Thursday 18 January 2007

IRAQ UNION SOLIDARITY SCOTLAND

IRAQ UNION SOLIDARITY SCOTLAND
Support Trade Unions in Iraq !Iraq Union solidarity Scotland is a network of trade unionists who want to maximise support from trade unionists in Scotland for their counterparts in Iraq. This includes circulating information about workers' struggles in Iraq, fund-raising, and responding to other appeals for assistance from Iraqi trade unions.Iraq Union Solidarity Scotland has recently been set up as part ofthe UK wide campaign. It holds regular meetings in Glasgow, and has supporters in other Scottish cities.For further information about our campaign, please contact:iraqunionsolidarityscotland@yahoo.co.uk or phone Mobile: 07979 421 475

Wednesday 17 January 2007

Rebublic of Fear




Iraq Since 1958 by Slugett and Slugett


IFTU

For more info on IFTU see http://www.iraqunionsolidarity.org

ألاتحاد العام لنقابات العمال فى العراق
Iraqi Federation of Workers' Trade Unions (IFTU)
English العربية

The Organisation of Women's Freedom

The Organisation of Women's Freedom in Iraq (OWFI)

Background:

Women are the victims of violence and backward religious traditions in Iraq, and are in desperate need of shelter and protection from random acts of aggression. These women are subject to continuous threat of being:
· killed by their husbands or male relatives (honor killings)
· Burnt or mutilated for suspicion of shameful acts
· publicly executed or shot by the police
· kidnapped and secretly murdered
· in state of despair and see no other way than to commit suicide
Consequently, millions of women undergo sexual discrimination encouraged by Islamist activists and Saddam’s regime that urge all “God Loving” men to oppress their women so as to abide by an Islamic submissive lifestyle that was created hundreds of years ago. This situation has been introduced and enhanced in the last decade, and does not allow women basic standards of human dignity. Other Reasons that result in the deterioration of social status of women in Iraq:
· Hundreds of thousands of women were widowed by consecutive wars, and genocide executed by Saddam’s army
· Economic sanctions spread out poverty to unthinkable extents where every widow finds herself responsible of a family with no sort of support or social insurance
· Recent years changes in civil laws so as to allow honor killings and referral to backward and barbaric tribal law
· Absence of supremacy of law, allowing Islamist misogynist practices which the ruling Baath party chose to apply by committing mass killings on women.

Local Women’s Movements
Independent Women’s organization (IWO) was formed on 8th of March 1992 in North of Iraq with the efforts of volunteering individuals. Since then, women sheltering services began to be provided. These include armed protection, safe dwelling and legal services.
IWO has proved to be the only organization to fully adopt a comprehensive campaign of advocating Iraqi women’s rights and for that had gained the support of local radical movements. IWO has extended its influence to international locations that attracted masses of Iraqi refugees. It is represented now in Canada, England and Australia. Our committee (DIWR) in Canada was founded on May 20, 1998 and has pursued
Investigating into the status of Iraqi women with a focus on Kurdistan of Iraq where the absence of supremacy of law resulted in giving way to ancient tribal practices against women encouraged by recent Islamist influences.

The need for these services?
In order to gain a broad perspective of the local scene, and a sense of the urgency to activate change towards the women’s cause in Iraqi Kurdistan, we refer to one recent statistical figure done in North of Iraq - Kurdistan
- That could explain it all:
Within a population of 5 Million in Iraqi Kurdistan
4000 honor killings (1990-1999)
Hundreds of burnt women
Tens of honor driven mutilations against women
Thousands of circumcised (genitally mutilated) girls yearly till this present day

What your support can do?
Strengthen international solidarity for the support of women’s movement in Iraq in their struggle against Islamist influenced male violence.
Provide the women’s shelter with financial support necessary for the survival of desperate women.
Boost Women’s aspirations in gaining freedom and equality with their fellow men. We seek the support and cooperation of all organizations that are involved in developing women’s status worldwide.

