TUC denounces Iraqi strike-breaking

Louise Nousratpour
Wednesday June 6, 2007
The Morning Star

THE TUC condemned the Iraqi government on Wednesday for its military intervention to quash a strike by oil workers in southern city of Basra and demanded that troops be withdrawn from the oil fields.

The troops have been sent to the area following a walkout by members of the Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions (IFOU) on Monday.

According to the IFOU, arrest warrants have been issued by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki for its leader Hassan Juma'a Awad, along with three other senior union officials.

"The government is intimidating the union, but we are determined to gain our legitimate right," Mr Awad said, adding that the strike would continue as planned.

Responding to urgent appeals for solidarity from the IFOU, TUC general secretary Brendan Barber condemned the "threatening presence" of troops to the area.

"Military intervention is not the way to resolve industrial disputes," he said.

"This strike began only after weeks of negotiation had failed to produce a deal, but negotiation is the only way to end the strike peacefully."

The strike, which is over wages, bonuses, health and safety, use of temporary workers and the threats to privatise the oil industry, has suspended delivery of oil to Baghdad, including the green zone and the southern governates of Iraq.

Mr al-Maliki warned on Tuesday that he would meet threats to oil production "with an iron fist."

IFOU British-based support committee Naftana spokesman Sami Ramadani called the arrest warrants an "outrageous attack on trade union and democratic freedoms."

Mr Ramadani said that, although he could not confirm it, occupying British troops may be involved in this military intervention against the oil workers' strike.

He urged Britain's trade union movement to escalate pressure on the government to withdraw the troops and end the "divisive and poisonous" occupation.

Mr Ramadani suggested that the Iraqi government's heavy-handed approach was partly due to the IFOU opposition to the oil law, which would see the industry privatised and sold off to transnational oil tycoons.

He accused the US and Britain of putting "direct pressure" on the Iraqi government to pass the law.

"This is a very, very dangerous law for the future of the Iraqi people and the workers in the oil industry," Mr Ramadani warned.

Iraqi Democrats Against Occupation spokesman Sabah Jawad pleged his support for the IFOU, adding: "The intimidation of Iraqi trade unionists by the US-installed Iraqi government is a far cry from Mr Bush and Mr Blair's promise to bring democracy and human rights to to the country."