Federation of Oil Unions in Iraq

No. 260
Date: 01/07/2013
To / All Iraqi and international trade unions, federations and civil society organizations
Subject/ a statement on the occasion of dropping charges against the head of our union, the human rights defender and trade union activist Hassan Juma Awad

Basra, 1st of July, 2013
In the name of God the Merciful

The Misdemeanor Court of Basra has dropped the charges against the head of our union on the 1st of July, 2013. The charges that were built on the basis of his contribution in a legitimate trade union activities, but “has harmed the economic interests of Iraq” in the views of the Ministry of Oil.
In this happy occasion, our union would like to thank all the unions, organizations and individuals that have contributed in the International Campaign to drop the charges, to all who signed the letter addressed to the Prime Minister of Iraq, which has been signed by 41 international union and federation, and 44 national trade union and federation from all of the world in addition to 68 non-governmental organization. And especially we would like to thank the Iraqi Civil Society Solidarity Initiative (ICSSI), and the Federation of US Labor Against the War (USLAW) and the International Solidarity Center (SC), as well as the International Federation of Industries who have contributed in the coordination of the international campaign.
Also we would like to thank all the civil and political figures, governmental and parliamentary, Iraqi and international, which supported this campaign over the past months.

This victory is recorded for all the freedom of trade union work supporters, and all those who support the freedom of assembly in Iraq and all over the world, this is the best proof that the international and domestic solidarity is capable to get the rights of workers and rehabilitation for all those who believes in the free and legal trade union work.
To the Iraqi government and the Oil Ministry we turn our statement, that our union with the President and all its activists are not and will never be a source of damage to Iraq’s economy, those who protected and defended the factories and work sites in the darkest circumstances, in the war and occupation as well as in peace. But at the same time we will continue to exercise our rights guaranteed by our constitution: our rights to organize and defend the rights of workers and oil labors and national interest.
We announce to continue our journey in the struggle to ensure the rights of workers in different work sites, and we declare our solidarity with all the workers and professionals who exercise their natural right to organize and defend their rights in accordance to the Constitution and international labor laws.We reiterate our demand to have a law that recognizes the right of trade union organization in the public sector, and our willingness to negotiate and cooperate with the authorities and governmental and international institutions who are seeking to ensure these legal rights.

The Federation of Oil Unions in Iraq
1st of July, 2013