UCU: Solidarity with Iraqi workers and women

Motion

Motion text: 1. Congress welcomes and supports the new independent unions and women's organisations that have emerged since the fall of Saddam's brutal regime.
These groups are central to any prospect of a democratic, secular Iraq.

2. The 650,000+ excess civilian deaths in Iraq since 2003 and the destruction of civil society, including the attacks on trade unionists, women and LGBT people, derive directly from the presence of occupying US and UK forces – practically, morally and legally under the Geneva Conventions.

3. The Occupation forces/the Iraqi gvt. pursue anti-working-class policies. For example, they have retained Saddam's anti-union laws; the oil industry has been privatised; the US and Iraqi government and some other groups have harassed the trade union movement, for example, the General Federation of Iraqi Workers offices were raided twice in February 2007.

4. We support the TUC's Iraq Unions appeal and instruct the UCU's national officers to facilitate active solidarity between British education workers and UCU branches, and our Iraqi counterparts.

5. Congress resolves to campaign against the repeat of this disaster through the threats to bomb or invade Iran.