Democrats Slap Down Free Trade Agreement With Colombia.....For Now

Good news concerning relations between the world's two largest terrorist states:

The US House of Representatives has defied the White House and voted to indefinitely delay action on a free trade deal with Colombia.

President George W Bush sent the free trade agreement to Congress early this week, using a "fast-track" process which requires a vote within 90 days.

The House instead voted to eliminate that rule and suspend action.

Colombia's trade minister, Luis Guillermo Plata, said the vote did not mean the 2006 trade pact was dead.

Of course, this will dismay President Bush who describes Colombia as an 'important ally' (mainly due to the rising influence of Chávez et al). I have little doubt that this is little more than electioneering on the part of the Democrats who only really appear interested in tweaking the legislation a little before allowing it to pass. Having said that, it is a little hypocritical to accuse the Democrats of 'playing politics' when the Republicans have been playing politics with Iraq and the 'war on terror', leading to the deaths of thousands.

In terms of the legislation, Bush has claimed that it is vital as a rebuke to "dictators and demagogues" in Latin America (I can't actually name a single 'dictator' in the region, although rewind to the 70s when US hegemony in the region was in its pomp, and I can name numerous examples). Susan Schwab, the US's trade representative, spat her dummy out and said:

"The House Democratic leadership has now slapped around a major US ally.

"This is the Democratic leadership's version of foreign policy."

What, you mean a (vaguely) more ethical policy?? Surely slapping a major US ally is better to screwing one over (although Blair seemed pretty keen to receive the punishment). Anyway, I digress. If you want to find out why opposing this agreement is so important, either watch this slideshow I have produced (tambien en Español) or watch the following clip by War on Want. Colombia: Pinochet's Chile with a democratic facade.

FARC Allegation Leads to Trade Union Deaths in Colombia

You may remember this story last week:

Foreign office minister Kim Howells was under fire today after making "utterly unfounded" comments which unions say have put the lives of Colombian trade unionists and human rights defenders at risk.

Labour's largest affiliated trade union, Unite, called on Gordon Brown to sack Howells unless he apologised over his claims that a trade union-backed organisation, Justice for Colombia (JFC) supported the Farc, a Marxist guerrilla group fighting a war against the government.

On Friday Howells told the Western Mail newspaper: "… Justice for Colombia … supports Farc, a band of gangsters and drug smugglers. Thirty years ago it used to be a revolutionary organisation, but now it's the biggest drugs cartel in Colombia."

However, JFC has highlighted the fact that more than 550 trade unionists have been assassinated in Colombia over the past six years by the army and paramilitary death squads that work with them.

JFC has also criticised the UK government for continuing to give military aid to the Colombian army, despite the killings.

Tony Woodley, joint general secretary of Unite, said the minister's comments denouncing JFC, had put local trade unionists and human rights workers in "real danger".

The latest developments in Colombia underline quite how much damage Kim Howells has done to the trade union movement in the country. It has now been claimed that four trade unionists have been murdered as a result of the Colombian government making accusations about supposed links to the FARC. The following is taken from a press release by Human Rights First:

Four Colombian trade unionists--some of whom were reportedly associated with a March 6 demonstration protesting state and paramilitary human rights violations--were killed between March 4 and March 11. Members of human rights organizations have been subject to physical attacks, harassment, office break-ins and thefts of files in the past weeks. Over two dozen organizations and individuals received death threats purporting to come from paramilitary groups in the capital, Bogota.

Shortly before the attacks, presidential adviser José Obdulio Gaviria made a series of statements on national radio linking renowned victims’ representative Ivan Cepeda and other organizers of the March 6 protest to the notoriously abusive guerrillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). On February 11, one day after Gaviria first made the statements, the supposedly demobilized United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) paramilitary group released a statement echoing Gaviria's allegations.

The attempts by the Colombian government to link protestors to the FARC has ultimately led to their deaths. One can only wonder how many others will die as a direct result of Howells' ill-founded accusations. I will be writing to him to press this point and, in the unlikely events that I will receive a reply, I will post it here.

March 6th Will Be Day For Osanloo Mansour

Taken from Scoop:

Events will be held in London, Brussels and worldwide on 6 March 2008 as hundreds of thousands of trade unionists dedicate the day to demanding the release of imprisoned Iranian union leader Mansour Osanloo.

A demonstration will be held outside the Iranian Embassy at 16 Prince's Gate, London SW7 1PTF from 12:30 to 13:30, while across the United Kingdom thousands of transport workers will be leafleting passengers in Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Newcastle and other locations. In recognition that Osanloo is an ex-bus driver and heads a bus drivers' union, a red double decker routemaster bus will be visiting London protest sites throughout the day. It will be at the embassy demonstration and will host a photo opportunity outside Portcullis House, Bridge Street, London SW1A (this event not yet confirmed, but planned to take place from 10:30 to 11:00), where union leaders and MPs (TBC) can be photographed next to it with the Houses of Parliament in the background. The campaign is being supported by the TUC, the unions Aslef, GMB, RMT, TSSA, Unison and Unite, as well as Amnesty International, which has declared Osanloo a prisoner of conscience.

Solidarity actions, including demonstrations, will be held at Iranian embassies, in cities, railway stations and at border crossings in Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Ethiopia, Cote d'Ivoire, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Korea, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Spain, South Africa and Thailand. Other countries are planning activities.

The ITF can provide photos of Mansour Osanloo and will be distributing pictures of the March 6th event. A JPEG of an English language leaflet prepared especially for the day can also be sent to you on request to Dawson_sam@itf.org.uk .