More info at : http://wwwiraqunionsolidarity.org

Contacts of Federation of Workers Councils and Unions in Iraq-FWCUI abroad


Contacts of Federation of Workers Councils and Unions in Iraq-FWCUI abroad

Falah Alwan, President of FWCUI
Baghdad
Tel.009647901380036
Email: falahalwan@yahoo.com

Aso JabbarRepresentative of FWCUI and UUI-abroad and in charge of the networkTel: 0041 78 882 55 89 Email:mailto:asojabbar@yahoo.com

Houzan Mahmud
Coordinator of FWCUI and UUI Network Abroad
Email:houzan73@yahoo.co.uk (Brittain)
Tel: 00 44 79 56 88 3001

Dlishad majeedIn charge of the Finance of FWCUI and UUI abroadTel: 0041765132756

Dashti JamalRepresentative of FWCUI and UUI in EnglandTel: 0044 7734704742 Email: d.jamal@ntlworld.com

Amjad AliRep. of FWCUI and UUI in CanadaTel: 001 416-264-1131 Email: amjad@rogers.com

Erfan KarimRep. of FWCUI and UUI in GermanyTel: 00491726274423Email: nc-krimar@netcologne.de

Yousif Mohammad,Rep. of FWCUI and UUI in TurkeyTel: 00905362776220Email : yousif_ma@yahoo.com

Sami Mohammad Rep. of FWCUI and UUI in DenmarkTel: 0045 26179611 Email: Fehed_naser@hotmail.com

Jabbar MohammadRep . Of FWCUI and UUI in Italy Tel: 0039338616782Email: hassan558@tiscali.it

Jalal mohamadRep. of FWCUI and UUI in AustraliaTel: 00 61 04022 17864 Email:mailto:jalalm84@hotmail.comBnar Mustafa Rep. of FWCUI and UUI in Finland Tel: 00358407638892 Email: bnarmustafa@hotmail.com

Email of FWCUI and UUI: info@uuiraq.org

Address of UUI in Baghdad: Bab Al-Sharki, Al Rasheed St, Old Labour Union Bldg. Baghdad, Iraq


Address abroad:

FWCUI and UUI Post Box 8553
3001 Bern
Switzerland

Tel: 0041 78 882 55 89 Email:asojabbar@yahoo.com
Info@uuiraq.org

PUBLIC MEETING

On February 6th 2007 at 7.30pm, there will be a meeting organised by Iraq Union Solidarity Scotland, a group which has recently formed to put into action STUC policy and give support to the much beleagured Iraqi trade union movement. The meeting is at the STUC Centre, 333 Woodlands Road, Glasgow. The speakers will be Mary Senior, STUC Assistant Secretary and delegate to the TUC Iraq Solidarity Committee. I will be chairing the meeting and there will also be a DVD showing the 2005 US tour of all the Iraqi trade unions and federations, organised by US Labour Against the War; which culminated in a meeting and a statement which set out the principles which all the Iraqi unions were united on.

If you would like to know more about IUSS or if you would like to be notified of IUSS meetings and events, please email iraqunionsolidarityscotland@yahoo.co.uk.

Many thanks,
Comradley,
Pauline Bradley
Convenor Iraq Union Solidarity Scotland

Saturday 13 January 2007

Model Motion

Model text for motions in trade union branches and other bodies to move affiliation to Iraq Union Solidarity Scotland:

Noting that:
Since 2003 Iraqi workers have set up independent trade unions, evicted old Ba'thist bosses and new American contractors, won pay raises, campaigned to save jobs, demanded jobs or benefits for the unemployed, and resisted privatisation. This diverse and lively Iraqi labour movement can be a key force in winning a free, democratic, and secular Iraq. It urgently needs international support.

Iraq Union Solidarity Scotland is a grassroots network of trade unionists and activists. In line with TUC policy passed at the 2004 Congress, it works to spread information, to assist links at every level between the British and Iraqi labour movements, to help arrange speakers and meetings, and to raise money for the hard-pressed new independent trade union organisations in Iraq. Its affiliation fee is £5 for one year.
We resolve to:
Affiliate to Iraq Union Solidarity Scotland.

Affiliation

Affiliate to Iraq Union Solidarity Scotland !

Name............................................. Address...............................

........................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................

..............................................................................................Email.......................................................

Phone No................................................. Organisation/Union Branch...................................................

Affiliation fee paid -affiliation is £ 5 but that allows any extra to go straight to Iraqi Trade Unionists..................................................

Please return to: Iraq Union Solidarity Scotland, c/o West Dunbarton
UNISON Council Offices, Garshake Road, Dunbarton, G 82 3PU