The International Trade Union Confederation has published its annual survey of violations of trade union rights for 2007. (Hat tip: David at Harry's Place). Here's what it says about Iran, whose recognition of any form of labor rights is nil:
Protest activity: Despite the ban on strikes, workers' protests and other work stoppages are a daily occurrence throughout Iranian enterprises. They are often repressed. Most of these protests concern either low wages, the non-payment of wages, lay-offs or factory closures. The minimum wage set by the government is $US 140 per month, while the official poverty line stands at $US 300. Nearly two million workers have not been paid – some for nearly two years.
Barriers to organising: Obstacles to organising include the presence of security and intelligence forces in workplaces, and the increasing trend towards temporary contracts. It is common practice in Iran to fire workers the day before a three month probation period expires. They are then rehired on a new contract with a new period of three months probation. The practice is then repeated endlessly. A worker hired under such a contract is not entitled to benefits and severance pay. According to statistics reportedly provided by the government, more than 1.5 million workers are hired under such circumstances.
Suppression of Workers’ Rights Advocates: During the past year, those who tried to advocate workers rights were detained, harassed, interrogated and subjected to official and unofficial intimidation. One notable example was Dr. Nasser Zarafshan, a renowned human and workers’ rights advocate who faced several attempts on his life while in prison for defending the families of assassinated writers and intellectuals.
Other groups and individuals were also subjected to this policy of legal and illegal intimidation. Their unions were not recognised, their newspapers and websites were closed or subjected to pressure, and they were called for questioning and warned to be silent or face the wrath of the "Islamic Judiciary". Organisations like the Coordination Committee to form Independent Workers Organisations, the "Steering Committee for the Pursuit of the Right to Form Independent Workers Bodies and Organisations", the Founding Board of the Union of Dismissed and Unemployed Workers and even "Factory Committees" were refused recognition and subjected to different forms of harassment and intimidation.
Now here's Iraq, which has failed to rescind Saddam's labor laws. Perhaps the most depressing fact is that trade unionists are targeted by sectarian militias, terrorists, and joint U.S.-Iraqi forces. Should we ever find ourselves subjectively on the same side as the Mahdi Army or Al Qaeda?
Most workers banned from union membership: Given the predominance of the public sector in Iraq, many workers are deprived of the right to organise. Sectors like banking, insurance, oil and others are overwhelmingly state-owned. Even industrial factories producing batteries or cement are very often state-owned.
Only one national centre officially recognised: The only officially recognised trade union is the General Federation of Iraqi Workers (GFIW). It represents progress in the sense that it was created, in September 2005, as a result of a merger between three unions, the Iraqi Federation of Workers' Trade Unions (IFTU), previously the only one to have official recognition, the General Federation of Trade Unions (GFTU) and the General Federation of Iraqi Trade Unions (GFITU). However, the fact that only one national trade union confederation has been granted official recognition limits freedom of association. Organisations such as the Federation of Workers' Councils and Unions in Iraq (FWCUI) have been refused recognition.
Some employers also refused to recognise trade unions as they were not formally registered, simply due to the lack of registration offices.
Threats against workers trying to start a strike: Some employers have referred to provisions in former laws to threaten any worker attempting to take strike action in a state-owned company.
Trade unionists in danger: In the current, unstable situation in the country, trade unionists are targeted by Iraqi militias, terrorist groups, allied occupation troops and others. So many violations of trade union rights occur in Iraq that those reported at the international level can only be considered a random sample.
And here's what the international left used to say when confronted with grim realities like the above. Forgive Billy Bragg his "Manichean" tendency, won't you:
This government had an idea And parliament made it law It seems like it's illegal To fight for the union any more
Which side are you on, boys Which side are you on Which side are you on, boys Which side are you on
We went out to join the picket line For together we cannot fail We got stopped by police at the county line They said, "Go home boys or you're going to jail"
Which side are you on, boys Which side are you on Which side are you on, boys Which side are you on
It's hard to explain to a crying child Why her Daddy can't go back So the family suffer But it hurts me more To hear a scab say Sod you Jack
Which side are you on, boys Which side are you on Which side are you on, boys Which side are you on
I'm bound to follow my conscience And do whatever I can But it'll take much more than the union law To knock the fight out of a working man
Which side are you on, boys Which side are you on Which side are you on, boys Which side are you on
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