The free Osanloo day is receiving particular backing from railway workers and their unions who have voted to dedicate a planned rail action day - which traditionally gives them the chance to promote rail as a safe and environmentally positive way of traveling - to also campaigning on Osanloo's behalf.

David Cockroft, ITF General Secretary, commented: "The Iranian government's continuing mistreatment of Mansour is a running sore. He has asked only for his basic rights and has been answered with fists, truncheons and manacles - but he has not been forgotten. On March 6th we will once again prove that he has friends and supporters around the world."

Interview With Mansour Osanloo

Below is a copy of an interview with Mansour Osanloo that has been posted on the ITF's website. It makes for a very enlightening read abou the situation of the workers in Iran:

Iranian trade union leader Mansour Osanloo has been relentlessly persecuted for his efforts to secure an independent trade union and living wages for bus workers. Yet, as he explained in an interview with Transport International shortly before his latest arrest, he does not see himself as anti-government, and believes there are signs of hope for workers’ rights and freedoms in Iran

Did you expect to leave Iran and travel to London safely?

I was very surprised. I was expecting them to come and take me away right up until the flight took off. Then I finally felt that I was OK. My family and colleague came to the airport with me, then they called me continually until I boarded the airplane to ask where I was and if I was safe.

Why do you think the authorities allowed you to go?

Firstly, after my time in prison, and the 200 hours under interrogation, I think the authorities found out I was not anti-government. Secondly, it may be because of all the support I received from my colleagues in my own union, the support for my freedom.

Thirdly, it may be because of international support, from the ITF to the International Trade Union Confederation. There has been so much action and so many letters sent to the Iranian government.

I think another reason may be the media, including the internet, satellite, all those magazines outside of Iran. And my family at home has received so many phone calls supporting me.
What are conditions like in Iran for ordinary working people?

We are in a very precarious age. So many things are changing in our country. We are in two different periods: dictatorial and democratic. There are also cultural changes in Iranian society at present.


Our society is very complex. And in this complex society we still see a feudal economic norm that belongs to a different period, 300 or 400 years ago. Things are changing, the TV and the radio are transforming society, but there are still peasants who live in that period of time.

How did the movement to reform an independent trade union begin?

Because of eight years of war, dating back to 1980, all trade union organisations were closed down. So many of our trade unionists were arrested, they ran away and they were imprisoned.

After 1990 the new Labour Law was established. Islamic leaders were fundamentally against any industrial congregation. More importantly they were against any type of election in the workplace and they tried to help the government, even the intelligence services. During this period they tried to manipulate any kind of workplace election that did take place.

They created a lot of unhappiness, and this and the fact that they were not the voice for the workers, it gave us a chance to evaluate our ideas.

"Each time I went to court, when the judges saw my case, they said this is not the truth and they freed me"

A few of my friends and I knew many of the old trade unionists and we had many discussions with them about reforming unions in Iran.

We tried to use our own experience. We studied fundamental union rights and tried to interpret those issues to our workers. We went from one bus to another, asking questions and trying to make sure the drivers had somewhere to rest. We put all our ideas together to see how we could make a difference to our co-workers. We thought about the effects of our previous generation, what they did and their experiences and how we could renew them for our own union.

We tried to publish a new magazine. We visited every coffee shop; we talked to every driver while they were driving around Tehran. This was six years ago.

Our situation was known in a wide area. At the end of the period of the previous President, Khatami, we decided it was time for us to organise ourselves, and in 2005 after Ahmadinejad came to power for the first time, we started to show our unhappiness about the situation.

One of our actions involved drivers keeping their lights on while driving passengers around the city. This was a protest at the failure of so-called “workers’ organisations” at the company, and about workplace problems such as low wages and long working hours; the use of outdated buses; drivers’ fatigue caused by heavy road congestion; staff redundancy and management’s corruption.

The same day that they first arrested me, the chief of security in Tehran tried to see how he could bring us to the negotiating table. At this time, we had these negotiations and management promised us they were implementing what we agreed, but they didn’t. And from August to December 2005 they kept arresting me.

Each time I went to court, when the judges saw my case, they said this is not the truth and they freed me, but this continued to happen until the December of that year (when Osanloo was arrested and imprisoned for eight months).

How have you managed to keep going, despite the fear that you must have felt many times?
It’s a necessity, and we decided it is better to die than to live like this.

What are conditions like for the bus workers in Tehran?

The minimum wage for bus workers in Tehran is close to US$100 and with all the subsidies we receive it comes to about US$150. The poverty line is US$400 per month. But even government statistics show that the minimum wage should be US$300 per month.

At the same time, working conditions are very difficult. The air pollution is very bad. Some bus services have been privatised, which means the workers have to ensure they compete with these buses. Another problem is that they are not doing just one job, they have many different jobs: they are the driver, the helper, the ticket collector. Yet more problems are that there are two sections on the bus: the women have to be in one section and the men in another. This is a very difficult working situation for us.
Meanwhile since the industrial action in January 2006, which led to mass arrests and dismissals, 43 workers have been terminated. Six of them are in the mediation process, and four workers have received a “return to work” letter.

Does the union have, and encourage, women members?

We had 200 women workers as part of our union and we fought to get them even US$40 per month for the day care of their children. But after the mass arrests their participation went down.

However our members’ wives are very active. They come to our membership meetings, they listen, and they have a right to give an opinion. And on 8 March we had a press release for International Women’s Day and a ceremony.

