New EU Compact urges companies to immediately sign Bangladesh Accord

In a joint statement to launch the new EU Compact, EU Commissioner Karel de Gucht, ILO Director General Guy Ryder, and Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Dupi Moni said they:

“Welcome the fact that over 70 major fashion and retail brands sourcing RMG from Bangladesh have signed an Accord on Fire and Building Safety to coordinate their efforts to help improve safety in Bangladesh’s factories which supply them. In this context, they encourage other companies, including SMEs, to join the Accord expeditiously within their respective capacities.”

IndustriALL General Secretary Jyrki Raina welcomed this new endorsement:

As we reach another important milestone in the Bangladesh Accord, reaching the end of the first 45-day implementation process, we welcome this further high-profile endorsement. The EU is late to the game but it has an essential role in the work to make the Bangladeshi garment industry safe.

Every day more companies sign the Accord. The new Compact recognizes the urgency of more companies signing the Accord and broadening the coalition to the benefit of Bangladeshi workers.

UNI Global Union Deputy General Secretary, Christy Hoffman, said:

The Accord is moving forward with the support of the companies and the backing of the international institutions including the EU, ILO and the UN. Together we will improve the lives of Bangladeshi garment factory workers.

The full list of company signatories to the Accord:

Abercrombie & Fitch
Aldi Nord
Aldi South
Auchan
Belotex
Benetton
Bestseller
Bonmarche
C&A
Camaieu
Carrefour
Charles Voegele
Chicca
Comtex
Coop Danmark
Cotton On
Dansk
Daytex
Debenham
Distra
DK Company
El Corte Ingles
Ernstings's Family
Esprit
Fat Face
Forever New
Gstar
H&M
Helly Hansen
Hema
Hemtex AB
Herding Heimtextil
Hess Natur-Textilien GmbH
Horizonte
Inditex
JBC
Jogilo
John Lewis
Juritex
KappAhl
Karstadt
Kik
Kmart (Australia)
LC WAIKIKI
Leclerc
Lidl
Loblaw
Mango
Marks and Spencer
Metro
Mothercare
Multiline
N Brown
New Look
Next
Otto Group
Primark
PUMA
PVH
Rewe
S Olivier
Sainsbury
Schmidt Group
Scoop NYC / Zac Posen
Sean John Apparel
Shop Direct Group
Stockmann
Switcher
Target (Australia)
Tchibo
Tesco
Texman
Topgrade International
V&D
Van der Erve NV
Varner Group
Voice Norge AS
We Europe
Zeeman

Contacts:

Tom Grinter, IndustriALL, Mobile: +41 79 693 44 99,
[email protected] 

Richard Elliott, UNI Global Union, Mobile: +41 79 794 9709,
[email protected]

Andy York – Ethical Trading Manager – N Brown Group – Contact Fergus Wylie – Newgate Communications – +44 (0) 20 7680 6550

Bangladesh Safety Accord implementation – moving forward

The signatories to the Accord, IndustriALL Global Union, UNI Global Union and the 91 clothing brands and retailers, set themselves a 45 day period to draw up and agree on the implementation plan and 8 July is the deadline. The Accord represents a new era of collaboration and sincere efforts to make the Bangladeshi garment industry safe and sustainable through comprehensive inspections, repairs of factories, training and involvement of workers.

All parties to the five-year binding Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh are enthused by this milestone and the real work on the ground will begin soon.

Key highlights of the implementation plan include:

See the report of the implementation team attached for full details. The Accord will cover all factories producing for the signatory brands, opening them all up for safety inspections and further measures depending on the factory’s significance to the brand. Signatory brands and retailers guarantee that in every case where an unsafe factory is found funds will be available for the necessary safety upgrades.

The Accord will be governed by the Steering Committee with equal representation of labour and company members. The Steering Committee will be empowered to take decisions to resolve disputes, with the arbitration to be enforceable in a court of law in the company’s home country. The selection of the Arbitrator in this process will be governed by the UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration 1985. All action of the Accord will be transparent and publically reported.

