Sunday 8 April 2007

Death of General Secretary

The GFIW mourns the death of martyr Najim Abd-Jasem the General Secretary of the Mechanic Workers Union.Brother Najim was abducted by criminal militias in Baghdad on theafternoon of the 27th March 2007 .

His body was found three daylater on 30 March 2007. Signs of torture were evident all over hisbody.Brother Najim was one of the key leading trade unionists who helped to establish the IFTU now the GFIW after the fall of Saddam'sdictatorship and was elected as the General Secretary of theMechanics Workers Union in late 2003.

Under the former dictatorship of Saddam, brother Najim worked forthe Health Ministry as a mechanic before he was dismissed because ofhis opposition to Saddam's yellow unions.He joined the underground trade union movement (WDTUM) and fought against the former dictatorial regime.

His murder is a sign of a systematic campaign to eliminate the leadership of the newly formed independent and democratic unions that strongly oppose sectarianism.Najim A- Jasem leaves a widow and four children.Glory to the martyr of Iraqi working class brother Najim A JasemLong live the Iraqi labour movementNajim was kidnapped on 27 March 2007His Body was found on 30 MarchSigns of torture was visible on his bodyNajim Joined the under ground trade union movement (WDTUM) in the1980s.

He was dismissed from his job as a mechanic where he worked for theIraqi health MinistryHe was reinstated to his job after the fall of Saddam's dictatorship.He was a key founder the of the IFTU now the GFIWHe was elected to the position of the General Secretary of theMechanics Workers Union 2003He attended many national and international seminars and training

The executive committee
GFIWBaghdad
31 March 2007

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