Is the union allowed to represent its 7,000 members in any normal ways?

Claiming that we represent 7,000 members is not correct, because we do not yet have a free general membership. We are spokespeople for the workers. We represent their problems and they are with us, but if we were in a free and normal situation I believe that 70 to 80 per cent of the whole workforce of 15,000 would want us to represent them.

For the first general membership meeting we had on the street, thousands of workers came and they even ran away from the police and hid in the alleyway, just so that they could come and join. They knew we had helped to increase their wages by US$50 per month, and had got the provision of work clothes for them. I sit here in front of you and the clothes that I am wearing come from the employers.

The most important thing for us to do was to make the temporary workers permanent, and now at least they have a two-year contract.

Do you believe the bus workers of Tehran will eventually get their free and independent union?

Certainly, I believe that.

But what needs to happen, both inside and outside of Iran, for this to become a reality?

I think continued international support for our efforts is one of the most crucial things for us. People have to know that our government representatives are members of the United Nations body and the International Labour Organization (ILO). This is the most important thing for us. Everywhere we go we talk about ILO conventions 87 (concerning freedom of association) and 98 (concerning the right to organise and to bargain collectively).

But we pay the price for this. In Iran, the people are very suspicious of the situation, because they have heard so many lies. But we are trying to gain their trust. I believe that we have already made progress in achieving this, and we hope we can continue in this direction.

What are the political influences in the country?

The situation we are in is very mixed. The majority of people who are in power come from a military background and they are very conservative, but there are different tendencies. Inside the country, we are fighting for our rights. Parliamentary elections will be taking place in the next few months.

The different tendencies have different interests and a different media, and a few of those media are supportive of our work. For example there are particular newspapers that try to emphasise our needs, and each one represents one part of the tendency of the Iranian government. We hope that all of this together will help to lead us to an independent and free organisation.

There are a variety of different movements in Iran right now. We have a student movement, a women’s movement, a workers’ movement, they are training and educating themselves. They try to work together, directly or indirectly, for solidarity.

Interview by Kay Parris

The Howard Government and Work Choices

One of MOA's contributors, Hugh Manatee, has posted on the Get Up! blog page entitled 'Joe Hockey's clever resignation' (and he namechecks MOA as well - good lad!). Go read, you know it makes sense.

Mansour Osanloo Still Incarcerated in Evin Prison

In July of this year, Mansour Osanloo was snatched from a bus and placed in the notorious Evin prison. Three months later, and Osanloo is still confined to a prison cell. As a result of his continued incarceration, the International Transport Workers' Federation have produced this video telling the story of Osanloo's fight for the rights of the workers in Iran. Please take time to watch the short clip and, when you have done so, sign Amnesty International's petition demanding that Osanloo receive immediate medical attention.

Worker Dies at Factory Making Gap Clothing

Another story about the disgraceful treatment of employees in the developing world. This time at a factory manufacturing clothes for Gap. From The Guardian:

The clothing giant Gap has ordered one of its overseas suppliers to overhaul its practices after a garment worker in Bangalore, India, collapsed and later died outside the same factory where a young pregnant worker lost her newborn baby six months ago.

It is the third death in the last year at or near the premises of Shalini Creations, a unit of the Texport Overseas group which makes clothes for the US firm.

Local unions told the Guardian that Ms Padmavathi, a 39-year-old factory worker, collapsed near the factory gate at midday on September 18, two-and-a-half hours after she had asked to be allowed leave to go to hospital. They claim she started vomiting at 9.30am and had asked her manager for leave. But, they say, she was not granted immediate leave and was instead verbally abused. When she was eventually granted leave and left the factory, she collapsed near the gate. Passers-by carried her back to the factory, where she was taken to a clinic and then to Victoria hospital, where she died at around 1pm. Results of a postmortem examination have not yet been made public.

You can write to Gap at custserv@gap.com to pressurise them to take this incident seriously and ensure that their factory ensure fair treatment for all employees.

Javier Correa and the Impunity of Murderers in Uribe's Colombia

Sometimes, and only sometimes, one forgets the blatant hypocrisy at the heart of the so-called 'War on Terror'. But then one reads of the latest developments in Colombia (a close ally of the Bush White House) and it all comes flooding back. Although, given the nature of the mainstream media, it is hard to get any facts on the link between Bush and terrorism (you could do worse than watch this to get a basic understanding of the links between Bush and terrorism).

The following is taken from the United Steelworkers Union:

The USW president expressed grave concern for the lives of several members of the SINALTRAINAL union in Colombia, naming leaders from Bucaramanga as Javier Correa, Luis Eduardo Garcia and Jose Domingo Florez. Describing a tide of paramilitary re-mobilization, Gerard cited an explicit threat written by the Black Eagles, who said they would “bury the union members and their families in a mass grave on Christmas Day if they do not cease their union activities and leave the area.”

Gerard related an incident on Sept. 27 involving the son of Florez, who was picked up by presumed paramilitary gunmen, thrown into a van, beaten and told they won’t stop until his father is dismembered.

According to Amnesty, the full letter read:

"All orders are followed - communist guerrillas trade unionist facade - Javier Correa, stop your ideological discourse - you must leave the department - if not we will be obliged to carry out the military objective and at Christmas we will hand over the bodies of your families in a mass grave."

The letter bore the acronym of the AUC.

