In Iraq, trade unions are helping to rebuild popular power26 June, 2018The Iraqi labour movement begun in the 1920s in the oil industry and amongst railroad workers. During his time at power, Saddam Hussein suppressed left-wing parties and only permitted weak unions controlled by the government. Under the recent US occupation, authorities kept unions and the left marginalised, while prioritising the privatisation of Iraqi industry.
Iraqi electricity workers win inclusion for 150,000 precarious workers18 May, 2018Recent strike action by 30,000 Iraqi electricity workers employed on precarious contracts has lead the government to concede and provide 150,000 public workers from all sectors with the same pension and social security rights as permanent workers.
Iraqi electricity workers fight precarious work11 April, 2018IndustriALL affiliate the General Trade Union of Electricity Sector Employees of Iraq (GTUESE) is fighting temporary work in the Iraqi electricity sector. They have staged a series of protests in front of government ministries and opened negotiations by meeting high level government officials.
Iraqi oil and gas affiliates form trade union network 8 December, 2017IndustriALL Global Union’s oil and gas affiliates in Iraq have come together for the first time to establish a trade union network to better protect the rights of workers in the sector, at a meeting in Basra on 24 November.
Iraq approves ratification of ILO Convention 87 on Freedom of Association27 November, 2017Trade unions in Iraq are celebrating after the country’s parliament approved ratification of core ILO Convention 87 on Freedom of Association.
Iraqi unions urge parliament to reject social security bill 10 August, 2017Trade unions in Iraq, including IndustriALL Global Union affiliates, are calling on the Iraqi parliament to reject a draft social security law, which would reduce social protection for thousands of people already suffering in the war-ravaged state.
Iraqi parliament urged to reject illegitimate trade union law2 June, 2017IndustriALL Global Union is calling on the parliament of Iraq to reject a draft trade union law that has been condemned for contravening the Iraqi constitution and breaking international conventions.
Iraqi union organizes Shell workers 20 April, 2017IndustriALL Global Union affiliate the Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions (IFOU) has succeeded in negotiating a union to represent 6,000 workers at a new joint venture with Shell.
Iraq: unions demand legal rights over ratification of ILO C874 November, 2016The adoption of a new labour law in Iraq last year has created more space for IndustriALL and its Iraqi affiliates to deepen the programme of work and campaign for legislation that meets international standards.
Towards living wages in Iraq and Jordan2 September, 2016Meeting in Amman, affiliates from Jordan and Iraq came together on 29-30 August to discuss how unions can best confront the problem of low wages in their industries.
