IRAQ GOVERNMENT ORDERS ARREST OF OIL UNION LEADERS [View All]

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IRAQ GOVERNMENT ORDERS ARREST OF OIL UNION LEADERS
Submitted by davidswanson on Wed, 2007-06-06 21:00. Activism | Media

IRAQ GOVERNMENT ORDERS ARREST OF OIL UNION LEADERS
CONTACT IRAQI EMBASSY IN D.C. TODAY!!!
IRAQI WORKER, ACTIVISTS DEMAND HANDS OFF IRAQI OIL
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Press release from Naftana
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

6 June 2007 12 noon

Iraq government orders arrest of oil workers’ leaders

Iraq’s powerful oil workers’ trade union today expressed alarm as an arrest warrant was issued for its leaders, in an attempt to clamp down on industrial action.

Members of the union have been on strike since Monday 4th June, in protest at the government’s failure to meet any of its promises made in a meeting with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on 16th May. The union’s 16 demands included improvements to wages, health and other working and living conditions as well as consultation on the proposed oil law, which the union opposes. The union added a 17th demand yesterday demanding the sacking of the General Manager of the Southern Pipeline Company.

On Tuesday, al-Maliki warned that he would meet threats to oil production “with an iron fist”.

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