It is worth putting this into context. In 2006, 78 unionists were murdered in Colombia, over half the total global union murders. Despite these horrific figures, impunity for the murder of unionists is around 98%. Taking 2006 as an example, only three convictions were secured against the 78 murders. Furthermore, if one were to examine the period 2004-6, a period that witnessed the murder of 236 trade unionists, there were only five convictions. And if one was take the broader picture throughout Uribe's presidency, the picture is even bleaker. Since coming to power in 2002, there have been nearly 400 murders and only ten convictions (these figures come from a non-governmental organisation often cited by the American government). Taking all of these figures into account, as well as the figures pre-dating Uribe's presidency, the conviction rate stands at a pathetic 1.9%. No wonder Colombia is frequently described as 'one of the world's most dangerous places for trade unionists'.

Of course, these figures are even more disturbing when you take into account the many links between President Uribe and the terrorists responsible for this bloodshed. There is a video that has been circulating in Colombia for some time now that shows the future president meeting with one of the leaders of the AUC. There have also been frequent allegations of links between these terrorist organisations and the Colombian government. The former foreign minister, Maria Consuelo Araujo, was forced to resign due to the arrest of her brother and the investigation of her father for deals with terrorists.

With such a background, it is little wonder that union members are subjected to the kinds of disgraceful threats that face Correa and Florez. These threats will undoubtedly continue as long as the British and American political establishments turn a blind eye to the behaviour of the Colombia government and provide substantial financial and military aid. No wonder the Colombian government and the US administration embarked on a mass PR campaign in the 90s (with the involvement of Mark Malloch Brown - a key ally of Gordon Brown), there is certainly much to hide from the eyes of the general public.

You can take action in support of Javier Correa by visiting the Amnesty International Action page here.

Trade Union Reports 144 Union Members Murdered in 2006, Most in Colombia

That's according to a report released today:

PARIS (AFP) — Nearly 150 labour activists were killed worldwide in 2006, a new global trade union said in a report Tuesday outlining a rising tide of violence and harassment against unionists across the globe.

The number killed of activists killed rose to 144 from 115 in 2005, while 800 were injured or tortured and more than 5,000 arrested and 500 jailed, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) said.

But here's the important bit for those keen lovers of the war on terror:

A single country, Colombia, accounted for more than half the victims with 78 unionists killed last year, according to the ITUC's first annual survey of rights violations since being founded in November 2006.

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe is spending millions to "tell the world that the situation is Colombia is improving ... instead of using its resources to tackle the real problem," ITUC secretary general Guy Ryder says in the report.

Yes, once again Colombia is singled out as a particularly dangerous country in which to be a union member. Hardly surprising when various members of Uribe's government have close ties to right-wing paramilitaries. Being a trade unionist in Colombia is akin to having a death sentence passed on you. However, the condemnation goes beyond Colombia and its appalling human rights record:

Dozens of labour activists were kept in jail in China, Myanmar and Cuba for pursuing independent trade union work, while in countries such as the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, trade unions remained banned altogether.

In the United States, it said "millions more were deprived of organising and bargaining rights" after a federal ruling expanded the definition of a "supervisor," who do not have the right to vote in union elections.

In Europe, meanwhile, the ITUC quoted the corporate social responsibility firm Vigeo as saying that less than 10 percent of all companies fully upheld union rights and promote collective bargaining.

As capitalism grows, thus does the representation of the workers diminish. The reason? union representation and the fight for workers' rights impedes the growth of capitalism and is therefore an obstacle to be removed. Workers rights are being eroded by the owners of capital to ensure that capital remains in the hands of the few and certainly not in the hands of the workers. That Colombia manages to consolidate this through murder without censure, underlines the very inhumane nature of this murderous system. Capitalism kills.

American Workers 'Most Productive' According to UN Report

Yes, the conservative media have been all over this one today. Fox News has particularly been keen to trumpet these statistics as evidence of the strength of the American workforce. This is, as far as the media are concerned, something to celebrate. From Fox:

American workers stay longer in the office, at the factory or on the farm than their counterparts in Europe and most other rich nations, and they produce more per person over the year.

They also get more done per hour than everyone but the Norwegians, according to a U.N. report released Monday, which said the United States "leads the world in labor productivity."

Wow, don't it make you so proud?? America leads the way in terms of productivity. But what does this actually mean?

Part of the reason why Americans work longer hours is due to a decrease in income. For example, the real value of the minimum wage has decreased from $5.84 in 2000 to $5.15 in 2005 (statistics from Economic Policy Institute - EPI). Consequently, lower income earners have to work longer to make up the shortfall. As well as a decrease in the real value of the minimum wage, there has been a marked decrease in the median family income. In 2000, the median was $55,647, in 2004 it was $54,061 (EPI). That's a decrease of over $1,000 per year. Interestingly, while incomes have generally declined, the main obstacle to wage decreases, the unions, have become almost powerless in the US. Union coverage decreased in 2005 to an all-time low of only 12.5%, down one percentage point since 2000 (EPI).

In contrast to these decreases, the rich have been getting richer. Between 2002 and 2003, the most recent available statistics, the top one percent earned an extra $53,000 (EPI) after tax. The lowest quintile actually saw a $200 decrease. The actual share of the income has also grown dramatically. For 2005, the top fifth took home 50.4% of total income. The bottom fifth only took home around 3.4%. Of course, it goes without saying that the top fifth will be the owners and the bottom fifth the workers. Workers who are, according to the report, working longer than their counterparts in other industrialised nations. This discrepancy in the distribution of income makes another statistic from the report stand out:

The average U.S. worker produces $63,885 of wealth per year, more than their counterparts in all other countries, the International Labor Organization said in its report. Ireland comes in second at $55,986, followed by Luxembourg at $55,641, Belgium at $55,235 and France at $54,609.