IndustriALL General Secretary Jyrki Raina stated:

This historic, legally binding Accord will effect tangible change on the ground and help make the Bangladeshi garment industry safe and sustainable. Voluntary initiatives have proved insufficient, as 1,800 Bangladeshi garment workers have died in factory fires and building collapses during the past seven years. A profound change is possible only with a strong coalition between trade unions, international brands and retailers, Bangladeshi authorities and employers, and with worker involvement in the workplace with guaranteed freedom of association.

UNI Global Union General Secretary Philip Jennings commented:

Now the real work starts. The terms of reference and the rules of the Accord are set in place, we can now identify the best people and put together the team in Bangladesh who will be charged with carrying out this vital work. These are exciting moments. The world is watching.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) acts as an independent chair to enhance the Accord’s implementation. The labour NGOs Clean Clothes Campaign and the Workers' Rights Consortium played an important role in supporting the Accord and will continue to do so throughout its five year duration.

Of fundamental importance to the Accord is that it includes a central role for workers and their representatives. Another central aspect of the Accord is that it commits signatory companies to staying in Bangladesh for at least the first two years of the Accord. The signatory companies to the Accord are making serious and sincere commitments to working with trade unions to clean up their production chain in Bangladesh. They can all be held up as standard-setters in the industry.

The full list of company signatories to the Accord:

Abercrombie & Fitch (USA)
Aldi Nord (GERMANY)
Aldi South (GERMANY)
American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (USA)
Arcadia (UK)
Auchan (FRANCE)
Belotex (GERMANY)
Benetton (ITALY)
Bestseller (DENMARK)
Bonmarche (UK)
Brands-Fashion (GERMANY)
C&A (GERMANY & BELGIUM)
Camaieu (FRANCE)
Carrefour (FRANCE)
Casino Global (HONG KONG)
Charles Voegele (SWITZERLAND)
Chicca (GERMANY)
Comtex GmbH (GERMANY)
Coop Danmark (DENMARK)
Cotton On (AUSTRALIA)
Dansk (DENMARK)
Daytex (GERMANY)
Debenhams (UK)
Distra (GERMANY)
DK Company (DENMARK)
El Corte Ingles (SPAIN)
Ernstings' Family (GERMANY) 
Esprit (GERMANY & HONG KONG)
Fast Retailing (JAPAN)
Fat Face (UK)
Forever New (AUSTRALIA)
Full Service Handels (GERMANY)
Gstar (NETHERLANDS)
H&M (SWEDEN)
Helly Hansen (NORWAY)
Hema (NETHERLANDS)
Hemtex AB (SWEDEN)
Herding Heimtextil (GERMANY)
Hess Natur-Textilien GmbH (GERMANY)
Horizonte (GERMANY)
Inditex (SPAIN)
JBC (NETHERLANDS)
Jogilo (BELGIUM)
John Lewis (UK)
Jolo Fashion (GERMANY)
Juritex (GERMANY)
KappAhl (SWEDEN)
Karstadt (GERMANY)
Kik (GERMANY)
Kmart (AUSTRALIA)
LC WAIKIKI (TURKEY)
Leclerc (FRANCE)
Lidl (GERMANY)
Loblaws (CANADA)
Mango (SPAIN)
Marks and Spencer (UK)
Matalan (UK)
Metro (GERMANY)
Mothercare (UK)
Multiline (GERMANY)
N Brown (UK)
New Look (UK)
Next (UK)
O'Neill Europe BV (NETHERLANDS)
Otto Group (GERMANY)
Primark (UK)
PUMA (GERMANY)
PVH (USA)
Rewe (GERMANY)
River Island Clothing Co. (UK)
s.Oliver (GERMANY)
Sainsbury (UK)
Schmidt Group (GERMANY)
Scoop NYC / Zac Posen (USA)
Sean John Apparel (USA)
Shop Direct Group (UK)
Speciality Fashions (AUSTRALIA)
Stockmann (FINLAND)
Switcher (SWITZERLAND)
Target (Australia)
Tchibo (GERMANY)
Tesco (UK)
Texman (DENMARK)
Topgrade International (HONG KONG)
Uncle Sam (Germany)
Varner Group (NORWAY)
Van der Erve NV (BELGIUM)
V&D (NETHERLANDS)
Voice Norge AS (NORWAY)
We Europe (NETHERLANDS)
Zeeman (NETHERLANDS)

Contacts:
Tom Grinter, IndustriALL, Mobile: +41 79 693 44 99, 
[email protected]
Richard Elliott, UNI Global Union, Mobile: +41 79 794 9709,
[email protected]
Andy York – Ethical Trading Manager – N Brown Group – Contact Fergus Wylie – Newgate Communications – +44 (0) 20 7680 6550 

7 killed in garment factory collapse in Bhiwandi, Mumbai

The incident occurred when around 45 workers were working during the night shift, killing 7, 15 are injured and 4 are still trapped.  Rescued workers claimed that the building started shaking at 2 o’ clock and crumbling down shortly thereafter.

