraqi trade unionists have been threatened by company managers and attacked by the occupying forces for striking.

 

Iraqi workers are now being told by management and the authorities that by not affiliating to the only recognised union they are acting illegally. They can be arrested and sent to jail simply for exercising the right to organise in the union of their own choosing, a right which is enshrined in ILO Conventions.

 

These threats expressed in violation of the dispositions of ILO Convention 98 are made possible because ILO Convention 87 providing for the right to organise in the union of one's own choosing is not enforced.

 

- ILO Convention 98 provides for the right to bargain collectively.

 

It is a violation of ILO Conventions 87 and 98 when, by means of Decree No 16 of January 28, 2004 the authorities take the right to decide which organisations should be recognised and in so doing select which union should be granted the universally recognised right to negotiate.

 

Iraqi workers, with their duly elected representatives, should be allowed to formulate their demands towards the elaboration of a labour law, which can only be written in Iraq by the Iraqi workers themselves.

 

 

Hundreds of thousands of workers in Iraq are currently unemployed (70% of the workforce according to recent survey), and there is widespread fear that their economic well-being has been taken out of their control and in fact depends on the occupying forces. In the current situation, Iraqi workers fear that the decisions made by the occupying forces, particularly in the economic field with privatisation, would continue the plundering of the Iraqi resources by the multinational corporations. It is the people of Iraq themselves who must be in charge of drafting their own Constitution and their own laws, including their own labour law and the dispositions providing for the right to unemployment benefits and full trade union rights provided for by ILO Conventions and more specifically Conventions 87 and 98.

 

 

- Whereas, we consider that there can't be democracy in Iraq if the people of Iraq cannot decide themselves the disposition of their resources, their fate and their future -- and establish their own control over their own economy; if the Iraqi workers are not free to set up the organisations of their own choosing.

 

- Whereas, we share the views expressed by the ILO's Workers Group that,

 

 

 "The rehabilitation exercise and support must be provided for all the people of Iraq, especially the poor, the disabled, and vulnerable groups. The Group calls for the immediate resumption of work for all Iraqi workers, with due protection for their wages. It also demands that the oil resources of Iraq be used solely by the people of Iraq and exclusively for their benefit.

 

 

"In the new Iraq, there must be, consistent with ILO standards, full freedom of association, guaranteeing the Iraqi workers the right to organise and to bargain collectively; there must be democracy with full civil liberties, permitting trade unions to choose their own leadership independently and without interference; there must be the right to self-determination by the Iraqi people."

 

 

 

 

We, the undersigned duly elected representatives acting on behalf of the Unemployed in Iraq (UUI) and of the Federation of Workers Councils and Trade Unions in Iraq (FWCUI) affiliating 300 000 Iraqi workers, hereby lodge a complaint to the International Labour Organisation's Trade Union Freedom Committee requesting that the ILO use all its authority and its prerogatives so as to ensure that ILO Convention 87 and Convention 98 are fully enforced in Iraq and subsequently that full recognition be granted to the trade union organisations that were set up by the Iraqi workers themselves.

 

 

Thank you very much for your understanding

 

Baghdad - May 15, 2004

 

 

Signed/

 

Aso Jabbar,