The US worker produces more wealth than their counterparts across the globe. They create $63,885 of wealth per year, and yet they see only a tiny fraction of that wealth. Those that do reap the benefits of this world beating level of wealth creation are the rich. In effect, the workers are working harder and longer for less pay, and yet they are creating more wealth which, in turn, ends up not in their pockets, but in the pockets of the top fifth. Yes, American workers are working harder, but they do not see the fruits of their labour. That is the capitalist system. It enslaves the workers to produce more and then takes what they produces and distributes it amongst the rich. And this makes the media proud? I see nothing to be proud of here. Corporate America should be ashamed of the way it steals from the poor and gives to the rich. There is nothing to celebrate in this achievement. America has been hijacked by the rich and Fox News pops open the champagne. Workers of America, your system hates you.

Iran Arrests More Union Members, As Protests Spread Across the Globe For Mansour Osanloo

Taken from Scoop:

Today's worldwide day of action to free jailed union leader Mansour Osanloo has been answered by arrests and prohibition in Iran. This morning five members of the Executive Board of the bus drivers' union were arrested while state security agents have been positioned at Osanloo's house and are threatening union members who had planned to rally there to request his release.

Osanloo is being held without charge in Tehran's notorious Evin prison as the latest move in a brutal two year government campaign against him and his Tehran bus drivers' union.

Today's action day has been called by the ITF (International Transport Workers' Federation) as the latest tactic in its campaign to defend Osanloo and his fellow bus drivers. It is being supported by the ITUC (International Trade Union Confederation), Amnesty International and unions and union organisations worldwide. Protests have today taken place or are shortly to take place in Algeria, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Canada, Egypt, France, Germany, Great Britain, Iran, Indonesia, Finland, Japan, Jordan, Malaysia, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Palestine, Panama, Romania, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Tunisia, Trinidad, the USA and Yemen.

ITF General Secretary David Cockroft commented: "If the Iranian Government wanted to know why workers worldwide are putting them under pressure then they've just supplied the answer. Today's arrests and intimidation show that despite all the reasonable approaches made to them in the last two years, they have locked themselves into a descending course of continued repression."

As union members once more stand up for their rights, those who claim to oppose the Iranian regime are strangely quiet. Strange, eh? I mean, I thought they were genuinely concerned about the Iranian people, not just in it for the opportunism. Ah well, fooled me. But then, of course, when the regime does fall, the right-wingers will claim that the left was quiet while the right went into battle. It's a bit like the fallacy over the Nazis. Some rightists claim that the left appeased Hitler (mmm, Chamberlain was a Conservative PM) and the right were the ones that opposed him. They obviously didn't oppose him enough. I don't remember many rightists joining the International Brigades when the Nazis were indulging in a proxy war in Spain. Facts eh? Confusing things.

Iraqi Government Refuses Recognition of Unions

Like father like son:

Iraq's Oil Ministry has directed all its agencies and departments not to deal with the country's oil unions.

The unions and Iraq's government, especially the prime minister and oil minister, have been at odds for months now over working conditions and the draft oil law.

The unions went on strike in early June and are threatening to stop production and exports again if demands are not met. The unions claim the oil law, if approved by Parliament, will give foreign oil companies too much access to the oil. The unions enjoy enormous support, especially in the south of Iraq.

"The Minister has directed the prohibition of cooperation with any member of any union in any of the committees organized under the name of the Union as these unions do not enjoy any legal status to work inside the government sector," Laith Abd Al Hussein AL Shahir, the ministry's general director, wrote in a July 18 letter obtained by UPI.

Saddam Hussein outlawed worker organizing in the public sector; subsequent U.S. occupying powers and now the Iraqi government do not recognize the workers' rights to organize.

Truly, they are adopting American style democracy to its fullest degree.

BBC Apologises To Queen - Will They Do The Same To The Miners?

Well, I was going to avoid this non-story like the plague, but the absurd furore caused by a badly edited video has become too much to cope with. The usual suspects are at force (four posts for fuck's sake), claiming this is another example of left-wing bias. Take a second to stop and think about it though. Would the BBC, a broadcaster that has had a long history of privileged access to the monarchy, really do something deliberately that would jeopardise this relationship? Of course not. They wouldn't dream of putting their privileged access to the monarchy under threat. However, the apology is intriguing. The BBC seems to have no qualms about apologising to the monarchy over a badly edited trailer yet, as someone has pointed out in today's letter pages in The Guardian, the BBC didn't apologise over its badly edited coverage of the Battle of Orgreave. It's interesting to know where a 'left-wing' broadcaster's loyalties truly lay.

Iranian Authorities Admit Osanloo Detained in Evin Prison

Taken from the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) website:

After two days of denying all knowledge of his whereabouts, the authorities in Iran this afternoon (Thursday 12 July) admitted that Mansour Osanloo is being held in Evin Prison, Tehran.

Osanloo was snatched from a bus two days ago by unidentified assailants. Since then his family, colleagues, lawyers and friends have met a wall of denials when questioning the authorities about who was holding him.

The order to arrest Osanloo is believed to have come from Revolutionary Court Judge Saeed Mortazavi, who had denied any knowledge of Osanloo’s whereabouts.