During the incident, workers were working on the ground floor of the godown. “The building was still under construction. The third floor was being built illegally. This might have been the reason for the building collapse,” said Santosh Kadam, Head, Disaster Management Cell, Thane Municipal Corporation.

Satyapal Singh, Police Commissioner, Mumbai admitted that the building was illegal and unauthorized construction was going on. M K Bhosale, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Bhiwandi Police Station, apprised that a FIR has been filed against the building’s owner, Sanjay Dadhia, and the engineer for illegally raising the floor.

Police lodged a case under section 304 (punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others), 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal), 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.

According to the Inspector Ramesh Patil at the Narpoli Police station, “All those rescued are from a company called Big Garment, which was set up in the building one and half year ago. Big Garment could not immediately reach for comment”. The building was extended at the time of collapse. Pillars were being constructed in the building to add a new floor, Mr. Patil added.

The garment factory had employed many migrant workers, mostly from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, who used to work in shifts. Some also reportedly used to live in the same building. As of now only three deceased workers are identified as Munna Vazur Diwan (25), Sheikh Tajmul and Virendra Pandey (45).

The injured have been taken to Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital Bhiwandi. Out of 15 injured, nine people were discharged while rest are undergoing treatment. Rescue work is still going on. Top officials including District Collector P Velrasu, Bhiwandi Nizampur City Municipal Corporation (BNMC) commissioner Achyut Hange, Thane police commissioner K P Raghuvanshi are supervising the relief and rescue operations at the spot.

This is fourth building collapse in a span of two months in Mumbai and surrounding areas. Although the other deaths occurred in collapses of residential buildings.

Chilean unions in pulp and paper sector achieve historic unity

This new confederation is a merger of three federations – FACELPA, FIRST and FENASIFAC – with 1,800 members out of a total of 120,000 workers in the sector. It is the result of a process of unity that began two years ago. Delegates at the meeting in the town of Angol in Chile on 21-22 June, which was part of the Mercosur Paper and Cellulose project, considered it to be a historic event. Delegates representing unions in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and the PRO trade union in Finland and the IndustriALL Regional Secretary also attended.

Anatoly Surin, director of the pulp and paper sector commented:

The creation of a new Chilean confederation means that this major project by MERCOSUR countries with the participation of unions in the paper and cellulose sector has been very successful. And this is a success for everybody, not only for the Chilean trade union movement. We achieved our goal and the funds contributed by donors were not spent in vain.

The Political Agreement and Commitment signed by the three presidents of the respective federations marks an important development for trade unionism in Chile, as emphasized by the CUT’s regional representative, Sergio Gática.

The opening day was attended by the Mayor of Angol and a congressional deputy, who both expressed their approval of this historic event and congratulated the organisers of the meeting. They said that it is a step forward that will certainly bring benefits for workers, the region, the country and companies in the sector, despite the difficulties and obstacles facing unions in Chile.

On 24 June, a delegation of union leaders from Brazil, Chile and Uruguay representing the network of CMPC company employees, accompanied by a representative of the Finnish union PRO and Industriall’s Project Coordinator, met CMPC executives at the company's headquarters in Santiago de Chile. The delegation formally delivered a proposal for an International Framework Agreement, drafted by workers in the CMPC network.

CMPC representatives rejected the proposal, arguing that the company will continue to maintain a dialogue based on “trust and the spoken word” and that there is therefore no need for such an agreement. However, the unions will continue the dialogue given that the company executive said “the doors will always be open”. 

Jorge Almeida, IndustriALL Regional Secretary for Latin America and the Caribbean, who attended the meeting, highlighted how the trade union unity achieved signifies a step forward for the trade union movement in the paper, timber and cellulose sector. He added that, in the current context of the trade union movement in Chile, the unions should build on this achievement to work towards creating a single trade union organisation to represent all the country's industrial sectors.

