Union murders threaten Iraq's future
Peace, economic growth and jobs in Iraq are being jeopardised by a wave of murders of trade unionists and key workers, the TUC said today (Wednesday) as they launch a book on the history of Iraq unions.
'Hadi Never Died: Hadi Saleh and the Iraqi Trade Unions', commemorates the International Secretary of the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions (now the Iraqi Workers Federation - IWF) who last January was tortured and murdered in his home by assassins loyal to Saddam Hussein. Hadi Saleh had returned to Iraq from exile to begin rebuilding the trade union movement after the fall of Saddam, who had violently suppressed independent trade unions for over forty years.
Hadi's murder sparked a wave of assassinations of trade union leaders and members by terrorists who also target workers in key sectors, such as teachers, to prevent the social justice and stability unions are striving for (see list of recent murders below). Profits from the book will support Iraqi unions that are also facing attacks from the Iraqi Government which has refused to lift Saddam's ban on unions in the public sector and adopt international labour rights protections. And the TUC has led global protests against powers the Government introduced to take control of unions and freeze their assets.
Speaking at the launch of the book at the House of Commons today, co-author Abdullah Muhsin of the Iraqi Workers Federation said: 'Iraq's economy was pulverized by Saddam's wars, bled by sanctions and further devastated by the invasion, looting and rampant corruption. Iraq's economy needs emergency investment and widespread reconstruction. Free and independent unions will play an important role in making sure investment in Iraq provides quality jobs and decent public services.
'But unions are also important in forming Iraq's democratic future and national identity. Our independence makes us a home to all Iraqis irrespective of gender, ethnicity and religion. Unions are an antidote to the sectarian poisons of extremism in Iraq.'
TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber, who wrote the book's foreword, said:
'Hadi Saleh faced exile, persecution and death for bravely fighting to give people the choice to have a collective voice at work. I saw Hadi barely a month before he was murdered and his mur | 
