Iraq Conscientious Objector speaks out on labor rights at Labor Anti-War rally

U.S. Labor Against the War Labor Delegation to Iraq

U.S. Labor Against the War - a network of 186 local, regional, state, and national labor organizations representing more than 5 million union members - sent a delegation of six to the first International Labor Conference ever held in Iraq, March 13-14, 2009. At the Conference, three of the country’s major labor organizations announced the formation of a new labor confederation.

Hassan Juma’a Awad, President of the Iraqi Federation of Oil Union - speaking for his 25,000 members - condemned U.S. efforts to privatize Iraq’s oil industry through production sharing agreements that could cede control over Iraq’s oil to foreign corporations for as long as a generation. The conference adopted a resolution that described the U.S.-promoted draft oil and gas law as “hostile to the interests of the working class and consequently all Iraqis”

Two other resolutions are of note. One called for the immediate enactment of a basic labor law that complies with International Labor Organization standards for the protection of the rights of workers to organize, collectively bargain, and strike in unions of their choosing, free of government interference. The U.S. Occupation Authority and Iraqi government continue to enforce Saddam Hussein’s anti-union labor law that bans unions for all public workers and employees of public enterprises, including its oil industry. This law remains in spite of the fact that the U.S.-led leadership has overturned virtually all Hussein era laws.

The other called for an independent Iraqi state with a “non-sectarian, non-ethnic” government that defines people on the basis of human identity, regardless of their ethnic, religious, or sectarian background. Resolutions were also passed addressing the global economic crisis and privatization.

T.J. Buonomo, a former U.S. Military intelligence officer, and Aaron Hughes, a former U.S. Army sergeant, delivered remarks. They acknowledged crimes committed against the Iraqi people and apologized for the U.S. role in the economic and military occupation of Iraq. They denounced the manipulation of intelligence, bribing of Iraqi journalists, torture of Iraqi prisoners, suppression of worker rights, and attempts by the U.S. government and multinational corporations to control Iraqi oil. The address was met with a standing ovation and outpouring of emotions.

Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) sent a video recording form Washington, D. C. He expressed support for Iraqi labor and re-iterated his position that the invasion and occupation of Iraq is a gross violation of international law and that all U.S. troops should be completely withdrawn as soon as possible.

The information above was compiled and released by Michael Eisenscher, National Coordinator, U.S. Labor Against the War. Eisenscher was one of the six U.S. convention delegates to the Convention.