News & Views for Anarchists & Activists:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo

[The Iraq Freedom Congress is a libertarian, secular, non-violent,
democratic, and progressive group that opposes Ba'athism, Islamism, and
nationalism -- as well as the US invasion/occupation. The IFC has
organized Safety Forces that patrol neighborhoods in Baghdad and other
cities (population c. 5,000). They have reduced sectarian violence in
these neighborhoods to zero. Far from supporting the IFC, the American
occupiers have repeatedly raided their offices and have assassinated the
head of their Safety Forces. Mainstream mass media have entirely failed
to report on the existence of the IFC, and alternative media have been
almost as bad.--DC]

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http://www.ifcongress.com/English/News/2008/1008/gfwcui-alex.htm
The Leaders of the General Federation of Workers Councils and Unions in
Iraq (GFWCUI) and Iraq Freedom Congress (IFC) Are Leading Workers
Demonstrations in Alexandria

A Week-Long Strike Is Announced In The Industrial Sectors

In a Continuation of the campaign announced by the leaders and activists
of the labor unions to carry out demonstrations and strikes against the
decisions of the Ministry of Industry, which prevented the payment of
benefits and salaries of workers, a demonstration involving more than
3,000 workers was organized in the city of Alexandria (65 Km south west
of Baghdad) By GFWCUI and IFC. Also thousands of copies of IFC
statements pertained to workers struggle were distributed, while Sana TV
was present to broadcast full coverage of the rally and conducted dozens
of interviews with the workers leaders and activists.

A day earlier, the Ministry of Industry have sent their representative
to meet with Saeed Nima (workers' representative) and GFWCUI
Vice-President and IFC Central Council secretary, to suspend the rally
for two days until the ministry respond to the workers demands. The
workers however turned down the request because the ministry had lied to
them in previous occasions and on the same demands.

It is sadly noted that one of the workers involved in the demonstration,
named Khalid Ahmed Ali Abbas had died during the demonstration, because
of stroke.

Meanwhile, the Islamic currents tried to intervene in the demonstration
to give a religious character to the event and transfer their sectarian
stance among workers to divert the cause of the rally, but the leaders
of the demonstration confronted them and prevented them from
participation on such bases.

The leaders of the demonstrations in Alexandria announced a week-long
strike in the industrial sectors until their demands are met. On the
other hand the workers representatives would meet the Minister of
Industry on Wednesday to discuss the demands put on October 19th
demonstrations held in Baghdad, the event that never gain media coverage
despite the participation of thousands of workers of the Ministry of
Industry.

Such act reveals the practices of the government to prevent the spread
of news about workers protest in Iraq fearing of such protests would
spread through the entire country in different sectors.

"The labor leaders and activists are determined to continue their
meetings at GFWCUI head office in the coming days to coordinate their
actions to continue their struggle" A statement made by Subhi Albadri,
head of GFWCUI and IFC Labor bureau.

Media Centre
Iraqi Freedom Congress
21-10-2008

*****

http://www.ifcongress.com/English/News/2008/1008/gfwcui-fwcui-demo.htm
Thousands of Workers Took To the Street against the Minister of Finance

The U.S. Troops and National Guards Surround the Event While the Labor
Leaders Deliver Their Speeches

In a series of demonstrations led by workers of the Ministry of Industry
against the Minister of Finance and government decisions that intend
workers salaries cut back under terms of the International Monetary
Fund, a massive demonstration was organized today October 19, 2008 in
Firdaus Square in Baghdad, where thousands of workers have participated.

The demonstrations came as part of a campaign led by the leaders of the
labor unions and mass organizations such as GFWCUI and FWCUI and with
the participation and support of a number of libertarian forces...

A number of labor leaders have delivered fiery speeches to motivate and
strengthen the workers in their struggle and just demands. Among the
speakers were Subhi Albadri head of GFWCUI, Falah Alwan head of FWCUI,
Saeed Nima GFWCUI vice president, and Muamar Majeed FWCUI general secretary.

Meanwhile the U.S. troops and National Guards were heavily surrounding
the rally and blocking off the roads to the ministry building to prevent
the marchers from heading their.

It should be noted that these demonstrations will continue in many
cities and will start sit-ins in all sectors of the Ministry of Industry
to force the Finance Minister and his Government to respond to the
workers demands.

In August demonstrations the ministry agreed to all demands but it had
reneged on the implementation of some later, after consulting with the
IMF. Also IFC has issued a statement that invites the leaders of the
labor movement and unions to unify efforts and coordinate actions to
lead the protest across the country.

Labor Bureau
Iraqi Freedom Congress
19-10-2008

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http://ww4report.com/node/6225
Iraq: Basra workers march against austerity
Submitted by WW4 Report on Tue, 10/28/2008 - 18:19.

A statement from the General Federation of Workers Councils and Unions
in Iraq (GFWCUI: http://www.workerstoday.com/english/index.htm ), Oct. 27:

In Basra Thousands of Workers Take to the Street Against the Government
Anti-Workers Policy
In a coordination effort with the Labor Unifying Bureau, thousands of
workers from various industrial sectors took to the streets of Basra on
October 27, 2008 marching towards the municipal building where the
officials offices to denounce the ministry of Finance decrees that
resulted in massive cut backs in workers salaries.

The workers came from steel, petrochemicals, paper and other plants in
Basra who were headed by Hassan Juma, head of Labor Unifying Bureau and
Oil workers and Abuwatan, vice president of Labor unifying Bureau and
GFWCUI in Basra.

It is noteworthy, these demonstrations have intensified recently in many
industrial sectors across Iraq but the local and international media did
not cover these events.

Amjad Al-Jawhary
General Federation of Workers Councils and Unions in Iraq

*****

--
Dan Clore

My collected fiction: _The Unspeakable and Others_
http://tinyurl.com/2gcoqt
Lord Weÿrdgliffe & Necronomicon Page:
http://tinyurl.com/292yz9
News & Views for Anarchists & Activists:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo

"From the point of view of the defense of our society,
there only exists one danger -- that workers succeed in
speaking to each other about their condition and their
aspirations _without intermediaries_."
--Censor (Gianfranco Sanguinetti), _The Real Report on
the Last Chance to Save Capitalism in Italy_