Iraq unions may strike over Oil Ministry

[sabra]

Source: UPI

BASRA, Iraq, Aug. 1 (UPI) -- Oil workers in Basra, Iraq, say they'll respond to the Oil Ministry's anti-union rhetoric with protests and possibly strikes.

Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani told UPI the unions are not legitimate, and the ministry has issued a letter ordering its agencies and state businesses not to deal with the unions.

"Shahristani's decision has been rejected by the union because it is the same type of decision as used by the old regime regarding laborers and workers," Hassan Juma'a Awad, president of the Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions, told the Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper.

Saddam Hussein outlawed worker organizing in the public sector; subsequent U.S. occupying powers and now the Iraqi government do not recognize the workers' rights to organize.



Read more: http://www.upi.com/International_Security/Energy/Briefing/2007/08/01/iraq_unions_may_strike_over_oil_ministry/2201/

[merh]

1. And the next headline will be "Iraqi PM has union officials arrested"

that damned democracy. x(

The Union has said it will not support that legislation, the nationalists party in parliament has refused to support it and have asked for a time table on the withdrawal.

They want to govern themselves, they want their oil profits and they want us to leave them alone. How hard is that to understand and appreciate.

Didn't King George think the colonists needed him too. :argh:

[tecelote]

2. What makes them think that they should have the civil rights of a democracy?

Especially if it gets in the way of profit.

What were they thinking?!