Baghdad School of Pharmacy receives textbooks

According to the splendid Books to Iraq initiative, progress has been made in helping to ease the decades-long isolation of the Iraqi pharmacy community. Well done.

Gary Kent
LFIQ

The Baghdad School of Pharmacy has received the first shipment of new pharmacy textbooks from Books to Iraq, a small organisation formed by Iraqi and British Pharmacists to help replenish pharmacy educational establishments. Thirty-eight kilograms of books were shipped to Iraq earlier this year and are now being used by students and staff within the School of Pharmacy in Baghdad.

The books included up-to-date works on drug interactions, adverse drug reactions, clinical pharmacy, and other reference works. Over £600 pounds worth of new books were shipped, as well as additional nearly-new donated books.

After twelve years of sanctions access to high quality information sources has been severely disrupted.

Anthony Cox, Chairman of Books to Iraq and staff member at Aston School of Pharmacy, said, "As pharmacy students in the United Kingdom take their examinations, it is good to know that new books are available for their peers in Baghdad for their studies. Iraq has an important place in the history of pharmacy, and we hope that our small contribution helps support Iraqi pharmacists in the future".

Books to Iraq would like to thank Doug Choyce of DHL (Birmingham) for providing cost-price shipping of the books to their destination.

Contact: admin@bookstoiraq.org.uk

Books to Iraq
c/o Anthony Cox
School of Pharmacy
Aston University
Birmingham
B15 7ET

2 Fire engines. 3,000 miles. 10 days.

Fire Brigades Union drives engines to Iraq

Duncan Milligan of the Fire Brigades Union gives a fascinating account of the union’s delivery by road of fire engines to Iraq: bribes, kamikaze mosquitoes, warts and all. The FBU has long been one of the most active unions in promoting solidarity and deserve high praise and wider emulation.

Gary Kent
Director LFIQ

Hat Tip: Will of DSTPFW

Deputy Leadership Response on Iraq

Our Joint President Dave Anderson has asked all candidates for the deputy leadership of their Labour Party for their views on solidarity with the Iraqi labour movement. The first response is from Alan Johnson MP.

Gary Kent
Director LFIQ

As a Trade Unionist myself, I have been inspired by the resurgence of the Trade Union movement in Iraq and see this as a key example of a new, democratic, pluralist society emerging. On the specific question of Iraqi government policy, it is not a matter that I feel we should necessarily directly interfere in. I will use my influence to show solidarity to the Iraqi Trade Unions and will encourage the administration to treat them supportively wherever possible. It is, however, ultimately not a decision to be made in London, but to be made by the democratically elected government of Iraq. It is important that as a government and as the Labour movement, we show solidarity with all the people of Iraq and with the Iraqi government.

I would be grateful if you could keep me updated of developments, as I shall be following this issue with interest.

Dave Anderson raises Iraq union solidarity with Gordon Brown

Blaydon MP Dave Anderson collared Gordon Brown at the Labour leadership hustings in Newcastle to raise the issue of trade union rights in Iraq.

Mr Anderson, who is the chairman of the Labour Friends of Iraq, has supported free trade unions in that beleaguered country since he was the president of the public service union, Unison.

"One of the few positives in the whole mess that is Iraq has been the rebirth of the Iraqi trade union movement, almost exterminated by Saddam Hussein," he said.

"However, almost two years ago the Iraqi government seized the assets of the trade unions, effectively meaning that they cannot operate freely and independently. I have raised this issue constantly and I won't let go now."

Mr Brown has promised to pursue the matter with the Iraqis.

Peter Young's Any Other Business column in Newcastle Evening Chronicle

Support in Commons for Iraqi unions

In response to LFIQ supporter, Sharon Hodgson, the Minister for the Middle East, Dr. Kim Howells, answers questions on the the role of trade unions and the need to overturn restrictions on their activity. And LFIQ Joint President Ann Clwyd emphasises the potential of the unions in fostering reconciliation.

Here is the full record from FCO questions on 5th June.

5. Mrs. Sharon Hodgson (Gateshead, East and Washington, West) (Lab): If she will make a statement on the position of trade unions in Iraq.

The Minister for the Middle East (Dr. Kim Howells): The Iraqi Government should recognise the importance of free and democratic trade unions. Currently, the finances and membership of Iraq's trade unions continue to be restricted by decree 8750 passed by Iraq's Interim Government in 2005, and law 150 passed by Saddam Hussein's Government in 1987. We have encouraged the Iraqi Government to ensure that free and comprehensive elections can take place among members of the General Federation of Iraqi Workers, so that legislation can be introduced to allow properly constituted trade unions to operate freely in the country.

Mrs. Hodgson: I thank the Minister for that reply. Does he agree that the Iraqi trade union movement seeks to unite working people of whatever religion, and even no religion? That requires the support of democrats everywhere to build a democratic, civil society, whatever their view about the invasion might have been.

Dr. Howells: Yes, I agree entirely. Through the Department for International Development, we are providing funding for the International Centre for Trade Union Rights and have co-funded union training with Unison. The aim is to provide core training on the role of trade unions in the workplace and society, negotiating collective agreements, union organisation and, importantly, women's involvement in trade unions.

Dr. Vincent Cable (Twickenham) (LD): Are the Government helping the Iraqi Government to meet one of the main concerns of Iraqi trade unions? Oil revenue that should be channelled into raising living standards is actually being siphoned off in large volumes to rich Gulf states as reparation for the first-not the second-Gulf war, including payments to companies that claim missed business opportunities at that time.

Dr. Howells: The hon. Gentleman will know that measures were taken and decisions reached at the United Nations on the payment of reparations and on other forms of payment to account for the loss of property and profits and damage during the first Gulf war period and the invasion of Kuwait. I am sure he agrees that we should see an end to those payments, which have been going on for a long time and are draining revenue that should be used to build Iraq. The Government are doing everything they can to persuade Iraq's neighbours in the Gulf to forgo those reparations so that reconstruction can take place.

Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley) (Lab): Given that I have spent a considerable amount of time talking to Iraqi trade unions on my several visits to Iraq, I agree that it is important that laws that militate against them be repealed as quickly as possible. I would like to press our diplomats in Baghdad to make more efforts to pressurise the Iraqi Government to repeal those laws. Secondly, does my hon. Friend agree that as the Iraqi trade unions are mainly non-sectarian they have an important role to play in the future reconciliation programme in Iraq, and that we should not underestimate the power of their membership to achieve what others, seemingly, are failing to achieve?

Dr. Howells: Yes, I agree with my right hon. Friend's assessment of the role of trade unions in Iraq and their character. I pay tribute to the work that she has done over very many years in defence of free Iraqi trade unions. She will know, as well as I do, that trade unions were sometimes used under Saddam Hussein as intelligence-gathering operations for his secret police and for the repression that they exercised. I certainly agree that we-our diplomats and everyone else-must do everything possible to try to convince the Iraqi
Government that it is a priority that they should take seriously.