ITF General Secretary David Cockroft said: “At least we now know where Mansour is being held. We will campaign with renewed vigour for his release, and for the Iranian Government to rein in the loose cannons responsible for this latest shameful attack.”

Osanloo was attacked as he was getting off a bus and was subsequently severely beaten according to witnesses. He was then bundled into a car before being taken away by unidentified assailants. Once again, it emerges that Osanloo has been detained in the notorious Evin prison.

How you can help

The ITF is currently running a campaign to demand fair treatment for Osanloo and ensure his immediate release. You can help in the following ways:

1. Sign the petition

To urge President Ahmadjinejad to take every step possible to ensure the safety and immediate release of Mansour Osanloo.

2. Send a Protest Letter

Click the above link to send a protest email to President Ahmadjinejad.

Please do your bit to force the Iranian government to observe basic human rights and ensure the safe release of Osanloo and an end to his persecution at the hands of the state.

Action Taken So Far

ITF and ITUC (International Trade Union Confederation) have taken the following action to bring pressure on the Iranian Government:

· They have jointly written to President Ahmadinejad, protesting against the attack.

· They have asked ILO (International Labour Organization) Director General Juan Somavia to help free Osanloo. ILO Executive Director Kari Tapiola today raised the matter with the Iranian Labour Attaché in Geneva.

· They have added this latest attack to their complaint to the ILO’s Committee on Freedom of Association against the Government of Iran.

· They have promised to mobilise trade unions internationally to shame the Government of Iran if Osanloo is not released today.

ITF General Secretary David Cockroft stated: “Three weeks ago we were applauding Mansour. One week ago we were successfully campaigning to have his deputy released from another unjustified arrest. This week we are profoundly worried about his physical safety and want to see Mansour freed and among his friends and family as quickly as possible.”

“We utterly condemn this latest cowardly mob attack on our friend and colleague, and urge the Government of Iran to wake up and deal with the elements within that have pulled off this latest act of repression.”

Education International Calls For Osanlou's Release

Below is a copy of the letter sent on behalf of Education International in response to the abduction of Mansour Osanloo. I will be posting more on this, including what you can do to help, later this evening.

His Excellency Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
President Islamic Republic of Iran
Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection
Tehran
Islamic Republic of Iran

Fax:

Brussels, 11 July 2007

President Ahmadinejad,

I write to you on behalf of Education International (EI) to condemn the abduction of Mansour Osanloo, the President of the Sandikaye Kargarane Sherkate Vahed (Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company).

EI has been informed by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) that Mansour Osanloo was abducted by unidentified assailants as he was leaving a Vahed Company bus near his home at around 7pm on 10 July. Witnesses stated that he was beaten severely, as he was taken away in a metallic grey Peugeot to an undisclosed location.

During the week of 18 June 2007, I and other leaders of international trade unions from all regions of the world welcomed Mr. Osanloo at meetings in London and Brussels. We all pledged support to the Sherkat-e-Vahed trade union and Mr. Osanloo himself.

Following his abduction, EI is deeply concerned for the safety of Mr. Osanloo.

By virtue of its membership of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) the Islamic Republic of Iran is legally bound to respect its core principles including the principle of the freedom of association.

EI therefore joins the ITUC and ITF to urge your government to take every possible step to secure the immediate release of Mr Osanloo.

In addition to worries about the latest attack on Mr. Osanloo, EI is also concerned about the fate of the teacher representatives whose case is still reviewed by courts following the recent legitimate teacher protests. Teachers were protesting to uphold their right to a decent living wage. Teachers and their union representatives were merely requesting fair negotiations and social dialogue.

EI therefore urges you, Mr. President, to:

· Secure the immediate release Mr. Osanloo, ensure his safety and identify those responsible for his abduction;

· Secure the immediate and unconditional release of all teachers and their representatives detained in the context of the teacher protests;

· Open serious negotiations with the teachers’ representatives on their longstanding request for improved wages and respectable working conditions;

· Ensure that, in future, the right of teachers and workers’ organisations to exercise their activities and to hold meetings relating to the conditions of work and economic and social policy be respected.

EI would welcome a positive response on these requests, and will, in the meantime, continue to monitor the situation in Iran closely.

Sincerely yours,

Fred van Leeuwen

General Secretary

Mansour Osanlou Abducted Again

The BBC has reported that the head of Tehran's transport workers' union, Mansour Osanlou, has been abducted inside Iran. According to his wife he was pulled from a bus by unidentified men on Tuesday evening. The Iranian government has so far refused to comment on the abduction.

This is not the first time that Osanlou has had a run-in with the authorities in Iran. Osanlou was first arrested by the authorities on 22 December 2005, alongside 11 other union officials, in connection with their peaceful trade union activities. On 25 December, members of the union staged a bus strike in solidarity with their colleagues and were promptly arrested. The following day, all those that had been detained by the authorities were released, except for Osanlou and six other members of the Union's executive board. Two days later, the six members were released, leaving Osanlou under Iranian custody. During this period of detention, Osanlou was refused access to a lawyer. He was then held in Evin Prison in Tehran, until his release on 9th August 2006 after payment of bail.

Just three months later, on 19 November, Osanlou was arrested outside his home by members of the security services. On 26 November, he appeared in court where no specific charges were outlined to him. Osanlou appeared without his lawyer present. After his arrest, he was once again detained in section 209 of Evin prison. During his detention, Osanlou was suffering from a serious eye complaint. Prior to his arrest by security services, he was wearing a bandage over his eye as the result of an operation to rectify the problem. It was believed that he had no access to any medical treatment during his detention, despite the seriousness of the condition. After meeting his lawyers on the 11 December, they claimed that:

....his understanding was that he had been arrested because of his trade union activities as well as his contacts with international organizations such as the ILO [International Labour Organization], UN and international labour organizations.

