Iraq

The TUC has relationships with all the Iraqi and Kurdish trade union centres, three of which unified in 2005 to form a new General Federation of Iraqi Workers, there are two workers federations in Iraqi Kurdistan which are also planning a merger

Apart from the massive economic and social devastation resulting from the war and the consequent lack of decent employment and basic services, Iraqi unions are under attack from the current Iraqi Government, which recently issued a decree taking state control of all union assets and finances. The TUC supports workers’ efforts to rebuild free trade unionism in Iraq with ILO-compliant labour laws.

In Britain, practical support for the Iraqi trade unions is channelled largely through the TUC's Iraq Solidarity Committee and the TUC’s Aid for Iraq Appeal raises funds to support Iraqi trade unionists in practical ways.


The most recent documents available on this subject are:

Drop charges against Iraqi oil union leader, says TUC

TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady has urged the Iraqi government to desist from persecuting and harassing trade unionists in the oil industry. Union leaders from the sector globally - IndustriALL - and UNITE in the UK have also called for the cas...

PDF version available for download
25 March 2013
Sadrist thugs attack General Federation of Iraqi Workers

Thugs from the Sadrist movement stormed the offices of the General Federation of Iraqi Workers in Baghdad last week, assaulting union members and damaging property. TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber wrote to the Iraqi Charges D'Affaires Dr Muhi...

18 July 2012
URGENT ACTION: End harassment of Iraqi oil union activists

The Iraqi government has stepped up its harassment of trade unionists in the oil sector. Sign the labour start petition calling on the Iraqi government to end these attacks.

22 June 2012
Iraqi government bans teaching union leaders from coming to UK

The Iraqi Minister for Education has placed a ban on two leaders of the Iraqi Teacher's Union from coming to the UK next week to attend the NASUWT's annual conference. TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber has written to the Iraqi Charge D'Affaires in...

26 March 2012
“The Arab Spring is a courageous stand for freedom and decent work”

One year after the Egyptian revolution toppled Mubarak, Diana Holland, Unite Assistant General Secretary addressed Amnesty International's Middle East and North Africa "demonstration for a human rights revolution" in Trafalgar Square, on 11 February ...

24 February 2012
ACT NOW! Defend Iraqi oil union leader

The TUC is supporting a Labour Start appeal to defend the President of the Kirkuk Oil and Gas Workers Union, Jamal Abdul-Jabbar who has been forcibly relocated by his employers. International union protests have prevented this sort of management hara...

PDF version available for download
30 May 2011



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