BRITAIN: Protests at plans to curb Iraqi unions

According to the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen website, the Trade Union Congress and a number of British parliamentarians are protesting attempts by the Iraqi government to take control of the country's emerging trade union movement. Decree 8750 issued by the Iraqi council of ministers allows it to take over union finances and declares that new industrial relations legislation won't include freedom of association. Labour MP Dave Anderson has tabled a parliamentary motion supporting independent Iraqi trade unions and expressing alarm at "recent reports that the Iraqi government has replaced the leadership of the independent engineers' union with its own appointees in a prima facie breach of freedom of association". For more information visit <http://www.aslef.org.uk>.

From Green Left Weekly, March 22, 2006.

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From GLW issue 661