Osanlou was released in August last year and continued his trade union activities as normal. He was subject to continuous harassment by the authorities after his release as a result of his union work. On 8 November, Osanlou and nine other executive members of the union were detained in Tabriz whilst travelling to a conference 'Globalisation and Privatisation'. However, members of the state-run Islamic Labour Councils were free to travel unhindered.

Earlier this year, during the May Day demonstrations, numerous activists were detained and beaten by the authorities. During the demonstrations a small group broke away and started chanting anti-government slogans. Consequently, Intelligence Ministry officials attempted to detain Osanlou once more. On this occasion he managed to escape. Prior to these demonstrations he had been due to give a speech at the Islamic Society of Students about the problems faced by labour organisations. University officials cancelled the talk and it was given at the gates of the university instead.

Clearly, Osanlou is a target of the authorities in Iran. His continued detentions as a result of his trade union work is systematic of the way the Iranian authorities view the trade union movement. Their determination to undermine rights of assembly and the rights for works to organise exposes the true nature of the regime. One hopes that Osanlou is released promptly and that there is an end to his continued persecution. Furthermore, the Iranian regime should allow the work force to unionise and demonstrate freely and without hindrance. Until the regime reverses this trend, it will continue to be considered a state that refuses to acknowledge basic human rights.

Additional information courtesy of Amnesty International:

The Union of Workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company is said to have been founded in 1979 and resumed activities in 2004 after a 25-year ban. It is still not legally recognised.

Iran is a State Party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Article 22 (1) of which states: Everyone shall have the right to freedom of association with others, including the right to form and join trade unions for the protection of his interests. Article 26 of Iran’s Constitution states: The formation of parties, societies, political or professional associations … is permitted provided they do not violate the principles of independence, freedom, national unity, the criteria of Islam, or the basis of the Islamic republic. No one may be prevented from participating in the aforementioned groups, or be compelled to participate in them.

Colombia: One of the world’s most dangerous places for trade unionists

3 July 2007

A sham paramilitary demobilization process, combined with thousands of cases of threats and killings and a chronic lack of investigations and prosecutions, makes Colombia one of the most dangerous places in the world for trade unionists, according to a new report released today.

Amnesty International’s report, Killings, arbitrary detentions, and death threats -- the reality of trade unionism in Colombia,highlights a pattern of systematic attacks against trade unionists involved in labour disputes and in campaigns against privatization and in favour of workers’ rights in some areas where extractive industries operate.

Colombia’s National Trade Union School documented 2,245 killings, 3,400 threats and 138 forced disappearances of trade unionists between January 1991 and December 2006. Despite their supposed demobilization, army-backed paramilitaries and the security forces are thought to be behind most attacks. Guerrilla groups have also been responsible for such killings.

“Trade unionists across Colombia are being sent a clear message: Don’t complain about your labour conditions or campaign to protect your rights because you will be silenced, at any cost,” said Susan Lee, Amnesty International’s Americas Programme Director.

“By failing to adequately protect trade unionists, the Colombian authorities are sending a message that abuses against them can continue, while companies operating in Colombia risk being held accountable for human rights abuses for which, through their conduct, they may bear responsibility.”

The report includes the cases of human rights abuses against trade unionists -- and their relatives -- working in Colombia’s health, education, public services, agricultural, mining, oil, gas, energy and food sectors.

Amnesty International is calling on companies working in Colombia to use their influence with the Colombian government to end and prevent human rights abuses against trade unionists.

“This report is a wake-up call for any multinational company operating in an environment in which human rights are systematically violated. Inaction is no longer an option,” said Susan Lee.

Successive Colombian governments have implemented policies to improve the safety of trade unionists, including a programme that allocates armed escorts, bullet-proof vehicles and telephones to some threatened trade unionists.

“While such measures are welcome, attacks against trade unionists will continue unless effective measures are taken to end the impunity enjoyed by those killing and threatening them.”

Amnesty International’s report also highlights the Tripartite Agreement signed by the Colombian government, Colombian business representatives and Colombia’s trade union confederations in June 2006, under the auspices of the International Labour Organization (ILO).

The agreement provides for the establishment of a permanent presence of the ILO in Colombia to monitor the application of freedom of association rights in the country and progress in efforts to advance investigations into the killing of trade unionists.

“The International Labour Organization (ILO) agreement is a key opportunity to tackle the human rights crisis facing trade unionists. It is now imperative that the Colombian authorities, multinational and Colombian companies, and the international labour movement work together with the office of the ILO in Bogotá to ensure investigations into all cases of threats and attacks against trade unionists and their relatives.”

For a list of some of the case studies included in Amnesty International's report, please see:

http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAMR230162007

A copy of Amnesty International's report Killings, arbitrary detentions, and death threats -- the reality of trade unionism in Colombia will be available from 3 July on:

http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAMR230012007

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Wal-Mart Curbs Rights to Free Association

Surveillance. Harassment. Indoctrination. Human rights abuses. I could be talking about China, Iran, North Korea or (whisper it quietly) the UK. But no, I am referring to the bastard of all corporate bastards, Wal-Mart - the parent company of the Asda chain.

