Al-Ghad

Iraqi Tanks Take Control of the Oil Pipelines In Basra,
by Orders of Maliki

The People of Basra Rally to the Support of Oil Workers Strike

Demands are Growing to Put the Oil Law on Hold

Iraqi Government in Panic, Holds Talks With Oil Unions Leaders

The Basra Oil Pipelines Workers Started their strike on Monday defiantly, cutting the oil flow to country, but not the oil for export. Last night the commanding officer of the security forces held talks with the Union of the Oil Pipelines, and the meeting came to an agreement to suspend the strike regarding the Pipelines for four days, offering the Prime Minister the chance to come to a mutually accepted agreement. Failing that the Oil Workers Unions would join forces to restart the strike with all the workers of Basra, not just Oil and Pipelines Unions, a general industrial action that could affect oi heading for the international market.

Though the demands of the strikers have not included the freezing the Draft Oil Law, but the growing discontent of working people of Basra against the Oil Law could become the burning issue of the strike. There is no doubt now that the rise of the Iraqi working, with the Oil workers as vanguard, has, and is transforming the sombre Iraqi landscape. What is most encouraging for the Iraqi workers is the bold stand taken by the international labour organisation.

Ben LANDO, UPI Energy Correspondent, said, June 6:

“Maliki has been unable to meet a key benchmark set by the Bush
administration and backed by the Democratic-led Congress: to pass an
oil law. Many in Iraq, including oil experts and parliamentarians,
are calling for the law to be put on hold. Negotiators haven’t been
able to agree on the best means of revenue distribution, whether
central or regional governments will have more power in the oil
sector, or how much access foreign investors will have. Manfred
Warda, general secretary of the International Federation of
Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers’ Unions, Wednesday sent a
letter to Maliki condemning his tactics in addressing the strike.
“Genuine and democratic trade unions are a cornerstone of democracy
and at the same time are a force for reconciliation, peace and
stability in a society,” Warda wrote. The Brussels-based
International Trade Union Confederation and London-based Trades
Union Congress have also condemned the military action and arrest
warrants. A top official with the International Federation of
Chemical, Energy, Mine & General Workers’ Union said his contacts
say the strike had been toned down while negotiations were underway,
but has not ended. “The strike began purely and simply at the
pipeline,” said Jim Catterson, the energy industry officer for
Warda’s federation, based in Brussels. IFOU “has membership capable
of bringing an end to exports.”

The Iraqi working class movement, and the Iraqi people in general deserve every support in their dire situation.

Al-Ghad