Congressional Sign-on Letter on Labor Rights in Iraq

Representatives Jan Schakowsky (Dem-IL) and Linda Sanchez (Dem-CA), according to an email from US Labor Against the War, are circulating a “Dear Colleague” letter to their fellow members of the House of Representatives asking them to sign on to a letter to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki calling on the his government to recognize and respect universally recognized labor rights as defined by the International Labor Organization Conventions, including the right to organize, bargain, and strike.

In the letter to their colleagues Reps. Schakowsky and Sanchez state

We all support the government of Iraq as it confronts many serious x in its ongoing efforts to establish the rule of law and to promote the fundamental human rights of its citizens. However, we are deeply concerned that the government is not taking the necessary steps to promote fundamental worker rights, which we regard as a cornerstone of a functioning democracy and a fair economy. Since the fall of the Hussein regime in 2003, the Iraqi government has not only failed to improve worker rights but has undermined them in several important ways.”

USLAW and the AFL-CIO are supporting the “dear colleague” letter. Grass-roots calls asking representatives to sign on can make a big difference on this issue.

Call your member’s district office or the Congressional Switchboard. Tell the operator which member of Congress you want to speak to and they will connect you with their office. Ask to speak to a member of the Congress Member’s staff who deals with labor or international issues. Tell them you are calling to urge your representative to sign the letter to Iraqi Prime Minister Al-Maliki.
Here is the text of the letter to Al-Maliki:

April 4, 2008

Dear Prime Minister al-Maliki:

We are writing to strongly recommend that your government take the necessary
steps to promote worker rights, which we believe are necessary for a well-functioning democracy. There is no question that the government of Iraq still confronts a number of serious challenges in its ongoing efforts to establish the rule of law and to promote the fundamental human rights of its
citizens. We believe that the promotion of fundamental worker rights is essential to ensuring that the exercise of human rights becomes a reality for the people of Iraq.

We applaud the 2004 agreement between the Iraq’s Minister of Labor and the International Labor Organization (ILO) under which the ILO would assist the Iraqi government in drafting a new labor law consistent with international labor standards. We believe that the ILO core labor rights would provide the basis for constructive industrial relations and conflict resolution for
workers and employers that are fundamental to a well-functioning democracy and a strong economy. We are deeply troubled that although a new law was drafted, it has not yet been adopted. To the contrary, the laws and policies that undermine worker rights remain in place.

Of particular concern to us is that, according to the United States Department of State, the 1987 Trade Union Organization Law imposed by Saddam Hussein to effectively ban independent trade unions still remains in force in Iraq. Under the law, the right to bargain collectively and the right to strike were abolished, as was the nation’s minimum wage. Currently, all public sector workers are prohibited from forming a union. In the private sector, unions can be formed only in worksites employing more than 50 workers — only a small fraction of the workforce in Iraq. By law, unions are also required to affiliate with the state-controlled federation of workers. [*]

Further, we understand that the Iraqi government has approved legislation that substantially frustrates the exercise of trade union activity. Decree 8750, which was issued by the government on August 7, 2005, directed that all union bank accounts in the country be frozen. This measure has made dues collection impossible, crippling unions’ ability to function. Union officials rightly fear that any dues deposited in a bank will be confiscatedby the state.

We are also deeply concerned that the Iraqi government has reacted harshly to trade union activity, particularly in the oil sector. For example, when months of discussions between the Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions (IFOU) and the government over wages, health and safety, the use of temporary workers, and the proposed oil law failed to produce a negotiated agreement, the union went on a limited strike outside of Basra on Monday, June 4, 2007. In response, the government sent out the Iraqi armed forces to the oil fields, surrounding and threatening the workers at gunpoint and issued arrest warrants for the union’s leaders. Further, the Iraqi Minister of Oil has issued a directive prohibiting oil companies from dealing with the unions and worker committees and the Ministry of Industry and Minerals has recently issued a similar directive.

Again, we reiterate our support of your government as it continues to face challenges on numerous fronts. However, we strongly urge you to refrain from taking any further measures that may undermine the fundamental rights of workers, and we urge you to immediately recognize and encourage bargaining with all legitimate trade unions and promptly enact a new labor law that is consistent with the ILO core labor rights.

Sincerely,

* It is not accurate to describe The General Federation of Iraqi Workers as “state controlled,” more accurate might be “officially recognized.”

Other labor organizations in Iraq are the Federation of Workers Councils and Unions in Iraq (FWCUI) & Union of the Unemployed and the General Union of Oil Employees (GUOE)/Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions (IFOU).

The UK-based Labour Friends of Iraq is also a good source of information about unions and workers in Iraq.