A report was released by Human Rights Watch detailing the lengths that Wal-Mart will go to in order to keep their workforce from organising and campaigning for better conditions. According to The Guardian, the report reveals that:

Wal-Mart...has elaborate tactics to stop staff from coming together to fight for better conditions. The company is accused of focusing security cameras on areas where staff congregate and shifting around loyal workers in "unit packing" tactics to ensure votes for union recognition are defeated.

Store managers at Wal-Mart also receive 'tool boxes' to enable them to "remain free in the event union organisers choose your facility as their next target". In what is clearly an orchestrated effort by the company to crack down on any hint of an organised workforce, managers are also advised to phone a special 'union hotline' if they suspect members of staff are organising.

The lengths that they go to to ensure that staff do not unionise is remarkable. Members of staff are rounded up and forced to watch propaganda that highlights the perils of a unionised workforce. Videos presented by Paul French & Partners besiege the viewer with various 'facts' about the disruption caused by union members and leave staff in no doubt that unionisation is a bad thing. As Carol Price, author of the report, explains:

"Wal-Mart's aggressive and sophisticated anti-union strategy is based out of its headquarters. This is not a store-by-store problem - the violations are a direct result of the company's philosophy."

Historically, Wal-Mart has always had an issue with unions. As The Guardian reports:

In a breach of US law, Wal-Mart has allegedly banned union organisers from distributing flyers outside its stores and has confiscated literature found on the premises. Since Wal-Mart began in 1962, there has only been one successful formation of a union - among meat cutters in Texas seven years ago. The department was subsequently shut down - an act ruled illegal by US labour authorities.

Wal-Mart's subsidiary in the UK has already seen a shift in tactics towards union members. They have already been fined £850,000 for offering illegal inducements to staff to disown their union. There is no doubt whatsoever that Asda will try to follow the same policies of the parent company, and we can expect many more examples of union busting in the future. However, the findings of this report might just start a backlash against the unfair practices of a company that is the largest company in the latest Fortune 500 rankings. It is time to up the pressure on Asda and force them to change their business practices. It is only by hitting them where they hurt that we can make an example out of Wal-Mart and send a warning to all corporations that the workforce has rights that need protecting.

Read the full report here.

Zimbabwean Trade Unionists In Hiding

From Amnesty International:

Two Zimbabwean trade unionists have gone into hiding after receiving threatening phone calls. The callers identified themselves as members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO).

The ZRP and CIO officers are reported to have accused Edward Dzeka and Joyce Muwoni, who are officers of the General Agriculture and Plantations Workers Union (GAPWUZ) in the farming town of Chegutu, of organising workers to take part in the job “stay away” demonstration in the town and on the surrounding farms.

Members of the ZRP and CIO also called at the GAPWUZ offices on 4 April and enquired about the whereabouts of the two unionists. They later visited the home of Edward Dzeka, who is also the district chairperson of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), in Chegutu.

Some of the ZRP and CIO officers making the alleged threats are known to the trade unionists. They are believed to be targeting leaders of trade unions following the 3 to 4 April national job “stay away” demonstration organised by the ZCTU.

Edward Dzeka was previously arrested with 10 other trade unionists on 13 September 2006 for organising peaceful protests under the ZCTU. The 11 trade unionists were reported to have been tortured by members of the ZRP at Chegutu police station. They are currently on bail after being charged under the Public Order and Security Act (POSA).

Amnesty International understands that Edward Dzeka and Joyce Muwoni are being threatened for exercising their rights to freedom of association and assembly by organising a peaceful demonstration as part of GAPWUZ and the ZCTU. Amnesty International is deeply concerned about their safety and calls on the police and CIO to guarantee their safety.

For further information, please see:Trade unionists at risk in Zimbabwe (Feature, 2 April 2007)

Zimbabwe: End harassment, torture and intimidation of opposition activists (Press Release, 28/03/2006)

Take action: Stop harassment of activists in Zimbabwe

Also see: One Big Union

Long May We Prosper

Whilst everyone works themselves into a frenzy about the redistributive powers of our Chancellor, we get a little insight into what our taxes are paying for. How about this for example:
New figures released today by campaign group Justice for Colombia show that 84 trade unionists were murdered in Colombia in 2006. This marks a 20% increase on the number assassinated in 2005.

But what's that got to do with our taxes, I hear you ask. Well, along with the US, we provide a certain degree of financial support to America's favourite franchise state (approximately £1 million, plus 'lethal military equipment'). As recent events have shown, there is an indisputable link between the Colombian government, and the paramilitary groups that are responsible for these murders. Aren't we supposed to be fighting a 'war on terror'?

According to the report:

The figures, which are sourced from Colombian unions, show that teachers and agricultural workers were hit particularly hard: 40 of the 84 people killed were teachers and 11 were agricultural workers.

Although most of the culprits have never been identified, figures from the Colombian Commission of Jurists show that the vast majority of political assassinations were committed by the state and right-wing paramilitaries, often acting in collusion.

Carlos Rodriguez, President of the CUT – Colombia’s main union confederation – said: “Since the CUT was founded in 1986, there has been a campaign against trade union activity and more than 3,000 trade unionists have been assassinated. There is no other country in the world where trade unionists suffer such violence.”

While Brown talks about 'prosperity and fairness for Britain's families', he ensures a nice little chunk is used to spread poverty and murder throughout Colombia. But hey, fuck it, at least it's built on:

'...the foundation of the longest period of economic stability and sustained growth.'

I feel better already.