Electrolux pledges full reinstatement of Thai union leaders

Over recent months, IndustriALL Global Union together with Swedish affiliate IF Metall have been actively pushing for a just solution including full reinstatement of the suspended union leaders at the Electrolux Rayong plant while the industrial dispute in deadlock.

After long and tough negotiations with Electrolux, on 28 June, IndustriALL Global Union, IF Metall and the Electrolux management reached an additional agreement which surmounts obstacles for both the Electrolux Thailand Worker’s Union-ETWU and the local management in Rayong. This additional agreement includes:

IF Metall, the former IMF, and Thai affiliate TEAM actively engaged in organizing the Rayong plant in 2010 and soon after that ETWU was formed to represent the workers’ interests.

IndustriALL and IF Metall will continue to support the workers and the union leaders to re-vitalize the union activities and to create stronger unity at the plant.

Brazilian working-class holds National Day of Struggle

The National Day of Struggle, organised jointly with other social movements, is calling for a positive outcome to the current situation. The trade union movement has joined the protests attended by millions of people throughout the country who have been calling for a reduction in public transport fares and improvements in public transport, health, education and expressing their dissatisfaction with the way in which political institutions are operating. There have already been concrete results because the authorities reduced public transport fares in most cities and towns. However, there is still a deadlock over the question of political reform. Congress is debating the issue but all sectors of society must be involved in this debate.

The National Day of Struggle will call for the withdrawal of Bill 4330 on outsourcing, which is an attack on Brazilian workers’ rights and makes work even more precarious in Brazil. This bill must be withdrawn immediately from the agenda of the National Congress.

The Constitution and Justice Commission of Congress is due to vote on the Bill on 9 July. The trade unions have organised a day of strikes in the main sectors of the economy on 4 July as a warning to Congress to withdraw the Bill before the demonstrations, stoppages and strikes to be held on 11 July.

The National Day of Struggle will call on the authorities not to make cuts in expenditure on social services to compensate for the reductions in public transport fares. Other demands include: 10% of the national budget for public health; 10% of GDP for education; "public funds are only for the public sector"; an end to the pensions factor; 40 hour working week without a reduction in pay; land reform and suspension of the tendering process in the oil industry.

The unions will also call for the democratisation of the media and for a plebiscite to decide on political reform.

The CUT believes that resources are available to invest in improving public services and criticises the way in which billions of public money have been given to employers in the form of exonerations, exemptions and subsidies without the employers providing anything in return. Billions more are used to swell the primary surplus to pay the national debt.

The CUT will prioritise strikes in various sectors of the economy. The strikers will include their own specific demands as well as those formulated by the wider movement.

Miguel Torres, president of the CNTM, the metalworkers’ confederation affiliated to Força Sindical, which is affiliated to IndustriALL, said: “We are at an important moment in the life of our country, with important changes in the economy, in the use of public resources and the definition of social and political priorities”. He added: “the workers are protagonists in this movement, they are the people who are really building the nation and have always been ready to go out onto the streets to protest and demand their rights, and to participate in the national political arena in order to fight for  improvements to living conditions”. 

Millions demand President of Egypt to resign

Huge protests across Egypt calling for the resignation of President Mohammed Morsi began on 30 June, 2013 and continued throughout the night. Millions of protesters across the country accuse the country's first Islamist president of failing to tackle economic and security problems since taking power a year ago.

Egypt's economy is in free-fall: the pound has dropped in value by nearly 20 per cent since Morsi took office, and many businesses are paralysed by widespread fuel and electricity shortages. Public anger has soared over expanding power cuts, water cut-offs in some districts and falling living standards. Human rights abuses remain widespread, rights groups say, with president Morsi's administration doing little to rein in the notoriously brutal security services.

As the first anniversary of his election approached people opposed to President Mohamed Morsi had already rallied in Cairo's Tahrir Square for three days calling for him to resign, while his supporters vowed to defend his legitimacy to the end, leading to fears of confrontation. The army deployed tanks and other military vehicles in the streets of Cairo.

