Iraqi Trade Unions Need Our Support

Over the years Eric Lee of Labour Start has circulated many important appeals on behalf of Trade Unionists who are struggling throughout the world. His appeals on behalf of the Iraqi Trade Union Movement have always been especially telling for me. I once had the privilege of chairing meetings in the Commons which was addressed by the late Hadi Saleh, whose name appears on the front of the TUC publication which is mentioned in Eric's latest letter which is reproduce below. Hadi Saleh was as fine a person as anyone I have met in my seven decades of interests in the wider Labour Movement. He was murdered for his beliefs and his fine actions. Unfortunately, he isn't the only Iraqi Trade Union leader whom I have met who suffered such a fate. Please support Eric's crucial appeal for today's Iraqi Trade Unionists.

 Hadi Saleh

In more than ten years since the fall of the Saddam regime, the Iraqi people have been disappointed, to say the least, with the promises of democracy, peace and prosperity. 

The country’s trade unions, reborn as independent organizations after the American-led invasion, continue to suffer under the repressive laws passed by the Saddam dictatorship.

That's incredible, but true.  Saddam's laws banning most union activity remain in force.

The IndustriALL Global Union and the International Trade Union Confederation have launched an online campaign demanding change — please take a moment to lend your support at -

http://labourstart.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f3995b46c18cb039818f29a32&id=73a006e4cd&e=9e25e00cc2

It’s not all bad news, though.  Oil union leader Hassan Juma’a has just had charges against him thrown out of court earlier this month.  Read one account of this important victory here.

To learn more about the Iraqi labour movement, there’s no better place to start than the wonderful book “Hadi Never Died: Hadi Saleh and the Iraqi Trade Unions” which was published by the British Trades Union Congress.

This beautifully illustrated paperback is still available from Labour Start for just £10.00 (including postage to anywhere in the world).  Order your copy today - click here.

And finally, to stay on top of all the latest labour news from Iraq, make sure to bookmark our Iraqi labour news page.

Thanks very much.


Eric Lee