Iraqi Workers Fight for Democracy:

A Review of Labor Writings

by Greg Moses
13 Jul 2004

http://austin.indymedia.org/newswire/display/17118/index.php

Iraqi civil society has been poorly represented in our war-centered consciousness. But greater attention to reports on Iraqi labor can help paint the picture of a society under self-reorganization.

Over the weekend, the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU) posted a significant interview between British unionist Alex Gordon and IFTU General Secretary Subhi Abdullah Mashadani. The interview comes at a time when news consumers need something from Iraq besides another story about the armed insurgency, the US-Army, or the official administration.

A review of the brief, post-war history of Iraqi labor unions is the best antidote that I have found against temptations to overlook the rich complexities of what is otherwise passed over as “civilian” life in our war-centered images of Iraq. It is as if the word “civilian” were a media code word these days for “not newsworthy.” In order for Iraqi “civilians” to rise to the level of newsworthy, they have to be seen as religious leaders, state appointees, or militia. This means that an enriching body of newsmakers is left out. And consequently, in the mind of “the West,” there seems to be a stereotypical void when it comes to thinking about the life of the Iraqi people.

When Yanar Mohammed visited New York City recently, she was briefly interviewed by Amy Goodman. Other Pacifica broadcasters, such as Bill Weinberg, have also taken an interest in the activities of Mohammed’s Organization for Women’s Freedom in Iraq (OWFI). But by and large, the media seem to presume that Iraq’s civil society is nothing but a chaos of un-disciplined conflict.

This is why I think that so many Americans say that speedy withdrawal from Iraq is “unrealistic.” Or why so many others think of resistance as “armed.” What we don’t know about the social order of Iraq, we simply presume is not there. Out of sight, out of mind. And we see precious little about Iraqi civil society, that is, the part of Iraq that does not exhaust itself in the activities of war or state, even as it resists occupation….

[For complete article, see the IndyMedia link above. When this article was circulated via the list for the Organization for Women’s Freedom in Iraq, Jennifer Fasulo wrote:

“Here’s another great and indepth article by Greg Moses highlighting workers’ struggle in Iraq. Just one small point of correction for the record: the first Pacifica/WBAI broadcaster to take an interest in the work of OWFI was Fran Luck of the Joy of Resistance Feminist Multi-Cultural Radio Program. Fran is also a founding member of SOWFI (Solidarity with Organization of Women’s Freedom in Iraq) For a copy of her in-depth interview with Yanar Mohammed about the history and current state of the Iraqi women’s movement, please contact SOWFI at sowfiorg@hotmail.com”

Thanks Jennifer for the kind words of encouragement.–gm]