[Peace-discuss] Fwd: [ilrtf] John Sweeney Calls for respect for labor rights in
Iraq
Al Kagan
akagan at uiuc.edu
Sun Jan 25 23:25:02 CST 2004
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>Subject: [ilrtf] John Sweeney Calls for respect for labor rights in Iraq
>
>Please distribute this notice widely. Apologies
>for duplication caused by cross-posting.
>
>[US Labor Against the War welcomes this
>statement by John Sweeney regarding the right of
>Iraqi workers to the full range of labor rights
>recognized by and enshrined in internationally
>recognized conventions of the International
>Labor Organization (ILO). These rights which
>President Sweeney so correctly points to for
>Iraqi workers are also rights to which workers
>in the U.S. are entitled. Yet, sadly, as the
>AFL-CIO reminded the nation on Human Rights Day
>last December 10th, these are rights which many
>American workers do not enjoy or enjoy on paper
>but not in reality.
>
>For example, the terms of the 1987 decree
>through which Saddam Hussein forbade Iraqi
>workers employed by public enterprises from
>forming, joining or bargaining through unions of
>their choice (affecting the vast majority of all
>workers) have been effectively imposed on tens
>of thousands of workers in the U.S. in states
>which have yet to grant bargaining rights to
>their public employees. And while the National
>Labor Relations Act nominally assures workers in
>the private sector the right to organize and
>bargain, a combination of ruthless anti-union
>employers, employer-biased court decisions,
>pro-employer NLRB rulings, non-existent
>enforcement and absence of any effective
>penalties has rendered those paper rights
>meaningless. American and Iraqi workers have a
>common interest in supporting one another. We
>face the same corporate adversaries and deserve
>the same labor rights! That's why USLAW
>launched a Campaign for Labor Rights in Iraq and
>the US.
>
>On February 24th, USLAW, Code Pink, Global
>Exchange and other organizations will sponsor
>actions that spotlight war profiteering by U.S.
>corporations in Iraq and the denial of labor
>rights to Iraqi and American workers. Check the
>USLAW website at www.uslaboragainstwar.org for
>more information about these activities. By
>registering at the site, you will be placed on a
>contact list for announcements about these and
>other events sponsored by USLAW. Or write to
>USLAW at info at uslaboragainstwar.org.]
>
>
>
>For Immediate Release For information: Lane Windham, 202/637-5018
>
>Statement by AFL-CIO President John J. Sweeney on
>A New Labor Code for Iraq
>January 22, 2004
>
>Over the past year, the AFL-CIO has consistently
>emphasized the need for a multilateral approach
>for the reconstruction of Iraq and its
>transition to democratic self-rule. We are
>heartened by discussions over the last few days
>between the United Nations, the CPA and the
>Iraqi Governing Council regarding the possible
>return of the UN to Iraq.
>The success of a multilateral approach depends
>on the involvement of Iraqi men and women of all
>religions, ethnic groups and regions in
>rebuilding their nation according to the rule of
>law. The rebuilding of Iraq and the
>introduction of democratic self-rule will only
>succeed if the Iraqi people themselves have a
>major role and responsibility in the
>reconstruction process rather than being
>alienated from it.
>This is especially true with regard to Iraqís
>workers, most of whom are currently unemployed,
>and who fear that their economic well-being is
>out of their control and in the hands of
>outsiders. A concerted effort to make Iraqi
>workers active partners in the reconstruction
>process, particularly during this period of
>political transition, is key to its success.
> The fact that the labor laws imposed by
>Saddam Hussein in 1987 are still the ìlaw of the
>landî undermines the effort to enfranchise Iraqi
>workers by denying them any organized voice
>through which to participate. This archaic law
>is in fundamental violation of the most
>important ILO conventions on freedom of
>association and the right to organize and
>bargain collectively by, among other things,
>prohibiting trade union representation in the
>public sector. Since most of the labor force is
>defined to be in the public sector, this law
>effectively denies fundamental rights to the
>overwhelming majority of Iraqi workers. The
>1987 law also denies Iraqi workers the right to
>create and join organizations of their own
>choosing.
>This law must be replaced. While the Iraqi
>people themselves must draft their own
>constitution and laws, it is critical that the
>drafting of a new labor code consistent with
>international labor standards begins now. We
>were pleased to learn that the Iraq Minister of
>Labor and the ILO have signed a cooperative
>agreement for the ILO to assist the Ministry in
>drafting a new labor law, bringing immense
>experience, expertise and stature. This
>initiative is consistent with the multilateral
>approach essential for reconstruction and
>political transition to succeed.
>In the meantime, the AFL-CIO calls on the CPA
>and the Iraqi Governing Council to allow Iraqi
>workers to associate together and participate
>collectively in rebuilding the economy.
>Training and other kinds of support from the
>international trade union movement should be
>encouraged, especially through the International
>Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU).
>Such initial steps would go a long way toward
>the development of a modern industrial relations
>system in Iraq that would address worker
>grievances and promote respect for workersí
>rights.
>
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>
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>_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
--
Al Kagan
African Studies Bibliographer and Professor of Library Administration
Africana Unit, Room 328
University of Illinois Library
1408 W. Gregory Drive
Urbana, IL 61801, USA
tel. 217-333-6519
fax. 217-333-2214
e-mail. akagan at uiuc.edu
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