Help Iraq's Teachers Now

Labour Start has launched a major international campaign in defence of the Iraqi Teachers Union (ITU) who face the threat of being taken over by the government.

The teachers are demonstrating tomorrow in their thousands in Baghdad.

The matter is explained here by Abullah Muhsin, the British Representative of the ITU who has in the past addressed the North East Derbyshire Constituency Labour Party.

This matter was also raised earlier on this blog - see here.

Please click here now to send off a message of protest. Spread the word.


UPDATE ON IRAQI TEACHERS' STRUGGLE

The Iraqi Teachers Union (ITU) held its second national protest on 28 March 2009 with over 500 protesters. The ITU protest attracted Iraqi media, and support from Iraqi trade unions and civil society organisations such as the Association of Political Prisoners (victims of former regime).The ITU protest carried the following slogans -
*Respect the Iraqi constitution.

*The ITU reject the Iraqi government interference in the internal affairs of the union and call on it to cease its undemocratic attempts to take control of the ITU.

*The union shall hold elections only under its internal rules and in the presence of judges

*Support civil society organisations. Allow them to do their job to strengthen democracy.

SEE MORE HERE FROM ERIC LEE, EDITOR OF LABOUR START AND ABDULLAH MUHSIN (ITU). Photo : Abdullah relaxes at last year's Conference held by Labour Start.