Briefing meeting with Iraqi Teachers' Union

Gary Kent and Eric Lee met Shari Ali, from the Teachers' Union of Iraq. Shari explained that he represented an independent movement which had arisen after the fall of Saddam with branches in 16 Iraqi provinces, all except for Iraqi Kurdistan. The union has over 400,000 members, 75,000 in Baghdad alone, in all parts of the education sector from primary schools to university level.

They had managed to retrieve the buildings of the old unions but these were in a bad way having been destroyed and looted and they only found a few hundred dollars in assets. They have negotiated with the interim government and succeeded in reinstating 30,000 teachers dismissed under Saddam.

He proudly showed us his own membership card – an impressive laminated
card with his photo and blood group, which illustrated to us the advanced level of union organisation.

The union had won higher pay for its members but faced big problems because there aren't enough schools and classes have more than 30 peoples and some have to run concurrent shifts. More schools would also generate jobs for teachers many of whom also need homes.

Referring to the textbooks from the Saddam era, he said that "the old one-party ideological system was totally abolished and we need to catch up with the rest of the world." He praised the assistance being given by British unions and also by American unions.

The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) is to donate 200 mobile satellite phones, electronically connect all branches with the centre in Baghdad and
with the Education International network and train 200 activists. The union intends to affiliate to the EI as soon as possible.

This support from the AFT is a major start but no-one should be under any illusions that this generous act will complete the task of allowing this union to overcome years of totalitarianism and isolation.

He agreed that a new secular, federal and democratic Iraq had the potential to marginalise the so-called resistance and said that "We were proud that our schools were used for voting. The elections were a severe blow to those extremists. People want a new politics."

We asked why the union was not a part of the IFTU. Shari explained that professional associations had by tradition worked separately but his union works closely with the IFTU. The union also enjoys very good relations with the Iraqi Kurdish unions.