Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions
Encyclopedia
The Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU) is the largest union federation in Iraq
and the only officially recognized trade union
body. It was formed in the aftermath of the Iraq War by several groups, most prominently the Iraqi Communist Party
, which wished to disassociate itself from the National Front it had formed with the Ba'ath Party in the 1970s.
The IFTU was formed on May 16, 2003, at a meeting of the Workers Democratic Trade Union Movement (WDTUN) attended by 350 Iraqi trade unionists.
Although initially opposed by the U.S.-led occupation forces, the federation was later given exclusive rights to unionize public sector
workers in the country. The union has since been attacked by sections of the Iraqi insurgency
, and former leader Hadi Saleh
was assassinated in January 2005.
It often finds itself in competition with the Federation of Workers Councils and Unions in Iraq
and the Federation of Oil Unions in Iraq
, neither of which are officially recognized. One of the issues that divide these unions is how they relate to the occupation authorities.
The IFTU, which is linked to political parties that are part of the Iraqi government, opposed the American invasion but claims it has been forced to work with the occupation forces following the invasion. The FWCUI takes a harder line toward the occupation authorities, calling for an immediate troop withdrawal.
However, all three union federations have agreed on a common statement, which states that the "occupation must end in all its forms, including military bases and economic domination" and that the "war was fought for oil and regional domination, in violation of international law, justified by lies and deception, without consultation with the Iraqi people." The statement also condemned the occupation's economic program, stating its "opposition to the imposition of privatization
of the Iraqi economy by the occupation, the IMF
, the World Bank
,[and] foreign powers".
In 2007, the IFTU joined with the other trade union federations to oppose the U.S.-backed national oil law, and supported a planned strike by the Federation of Oil Unions in Iraq to protest the law.
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
and the only officially recognized trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
body. It was formed in the aftermath of the Iraq War by several groups, most prominently the Iraqi Communist Party
Iraqi Communist Party
Since its foundation in 1934, the Iraqi Communist Party has dominated the left in Iraqi politics. It played a fundamental role in shaping the political history of Iraq between its foundation and the 1970s. The Party was involved in many of the most important national uprisings and demonstrations...
, which wished to disassociate itself from the National Front it had formed with the Ba'ath Party in the 1970s.
The IFTU was formed on May 16, 2003, at a meeting of the Workers Democratic Trade Union Movement (WDTUN) attended by 350 Iraqi trade unionists.
Although initially opposed by the U.S.-led occupation forces, the federation was later given exclusive rights to unionize public sector
Public sector
The public sector, sometimes referred to as the state sector, is a part of the state that deals with either the production, delivery and allocation of goods and services by and for the government or its citizens, whether national, regional or local/municipal.Examples of public sector activity range...
workers in the country. The union has since been attacked by sections of the Iraqi insurgency
Iraqi insurgency
The Iraqi Resistance is composed of a diverse mix of militias, foreign fighters, all-Iraqi units or mixtures opposing the United States-led multinational force in Iraq and the post-2003 Iraqi government...
, and former leader Hadi Saleh
Hadi Saleh
Hadi Saleh was an Iraqi trade unionist and was International Secretary of the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions.Saleh had been involved in Iraqi trade unions for much of his adult life, and was sentenced to death in 1969 because of his involvement in independent unions after the 1968 Ba'ath coup...
was assassinated in January 2005.
It often finds itself in competition with the Federation of Workers Councils and Unions in Iraq
Federation of Workers Councils and Unions in Iraq
The Federation of Workers Councils and Unions in Iraq is the second largest union federation in Iraq.The federation was formed by members of the Union of the Unemployed of Iraq, which is connected to the Worker Communist Party of Iraq as a left-wing alternative to the Iraqi Federation of Trade...
and the Federation of Oil Unions in Iraq
Federation of Oil Unions in Iraq
Founded in October 2005 from unions that had begun organizing after the invasion, the Federation of Oil Unions of Iraq is the largest independent union consortium in Iraq, with tens of thousands of members...
, neither of which are officially recognized. One of the issues that divide these unions is how they relate to the occupation authorities.
The IFTU, which is linked to political parties that are part of the Iraqi government, opposed the American invasion but claims it has been forced to work with the occupation forces following the invasion. The FWCUI takes a harder line toward the occupation authorities, calling for an immediate troop withdrawal.
However, all three union federations have agreed on a common statement, which states that the "occupation must end in all its forms, including military bases and economic domination" and that the "war was fought for oil and regional domination, in violation of international law, justified by lies and deception, without consultation with the Iraqi people." The statement also condemned the occupation's economic program, stating its "opposition to the imposition of privatization
Privatization
Privatization is the incidence or process of transferring ownership of a business, enterprise, agency or public service from the public sector to the private sector or to private non-profit organizations...
of the Iraqi economy by the occupation, the IMF
International Monetary Fund
The International Monetary Fund is an organization of 187 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world...
, the World Bank
World Bank Group
The World Bank Group is a family of five international organizations that makes leveraged loans, generally to poor countries.The Bank came into formal existence on 27 December 1945 following international ratification of the Bretton Woods agreements, which emerged from the United Nations Monetary...
,
In 2007, the IFTU joined with the other trade union federations to oppose the U.S.-backed national oil law, and supported a planned strike by the Federation of Oil Unions in Iraq to protest the law.
External links
- Iraqi Federation of Workers Trade Unions (IFTU)
- Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions, Ewa Jasiewicz, Voices in the Wilderness, October 31, 2004