The Iraq Labor Unions

The Iraq Labor Unions

The Country of Iraq is steep in history and the beginnings of civilization as we know it. It should come as no surprise that history also includes Labor Unions. As Iraqi's history is examined we'd discover the country has a genuine labor lineage going back many decades. Shortly after World War I, workers in Iraq established a formidable organizing network. The period between 1959 and 1963 union membership in Iraq was estimated at 250,000, but by 1979, Saddam Hussein seized power and declared that all jobs in the country belong to the Iraqi State. This declaration made all government employees Civil Servants and decreed the term worker no longer be used. Saddam's actions made it clear that Labor Unions were not welcomed and wouldn't be recognized by the Iraqi Government.

In contrast, the United States Labor unions of the late 1880 dealt with Immigration as problem for unions because while many members were immigrants, they feared the effects that further immigration would have on wages. Economic arguments aimed at restrictive immigration policies posited that an increase in the supply of labor tilted the balance toward employers, who could use cheaper immigrant labor as strikebreakers, limiting the effectiveness of labor unions to bargain, thereby reducing the wages and working conditions of American workers. Many civic organizations opposed open immigration and advocated literacy test. Immigration quotas reduced the influx of impoverished potential employees. While the AFL took a stand pat approach, some of its newer leaders began to see the importance of organizing unskilled workers. Additionally, firms would prefer hiring less expensive foreign workers over American workers, leading to greater unemployment for American workers. Proponents of this argument also advocated against organizing immigrants into American labor unions, as doing so would raise their wages, encouraging even more immigration into the country.

The post Saddam and War era has changed the Labor Union movement within Iraq today. The country currently has two large labor federations: First is the General Federation of Iraq Workers (GFIW), formed in 2005 and formerly known as the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU) and the second is Southern Oil Company Union.

Najim Abd-Jasems founded the General Federation of Iraq Workers to actively promote the rights of workers. During Saddam's regime Najim was routinely persecuted and fired from his job for having opposed the government's official union. In 2003, after Saddam's regime fell he was elected to the position of General Secretary of the Mechanics Workers Union. Members of these organizations risk their lives and become frequent targets to be killed. Najim Abd-Jasems was kidnapped in Baghdad and his body was found three days later, showing clear signs of torture. Many believed he was killed as a result