The anti-Morsi protests were organised by a grassroots campaign calling itself Tamarod, meaning "rebellion" or "insubordination", which claims to have collected signatures from 22 million Egyptians demanding the president’s departure. The campaign has united many liberal and secular opposition groups, including the National Salvation and many ordinary Egyptians, angered by Morsi's political and economic policies.

The independent trade unions are strong supporters of the campaign with the Egyptian Federation of Independent Trade Unions (EFITU) and Egyptian Democtratice Labor Congress (EDLC). According to EFITU statement announcing their participation in the 30 June protest against the President, the situation for workers in Egypt has worsened after they played an integral role in removing ousted President Hosni Mubarak from power in 2011. They also criticized the current government for being put on a short-term blacklist by the International Labour Organization and asked why, after two years of discussions, the government had yet to pass a new law concerning union freedoms.

So far in Egypt workers are given prison sentences for striking, while in the same time the government stays silent at 4,000 factories being shut down and causing thousands of job losses.

Regrettably, in one of his recent speeches, president Morsi has publicly blamed electricity workers for the current electricity outage crisis and accused them of bribes. http://www.industriall-union.org/a-first-national-strike-in-egypt. In his comment to this insult Wael Akl, president of the IndustriALL Egypt affiliate the General Trade Union of Electricity and Energy (GTUEE) said, "instead of appreciating the efforts of electricity workers in such hard times, the president exposes our members' lives to more risks due to his direct accusation of bribery as this would incite violence against electricity workers" and urged the president not to blame workers for his government’s failure.

Most workers hope 30 June is the date that marks the beginning of the end of the Islamic group that came to power with Mohamed Morsi exactly one year ago. The new unions are fighting for survival and IndustriALL Global Union is strongly supporting their struggles.

Following the continued demonstrations and strikes the military gave a 48 hour ultimatum to the President,  which at the time of writing is running out.

RENAULT, THE RENAULT GROUP WORKS COUNCIL AND INDUSTRIALL GLOBAL UNION SIGN A GLOBAL FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT

Result of a responsible social dialogue, this agreement follows on from the Declaration of Employees’ Fundamental Rights dated October, 2004, which it enhances and modernizes to adapt to new social and economic demands.

In this agreement, the signatories commit to five key areas of action:

Together, the Renault Group, the Renault Group Works Council and IndustriALL Global Union are convinced that, in a globally competitive environment, economic performance and social development are the interdependent keys to a company’s sustainable growth.

Marie-Françoise Damesin, EVP, Human Resources for the Renault group, said: “I welcome the agreement, which reflects Renault’s commitment to corporate, social and environmental responsibility. It is the result of a responsible social dialogue built over 20 years internationally.”

Jyrki Raina, General Secretary of IndustriALL Global Union, said: “The agreement contains significant improvements in the field of fundamental human rights, notably concerning freedom of association, of health and safety, training, and the environment. IndustriALL welcomes Renault’s strong commitment to advance these rights at its suppliers and sub-contractors and to promote social dialogue worldwide.”

 Jocelyne Andreu, Secretary of the Renault Group Works Council, said: “It is on behalf of all Renault group employee representatives worldwide that I am signing this agreement – and not without a feeling of pride. It is the result of several months of discussions and it symbolizes mature employer/employee dialogue. I am sure that its implementation will be a powerful lever for progress and success for the company and its employees.” 

Press contacts :

Renault / Sophie Chantegay

[email protected], + 33 1 76 84 13 90 / + 33 6 07 68 81 03
Comité de Groupe Renault / Jocelyne Andreu

[email protected], + 33 1 76 83 01 08

IndustriALL Global Union / Tom Grinter

[email protected]  + 41 22 308 18 53

IndustriALL signs GFA with the Renault Group

The global framework agreement (GFA) signed on 2 July 2013 in Paris follows on from  the “Declaration of Employees’ Fundamental Rights” dated 2 October 2004.  The signing ceremony took place on the occasion of the annual meeting of the Group Works’ Council which this year coincided with the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Committee.  

