Oil workers may strike over union issue

Left: Hassan Juma’a Awad, the head of the General Union of Oil Employees, the largest and most powerful union in Iraq

Oil workers in Basra, Iraq, say they'll respond to the Oil Ministry's anti-union rhetoric with protests and possibly strikes.

Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani told UPI the unions are not legitimate, and the ministry has issued a letter ordering its agencies and state businesses not to deal with the unions.

"Shahristani's decision has been rejected by the union because it is the same type of decision as used by the old regime regarding laborers and workers," Hassan Juma'a Awad, president of the Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions, told the Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper...

In a July 18 letter obtained by UPI, the ministry's general director, Laith Abd Al Hussein AL Shahir, wrote to the ministry's companies, such as the state firms in the north and south of the country, as well as research, development and training centers based in Baghdad, Baiji, Basra and Kirkuk: "In no way is it permitted for them to use the offices, instruments or equipment of the companies as they do not enjoy any legal status to work in the public sector," the letter stated, giving recipients two weeks to implement the directive.

Read the rest at UPI

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