Report of meeting with Iraqi women trade unionists

A delegation of Iraqi women trade unionists visited the House of Commons on 7th March for a Labour Friends of Iraq briefing meeting.

The Iraqi sisters were: Nazanin T. Ali, Head of Women at the Kurdistan Workers Union and member of the Service Workers Union, which covers workers in hotels, restaurants, coffee shops and beauticians; Hasnaa A. Abdulsatar, (Printing Union); Huda S. Rafiq from the Iraqi Kurdistan Journalists Union in the Kurdistan Workers Union; and Violet A Essa Qalaab, President of the Oil and Gas Union in Basrah. Huda and Violet spoke to the meeting.

This was Chaired by Labour MP and LFIQ Chair Dave Anderson.

A message of solidarity was received from the Foreign Secretary Jack Straw. He said: "I do not delude myself about the challenges faced by the people of Iraq. But just as millions of people showed what sort of future they want by voting in December's elections, so the trade union movement in Iraq is showing its determination to defy those who seek to destroy the process of rebuilding your country. In that we offer you solidarity and wish you well."

Then Rt Hon Ann Clwyd MP, the Prime Minister's Envoy to Iraq on Human Rights, spoke. She emphasised the need for women's rights and equality and praised the role of Iraqi unions. She said: We know that bodies such as the TUC and the ICFTU have protested against, for example, Decree 8750 and the new government of Iraq, when it is formed, must understand that strong trade unions are vital in Iraq, in all professions, and in consolidating the freedoms and rights which Iraqis are beginning to enjoy for the first time."

Huda said that Iraqi Kurdistan was relatively better off and more secure having suffered so much under Saddam's brutal dictatorship. It had a high rate of participation by women with many entrepreneurs but after Saddam's genocidal Anfal campaign there were many orphans and widows. The state provided some social support but women were often held back by stigma and prejudice about what work women should do, which is sustained by tribal traditions and customs. The Kurdish Syndicate Workers Union publishes a monthly newsletter and run education courses but are held back by lack of funds.

Violet said that working mums were initially given support from the head of the Southern Oil Company such as crèches when the union started to organise in September 2003. The union campaigns to build free and independent unions as part of a wider campaign for a secular and democratic Iraq and exposes corruption as well as extremism. It also produces a monthly newsletter. Its resources are very limited and relies on donations from some members as well as funding from NGOs and sister unions abroad.

The Women's Minister Meg Munn MP also spoke. She referred to the unions' desire to increase the number of women in the Iraqi parliament from its statutory 25%. She said that "27% of the PLP are women and only 20% of Parliament is women and this is after nearly 90 years of having the vote so we have a long way to go. We are very pleased to see you and try to build strong links with women parliamentarians across the world."

In response to LFIQ Joint President Harry Barnes, Huda outlined how unions tried to tackle religious and gender divisions. For instance, the Iraqi Kurdish Assembly had outlawed honour killings but these still took place in faraway villages where tribal leaders had greater influence than the law. This showed that change also needs to be cultural and long-term and she outlined her union's efforts to increase understanding on women's rights, not just for women but also for men. Violet said that women often faced violence from three sources: family, tribes and some parties. A key point is to provide hope through jobs and economic prosperity.

Councillor David Griffin said he was humbled by the bravery of the speakers. In response to his question on improvements in provision of power and water, Huda said that there was actually less electricity in Iraqi Kurdistan than under Saddam. This wasn't due to terrorism but because the federal government in Baghdad now redistributed local power to the rest of the country. She later said that a good sign of the close relations between unions in Iraqi Kurdistan and the rest of Iraq was that they worked jointly to oppose anti-union laws although these didn't affect Iraqi Kurdistan.

Clive Furness asked if they were hopeful. Violet replied that "Iraq is the only home we have and, God willing, extremists will be worn out by our resilience. But we cannot do it by ourselves alone and we need the support of the UN and the international community."

Asked about relations with political parties, both stressed that they seek constructive relations with all parties and the government but want the parties to understand that the unions wish to be progressive but totally independent of political parties.

The Chair Dave Anderson MP, himself a former President of Unison concluded the meeting by arguing that trade unions are the bedrock of democracies and that LFIQ as well as Unison are committed to helping Iraqi brothers and sisters in any way we can.

Lyn Brown MP attended the meeting too and apologies were received from several MPs.

Apologies were received from Tim Lezard, NUJ President, Joni McDougall of the GMB and MPs Joan Ruddock, George Howarth, Rudi Vis, Rob Marris and Margaret Moran.