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29 June, 2009
The ICEM has again registered sharp complaint to the Iraqi government over anti-social conduct at its State Company for Petrochemical Industries’ set of plants in Basra. The latest incident finds a new state manager harassing, and then filing police charges against Mohammed Zaki Ibrahim, the leader of ICEM affiliate Petrochemical Workers’ Union of Basra.
Last month, Mohammed Zaki was verbally assaulted by the new general manager, who stated his trade union activity was an “obstacle” to the way he intended to operate the company. The manager also charged Zaki with being under the influence of “external forces.”
The ICEM was compelled to harshly condemn that violation of freedom of association in a letter to Iraq’s Minister of Industry and Minerals.
The letter also pointed out that after Zaki left the abusive meeting – witnessed by other managers – he was immediately charged by police with trade union activity, and labelled as a danger to the Iraqi national economy. As the Zaki case illustrates, managers have been vindictive in upholding Saddam’s decades-old decree banning trade unions in the public sector, a draconian labour code that continued under the occupation forces.
On 28 January, a workers manifestation over wage arrears at the enterprise resulted in management calling in the army. Managers targeted four union leaders with leading the protest, and then brought cruel and unjust discipline on to one of them: Kareem Johi Sahan was banished from the petrochemicals enterprise for six months and his pay grade was lowered.
“The ICEM has paid close attention to events at the Basra facility,” said General Secretary Manfred Warda. “The Iraqi government must also. This must become a worksite where trade union rights are respected and we will continue working from the outside with trade unionists on the inside to fulfil that.”
The state-owned petrochemical facility employs 5,000 workers and contains six plants making ethylene, polyethylene, vinyl chloride, and other chemicals. The Basra Petrochemical Workers’ Union is affiliated to the Iraq Oil Workers’ Federation (IFOU).