Arrest warrants lraq union leaders

Date: 09 June 2007

Arrest warrants still in force on Iraq oil union leaders - strike planned for Monday.

The president of the Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions (IFOU), Hassan Juma'a informed British supporters of Iraq unions at about 3.30 PM London time (Friday 8th June 2007) that the arrest warrants against the leaders of the Federation have not been withdrawn, and he made an urgent appeal to world trade unionists and the anti-war movement to step up the solidarity campaignwith Iraq's oil workers and trade unionists.

Hassan Juma'a said "the arrest warrants, issued by the prime minister's office, are still in force, despite the Federation's decision to postpone the strike till Monday 11th June to allow for furthernegotiations."

US jet planes were buzzing the skies of Basra as he spoke to British supporters on the phone. He added that Iraqi army tanks and other forces were still besieging workers in Sheiba, in Basra governorate, but that the workers will resume the strike on Monday if their demands were not met.

IFOU members started strike action on Monday in the pipeline section, paralyzing oil and gas supplies to many areas, including Baghdad.

The very effective strike action was postponed on Wednesday to allow for further talks regarding the union's 16 demands, relating to salary scales, better health and work conditions and demanding consultation on the proposed oil law. The so called Hydrocarbon Law is opposed by the union,which regards it as being against the Iraqi people's interests and an imposition by the occupation governments.

The Federation's leader urged all unions and the anti-war movement to "step up their solidarity with the our union and the struggle of ourbrave members."

For more information and international appeals for solidarity action seethe IFOU's website www.basraoilunion.org

For ongoing reports about Iraq and the struggles of union workers go to LabourStart

For further information

Contact:	Sami Ramadani
Phone:	UK + 7863 138748
Email:	sami.ramadani@londonmet.ac.uk
WWW:	http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/show_news.pl?country=Iraq

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