The General Federation of Iraqi Workers (GFIW)
Greets the Iraqi working class on May Day
The working
class in various parts of the world, along with our Iraqi working class, is
celebrating the 1st of May, International Workers' Day, as a day of
solidarity and a symbol of struggle against exploitation and social and class
oppression, and for their legitimate objectives, for democracy, human rights
and social justice.
The Iraqi
working class has grown and become an important patriotic force, and has been enriched
with experiences based on more than eight decades of national and class
struggle against colonialism and authoritarian rulers, and against exploitation
and social injustice. It demonstrated its strength soon
after its emergence, as manifested by strikes of workers in electricity, railways,
ports, oil, textiles, cigarettes, industrial enterprises, etc. The struggle of the Iraqi working class made
an effective contribution to the success of the 14th July 1958
Revolution. The working class also defended its trade unions, their freedom to
organize, consolidating trade union democracy and progressive legislations. It
confronted the concepts of hegemony and coercive methods, as well as attempts
to transform trade unions and labor organizations into a tool in the hands of
the ruling authorities.
The struggle of
the working class at present has acquired a national and class importance despite
the harsh conditions, the widespread unemployment in their ranks, the
stagnation of the economic cycle and production, the attempts to impose
privatization on our national productive institutions, and the failure to
provide public services. Tens of
thousands of workers are employed with contracts that do not provide any guarantees
for their lives and future. A new Labor Law has not been enacted. The right to
trade union organization in the public sector has been prevented by insisting
on keeping the unjust decree No. 150 (1987) and the law of trade union
organization No. 52 (1987). There has been blatant interference in the affairs
of our trade union organization by conducting sham elections and trying to
impose hegemony and domination over it through the decisions of the Ministry of
Labour and Social Affairs and the ministerial committee overseeing the
implementation of the Governing Council decree No. 3 (2004), and by not
acknowledging the legitimate right of workers to establish their own independent,
free and democratic organization.
The Iraqi
working is aware through its rich experience that building a democratic and
prosperous Iraq can only be achieved by the concerted efforts of workers and
toilers of our people in consolidating the foundations of democracy, by
building an independent democratic trade union movement that expresses the
professional, economic and social interests of workers, and defends their democratic
and trade union rights and freedoms. This movement would build trade union
organization in the public sector, protect the national industry in the public,
private, mixed and cooperative sectors, and reject the privatization of the
public sector and public services. It calls for direct national exploitation of
our oil wealth, for defending the rights and gains of working women in equality
in all fields of work: political, social, economic and trade unionist. This
independent democratic trade union movement will demand a radical solution to the
problem of unemployment without further delay, and call for a speedy enactment of
both the Labour Law and the Social Security Law in accordance with
international labour standards. It will combat financial and administrative
corruption, and demand the inclusion of the unemployed under the social
security network, granting retired workers their rights, to ensure their
future, and to end child labour and provide them with social protection. The
movement will also tackle other economic, social and security issues which workers
and the Iraqi people as a whole are suffering.
The
General Federation of Iraqi Workers (GFIW), while greeting the Iraqi working
class and the toilers of our people on this historic occasion, calls upon them,
of all political, ethnic and religious affiliations, to unite their energies
and efforts to build a democratic Iraq free of violence and oppression, and to
consolidate the values of tolerance, dialogue and democracy. They are called
upon to intensify their struggle for the freedom of association and trade union
work, especially in the public sector, and to abolish the unjust decisions and
decrees that are hostile to workers. Tutelage from any quarter, whether
domestic or foreign, is rejected. Our working class must be able to participate
in formulating the social, political and economic policies, to play an active
role in the development of our country, and to struggle to resolve the problem
of unemployment as soon as possible, to improve the working conditions and accelerate
the economic cycle. In addition, acts of terror that are targeting our people
must be condemned.
On May Day,
we declare our full solidarity with the workers and people of Palestine in
their just struggle to achieve their legitimate demands to establish their own
independent national state. We condemn the continuation of the Zionist
aggression on the Palestinian people and the continued Israeli occupation of
Arab territories in Syria and Lebanon, and we call for putting an end to it on
the basis of international legitimacy. On this occasion which is dear to our
hearts, we extend our warmest congratulations to all the Arab and international
working class, and salute the struggle of workers and their growing trade union
movement in various parts of the world, to expand public and trade union
freedoms, achieve social justice and strengthen international solidarity.
The Iraqi
working class, with its glorious record of struggle, will remain at the
forefront of the forces of our people struggling for a bright future. May Day is
seen as an incentive for further work and struggle to achieve their legitimate
objectives in a free and dignified life.
Glory to
the 1st of May, the International Day of Solidarity for workers
Long live
the Iraqi working class
Glory to
the martyrs of the Iraqi working class and people
Executive Office
The General Federation of Iraqi
Workers (GFIW)
25 April 2013
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