INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR AN INDEPENDENT TRADE UNION MOVEMENT IN IRAQ

Early day motion 1158, tabled 7 May 2003 by Harry Barnes (Labour). Signed by 83 members.

That this House congratulates the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for its welcome initiative on May Day in requesting that the International Labour Organisation and the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions become involved in the creation of democratic trade unions in Iraq; welcomes the decision of the TUC that it will play a full role, as part of the international trade union movement, in assisting with the establishment of trade unions in Iraq that are secular and representative in place of the Ba'athist-controlled Iraqi trade union confederation which was a front for Saddam; further welcomes the decision by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to help fund a fact-finding mission, whilst acknowledging that the work of shaping a democratic Labour movement in Iraq must be in the hands of Iraqi workers themselves with advice and help from multilateral and international trade unions and the International Labour Organisation; and urges the British Government to seek the support of the US Administration and the wider international community for this highly valuable series of initiatives.

Signatures by party: Labour 65, Labour/Co-operative 9, Liberal Democrat 4, DUP 2, UUP 2, Plaid Cymru 1.