International campaign to defend the worker’s demands in Kurdistan!

To:  Kurdistan Regional Government

International campaign to defend the worker’s demands in Kurdistan!


Kurdistan workers raise their demands for a progressive labour
law on 1st May 2007 international workers day!

To all trade unions, labour organisations, and activists worldwide

Workers in Iraqi Kurdistan need your support and solidarity in their struggle to achieve their just demands and to win a labour law to protect their rights!

The workers of Kurdistan are faced with untold hardships in their workplaces and daily lives. The unexpected rise of prices, a very low wage, and a lack of all kinds of basic supplies such as fuel, electricity and water supply make life increasingly unbearable.

Even worse is the fact that they don’t have the right to strike, protest, or form independent unions. These restriction date from the time of the former Ba’ath dictator who didn’t recognize the right of workers to strike or to have any role in overseeing and supervising decision making in regard to their working and daily lives.

It is worth noting that the current government in Baghdad – supported by the occupying powers - is also not recognising independent organisations of workers or the right to strike. This government has ratified the ILO conventions on workers rights, but has refused to ratify the articles that allow the right to form independent trade unions, the right to strike or to protest by workers.

The ongoing corruption of the political rulers has lead to the collapse of economic and social infrastructures. There is still no labour law that recognises the rights of workers in Kurdistan, and these problems have combined to create a difficult situation for the working class there. Thus, a group consisting of labour activists from various sectors have combined and created the May Day Committee in order to raise the following demands and pressurise the government of Kurdistan to recognise their demands.

The campaign will be launched from this May Day. It will mark a new chapter in the history of workers’ struggle in Kurdistan.

The following basic demands are now more than ever, needed by the workers of Kurdistan:

• The freedom of association, the ability to strike and to protest is an unconditional right of workers and it must be recognised by the government.

• Corruption must be rooted out, and workers’ representatives must be allowed to create committees to oversee the wealth of society.

• Recognition of a modern labour law according to international labour standards.

• Provision of unemployment benefits, and all other social benefits.

• Workers’ wages must be based on a family of 5, and must be raised in line with inflation. Also, bonuses and profit-sharing schemes must be promptly actioned.

• Provision of basic services including electricity, water supply and fuel is the primary task of the government.

• The problem of lack of adequate accommodation should be solved. All adults over the age of 18 must have the right to live on their own, and must have access to all necessary public services.

• Recognition of the rights of migrant workers as equal to Kurdish workers.


The undersigned:

1-Mahdi Rasol: deputy of the director of Federation of Workers councils and unions representative committee in Kurdistan (FWCUI).
2-Hussein Salih: Member of the Kurdistan representative committee of FWCUI.
3-Akram Nadir director of FWCUI Kurdistan Representative committee.
4-Hawl Khzqia Mesho: Head of Mechanic workers syndicate in Sulaymania.
5-Salar Jabbar Mohammed: Member of representative committee of independent metal workers syndicate in Sulaymania.
6-Houzan Mahmoud: FWCUI international coordinator.
7-Nawzad Dalak: Member of the Barbers syndicate in Sulaymania.
8-Shabaz Mahmood: Member of construction workers union in Sulaymania.
9-Ranj Qadir: Member of construction workers union in Sualymania.
10-Kamaran Karim Rashid: workers activist of the electricity office in Sulaymania.
11-Ali Hasan Mohamad: President of public services in piramagroon.
12-Honar Ali Karim: teacher’s activist in Sulaymania and member of the children protection centre.
13- Goran Ali: Workers activist in Darbandikhan.
14- Kamaran Latif: head of Children protection Centre in Sulaymania.
15- Namiq: member of the representative committee of the workers of Cement workers of Tasloja



To support our campaign and for more information please contact:

Akram Nadir: akram_nadir_1999@yahoo.com

Houzan Mahmoud: houzan73@yahoo.co.uk

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The International campaign to defend the worker’s demands in Kurdistan! Petition to Kurdistan Regional Government was created by and written by Houzan Mahmoud (houzan73@yahoo.co.uk).  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.

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