Sami Ramadani and ‘Tahir’ are ‘Useful Mouthpieces’: Alex Gordon of the Rail Maritime and Transport Workers Union (RMT)

Alex Gordon (RMT) has led the way among the UK trade unions in building solidarity with Iraqi unions. He is respected both here and in Iraq.

In these comments on Johann Hari’s web site he tells some truths about Sami Ramadani and ‘Tahir’ in response to their attack on Hari’s Independent article ‘A leading Iraq Trade Unionist has been murdered: where is the left?’

We urge all those who have relied on Ramadani to make their judgements on Iraq and the IFTU to read it carefully.

“It is entirely predictable, unfortunately, to read the lengthy, unhinged, polemical whining from Sami Ramadani and 'Tahir' in response to Johann Hari's excellent article. Both of these individuals have acted as useful mouthpieces to cheerlead 'the popular resistance' from the safe distance of London.

Sami Ramadani for example, refers to the 'valiant resistance' in his lengthy diatribe against the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions addressed to me following the disgraceful treatment of their General Secretary who was invited to address the European Social Forum in October 2004. 'Tahir' has launched similar victrolic attacks in recent months on Iraqi feminists who have the temerity to point to the reactionary social politics of the leaders of 'the resistance'.

Since both Sami and 'Tahir' are responsible for myth-making and the attempted popularisation of reactionary, religious and fascist forces in Iraq, it is difficult to take very seriously their diatribes against Iraqi trade unionists, democratic socialists and communists who have the temerity to prefer a UN-political process to car bombings and terrorism.

Certainly, in view of the obscene vilification of Iraqi trade unionists by some in this country in the recent past, which has resulted in the recent vile murder of Hadi Saleh, it is quite inappropriate to find their comments above further denigrating and fingering Iraqi trade unionists and communists.

It would be difficult to imagine how a 'perfect' democratic trade union movement could possibly emerge overnight from three and a half decades of dictatorship, war and now foreign occupation and fascist terror. The critical demand that has to be made on any Iraqi government is whether they will ratify International Labour Organisation Conventions concerning the right of workers to form and join trade unions of their choice and the right to take strike action - principles the British government are in breach of, incidentally.

The IFTU has consistently made this demand and has pursued it consistently in discussions with the ILO and the Iraqi Interim Government.

The left and the trade union movement should back the IFTU's campaign, seek to build and strengthen direct links with democratic, independent trade unions in Iraq and reject the views of those who finger trade unionists and make mealy-mouthed apologies for their murderers”. (AJ)