×
End Iraq government repression of trade unions
Michael E.
started this petition to
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki
Despite all the talk about fostering democracy and human rights in Iraq, workers there continue to be denied the right to freely organize trade unions and negotiate over the terms of their labor - just as they were under Saddam Hussein.
In the last two years, repression against unions has escalated. Recently the Ministry of Oil lodged a criminal complaint against Hassan Juma'a Awad, President of the Iraq Federation of Oil Unions, claiming he was responsible for strikes in the oil industry.
If convicted, he could face stiff fines and three years in prison. He has been ordered to appear in court to respond to the charges leveled against him by the Ministry of Oil and management of South Oil Company.
Persecution of union leaders for exercising rights promised by Iraq's constitution and protected under international treaty must not be allowed to stand unchallenged.
Labor organizations across the U.S., including the AFL-CIO, and around the world have responded by signing a letter to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki* demanding that all charges against Hassan Juma'a be immediately withdrawn and that persecution of Iraqi workers peacefully exercising their rights must cease.
No government that denies these basic labor and human rights can claim to be a democracy.
U.S. Labor Against the War asks you to sign this petition supporting the rights of Iraq's workers and in solidarity with Hassan Juma'a and other union activists who are being persecuted by the government for exercising their rights.
In the last two years, repression against unions has escalated. Recently the Ministry of Oil lodged a criminal complaint against Hassan Juma'a Awad, President of the Iraq Federation of Oil Unions, claiming he was responsible for strikes in the oil industry.
If convicted, he could face stiff fines and three years in prison. He has been ordered to appear in court to respond to the charges leveled against him by the Ministry of Oil and management of South Oil Company.
Persecution of union leaders for exercising rights promised by Iraq's constitution and protected under international treaty must not be allowed to stand unchallenged.
Labor organizations across the U.S., including the AFL-CIO, and around the world have responded by signing a letter to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki* demanding that all charges against Hassan Juma'a be immediately withdrawn and that persecution of Iraqi workers peacefully exercising their rights must cease.
No government that denies these basic labor and human rights can claim to be a democracy.
U.S. Labor Against the War asks you to sign this petition supporting the rights of Iraq's workers and in solidarity with Hassan Juma'a and other union activists who are being persecuted by the government for exercising their rights.
*http://bit.ly/Letter_to_Maliki
For more information: Visit the USLAW website at http://uslaboragainstwar.org
To receive future announcements and news from USLAW, subscribe at http://uslaboragainstwar.org/subscribe
Posted
(Updated )
Report this as inappropriate
There was an error when submitting your files and/or report.