Kathlyn Stone -- World News Trust
Aug. 31, 2006 – Oil
pipeline workers in Basra, Iraq, will resume their strike as early as
Sunday if authorities do not meet the remaining demands of workers, the Federation
of Workers’ Councils and Unions in Iraq said Thursday.
About 500 oil and gas workers went
on strike for 48 hours beginning Aug. 22 for higher pay, overtime, timely pay and ambulances at the
work site.
The oil ministry agreed to raise the salaries of workers, which
average about $200 a month, but did not commit to the remaining items.
 Leaders of the oil sector technicians’ union met Tuesday with FWCUI President Falah Alwan and other union leaders to discuss strike plans. Pictured: Technician union president and representatives Samir Al-Mousawi, Ghazi Al-Saadi and Mahmoud Ghadhban. Photo provided by FWCUI.
A general strike by union workers could soon follow the Basra oil
workers’ strike, the FWCUI said. Union leaders will meet next week to finalize
demands and set a deadline for the authorities’ response. The demands currently
under discussion include housing the workers, raising minimum salaries,
expanding limits of promotion and salary, converting contracted workers into
full-time workers, and curbing bureaucracy and corruption.
A joint national protest is being planned by oil workers in Basra, cement workers in
Suleimaniah, employees of the Baghdad Municipality, Central Oil Fields in Baghdad and the vicinity, the Al Dora
Refinery, Al Taji Gas, Oil Projects, Engineering Oil Industries and the Oil
Institution, according to the FWCUI.
U.S. Labor Against
the War, an affiliation of more than 125 unions and labor councils representing several million workers, Wednesday urged its members to
write letters of support to the Iraq
union leaders.
Falah Alwan, FWCUI President, and other union leaders plan national protests and possible
strikes in Iraq.
Alwan took part in a tour of U.S. cities sponsored by U.S. Labor Against the War in 2005. Stony
Brook University, NY,
produced a documentary of the tour called “Meeting Face to Face:the Iraq-U.S.
Solidarity Tour.” Photo by Kathlyn Stone
Last update : 21-02-2007 00:40
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