Iraqi Workers Fight Intimidation, Forced Labor

by James Parks, AFL-CIO (reposted)

Fri, Jun 8, 2007 10:03PM

Friday, June 8, 2007 : Workers in Iraq face the dual dangers of a lack of basic security and a lack of basic workers' rights. Striking oil workers this week found themselves surrounded by the military. At the same time, U.S. prosecutors reportedly are investigating charges that the company building the U.S. embassy in Baghdad forced migrant workers to work on the project against their will.

AFL-CIO President John Sweeney called on the Iraqi government to immediately stop using the threat of force to intimidate workers in Basra oil fields. The workers, members of the Iraqi Federation of Oil Workers, walked out Monday after months of negotiations over wages, health and safety and the use of temporary workers failed to produce a settlement. The next day these striking workers were surrounded and threatened by Iraqi armed forces.

The workers returned to work Tuesday night after receiving a promise of further talks, but the troops remain in place.

Another key issue is the future of the Iraqi oil fields. The U.S.-backed government has proposed a new law that would permit multinational oil companies greater profits from oil sales than in any point over the past 30 years, potentially depriving the country of much needed resources.

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For more information: http://blog.aflcio.org/2007/06/08/iraqi-wo...

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