Workers’ Councils and Unions in Iraq : Argentina Indymedia (( i ))

The Conference of the Workers’ Councils and Unions in Iraq – WCUI has Successfully Concluded in Baghdad

After 7 Months of serious and relentless work by the Preparatory Committee for the Foundation of Workers’ Councils and Unions in Iraq - PCFWCUI, the first conference of workers unions and councils in Iraq has zealously taken place in Baghdad on December 8th, 2003. This conference was the fruit of PCFWCUI activities and its hard efforts to gather many workers around the unions and councils, as well as the foundation of many local unions and workers councils across Iraq.

After 7 hours of serious discussions around main agenda topics, key issues were endorsed; a list of workers immediate demands, a draft for a new Iraqi Labour Code and the main outlines of its legislature, as well as the election of the union leadership committee members. The attendees then endorsed a resolution to dissolve PCFWCUI and establish the Workers’ Councils and Unions in Iraq - WCUI.

The main discussions of this conference were revolving around the most basic and pressing issues of workers. They have provided a clear horizon to address the needs of the working class and a clear vision in the form of an action plan for the union. The most wonderful phenomenon, which had drawn every body’s attention, was the presence of workers representatives from across Iraq, from the farthest southern Basra to the northern Sulaimaniya. Also representatives of workers and Union of the Unemployed in Iraq-UUI from Kirkuk, Nassiriyah, Ramadi, Hilla, Kut, Samawa, in addition to Baghdad workers, were present at the conference.

This conference has proven to all, that the workers of Iraq do not recognize any religious, racial, tribal, or ethnic divisions among their ranks. That they can unite despite the current political wrangling in Iraq, and the attempts to divide Iraq along ethnic, religious, and nationalistic lines. At the time when the rightwing anti-workers political powers are fighting among themselves to gain more positions and are unable to unite, the workers have proven to be able to establish their free and independent union.

Long Live Working Class’ Solidarity

Long Live the Willpower of Workers

Congress of the Workers’ Councils and Unions in Iraq - WCUI

Baghdad, December 8, 2003

Address of the Abroad Representative of the Union of the Unemployed in Iraq UUI: Post Box 325, CH-3000 Bern 11, Switzerland. Tel: 0041 78 882 55 89 Email:asojabbar@yahoo.com, Homepage: http://www.uuiraq.org