The new agreement consolidates the company’s commitments to ILO’s labour standards, including freedom of association and neutrality, and contains a number of major improvements in particular concerning skills, training, health and safety, and diversity. The wording on the responsibility of suppliers and subcontractors has been significantly strengthened and the respect for fundamental rights identified as a determining criterion in their selection.  The agreement also incorporates new commitments to environmental protection and sustainable development, as well as improved provisions on implementation and follow-up.  A committee composed of representatives of IndustriALL and management as well as members of the Works’ Council has been established to monitor the GFA’s effective implementation.  

In addition, the text opens the way for other global thematic agreements to be negotiated with IndustriALL in the future. IndustriALL’s General Secretary Jyrki Raina praised the major improvements to the 2004 Declaration and the open and constructive atmosphere that prevailed during the whole negotiating process.   In a joint press release he stated “The agreement contains significant improvements in the area of fundamental labour rights, notably concerning freedom of association, of health and safety, training and the environment.  IndustriALL applauds  Renault’s strong commitment to advance these rights at its suppliers and subcontractors and promote social dialogue at global level.”  Marie-Françoise Damesin  Executive Vice President, Human  Resources for the Renault group, said: “ I welcome the agreement, which reflects Renault’s commitment to corporate, social and environmental responsibility. It is the result of a responsible social dialogue built over 20 years internationally.” Jocelyne Andreu, Secretary of the Renault Group Works’ Council, expressed her satisfaction, saying “ This agreement is the result of several months of discussions and it symbolizes mature employer/employee dialogue. I am sure that its implementation will be a powerful lever for progress and success for the company and its employees”.

The Renault Group manufactures vehicles under three brands – Renault, Dacia and Renault Samsung Motors – and has an alliance with Nissan since 1999.  It operates in 118 countries with 38 production sites and employs 127,000 people worldwide.  In 2012 the Alliance inaugurated a plant in Tangier, Morocco, that is expected to have some 6,000 workers by 2015.

This new agreement is part of IndustriALL’s Action Plan, which calls for the establishment of regular social dialogue at global level to enable constructive industrial relations leading to global level negotiations.

Union Victory! Basra Court finally drops charges against Hassan Juma’a

Basra court hearings, originally tabled for 20 March, 7 April, 15 April, 2 May, 19 May, 3 June, and 17 June were all postponed when the Ministry of Oil, the Southern Oil Company (SOC) and its legal representatives consistently failed to provide any evidence in support of their claims that Hassan Juma’a was guilty of undermining the Iraqi economy by organizing illegal strikes and publicly criticizing the privatization of Iraq’s oil.

Hassan is President of the IndustriALL affiliated Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions (IFOU), the major oil workers union in the South of the country. Following the verdict Hassan stated:

This victory is a victory of the entire trade union movement in Iraq and one that will inspire us to continue fighting for workers' rights and a fair labour law. This was the first time this legislation was used to persecute an Iraqi trade unionist in this way and our victory sets an important precedent. International solidarity and messages addressed to the ministry and the prime minister had a significant impact in the verdict. I warmly thank all those who supported us.

The 1 July hearing took less than 30 minutes to reach the decision to drop the charges after the company lawyer and the prosecutor repeated the accusations against Hassan but at the same time confirmed that there were no damages caused by Hassan's activities. The prosecutor asked to close the case and drop the charges. On this occasion Hassan's lawyer did not even need to present his defense.

If convicted he would have faced stiff fines and up to three years in prison. This is the first time an Iraqi trade unionist has been charged under penal code 111-1969, an archaic law that the Saddam Hussein regime used to repress state employees.            

IndustriALL Global Union mounted an international campaign in support of Hassan. He attended the recent IndustriALL Executive Committee, where, following a passionate presentation of the situation, delegates from around the world pledged their support for him and his union and called for these sham charges to be dropped immediately.

Earlier similar decisions had been taken by affiliated trade unions from throughout the Middle East & North Africa region (MENA.)

This case underlines the importance of the international campaign for a just labour law in Iraq. Repressive Saddam-era labour legislation has to be replaced through a process that includes national trade unions and establishes laws in line with international standards and fundamental principles of the ILO.

IndustriALL General Secretary Jyrki Raina congratulated Hassan:

We are all delighted that this malicious attack on you and the union you head has finally ended with you completely vindicated. We pledge continued international support to your struggles for oil workers in Iraq and assure you that the campaign for a just and ILO compliant Labour Law in your country will be a major priority for our work in your region. Congratulations on your victory!