THE WORLD OF LABOR — January 12, 2007

By Harry Kelber

AFL-CIO Head Opposes Bush Plan to Expand Troops in Iraq

In a formal statement that opposed President Bush's intention to send 20,000 additional U.S. soldiers to Iraq, AFL-CIO President John Sweeney said: "American policy in Iraq has been based on false premises and wishful thinking since the beginning. And we have tried to increase American troop presence in the most violent and dangerous areas of Iraq before without success,"

Sweeney cited the results of the 2006 elections, where the "American people spoke loudly and clearly that the President's course in Iraq was flawed and that he should begin bringing our troops home rapidly." Anti-war sentiment within the labor movement has been growing, with a large number of unions joining the U.S. Labor Against the War (USLAW).

Sweeney called on Congress to "insist that the President, and his military leaders, clearly articulate the path for withdrawal of American troops from Iraq rapidly."

Australian Maritime Union Helps School Kids in South Africa

20,000 pens and pencils, 55 computers and hundreds of boxes of books, clothing and toys, collected by members and officers of the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA), were sent to Capetown, South Africa, to help children in 14 impoverished schools. The MUA commitment to the schools was made by a contingent of its officials who had traveled last August to South Africa to attend a conference of the International Transportation Federation.

Tazmanian branch secretary Mick Wickham coordinated the project by talking directly with the schools' principals and volunteers. "Visiting the schools was an eye opener," Wickham said. "These schools have got nothing. The kids have to share a pencil."

MUA members enthusiastically embraced the idea of filling a container ship with educational materials to send to the schools. Many donated goods themselves and gathered donations from the public. "The container is 95 percent full; it's all from Tazmania," Wickham said proudly.

Russian Crew of Foreign Ship Goes on Strike in Iraq Port

After not receiving their wages for three months, the Russian crew of the foreign ship Freegate went on strike Jan. 11 at the Iraq port of Um Al-Kasr. A report of the work stoppage was received by the Far Eastern regional division of the Russian seamen trade union (RPSM).

The ship's captain, V. Verevkin, and 12 crew members informed the employer that ³the crew declines further cooperation with the shipıs operator² and demanded ³repatriation home.² They received a reply from the shipıs owner that the failure to pay back wages was due to ³excessive consumption of fuel and a loss of the gangway in stormy weather. The Freegate flies the flag of the St. Vincent and Grenadines state and is registered at the Kingston port. To complicate matters, the ship is owned by the Freegate Marine Company, registered in Belize, but it is administered by the Future Company of Nakhodka, a Russian port.

The Russian union has informed the International Transport Workers Federation in London to intervene in the dispute. The company's failure to provide back wages for the crew has been examined by the Nakhodka's transport prosecutor's office, but it could not institute a criminal case, since the ship's owner is in Belize, the vessel is registered in Kingston and is administered from Nakhodka.

Greece's Teachers Strike Against Privatization of Higher Education

The Greek Primary Teachers' Federation and the Federation of Secondary School Teachers of Greece will be participating this week in a "Pan-Hellenic strike," called by the National Workers' Union of Greece (ADEDY), to protest against the privatization of the country's higher education institutions.

The government is planning to revise Article 16 of the Constitution concerning the establishment of private universities. Private higher education institutions are banned from operating in Greece, a law which the present conservative government wants changed to "help boost educational standards and competitiveness."

This plan is now being challenged by all teacher unions and student bodies, as well as public employees, who say that such a move will lead to the increase of education costs for the poor and the lowering of education standards. The unions are also striking to ensure that public employees' permanent employment status is not changed.

Guinea's Unions Strike for Pay Boost and Against Ailing President

Guinea's capital, Conakry, is quiet ion the first day of a general strike protesting the high cost of living and their sick President Lansana Conte's behavior. Shops, public government offices and petrol stations are closed, with no public transportation running. The main trade union wants the government to agree on a salary increase.

Strikers accuse President Conte of interfering with the judicial process by securing the release from prison of two men being investigated for corruption, One of them is believed to be the country's richest man, Mamadou Sylla. The unions say the strike must continue until both men are back behind bars.

Last year, Guinea was ranked by Transparency International as the most corrupt country in Africa. The last strike led to student protests, and several people were shot dead by the security forces, There have been growing calls for President Conte to step down. He is in his 70s and in poor health, suffering from diabetes,

Norway Is Irate at Hilton Hotel's Bigotry Toward Cubans

Protests, a legal suit and the threat of a boycott face the U.S. Hilton Hotel chain in Norway, following its refusal to rent to an official Cuban delegation. The Edderkopper Hotel, formerly of the Scandic chain, acquired by Hilton in March, refused to permit Cuban Tourist Ministry officials to stay there, as they usually do, for the annual Lillestroem Fair that began Jan. 11.

The Municipal and General Employees Union, with 300,000 members, announced a boycott of all Scandic hotels in the country, declaring it is unacceptable for the United States to give orders to the world. Norway's Federation of Commerce Unions, with 830,000 members, has also demanded that the government take immediate measures so that corporations like Scandic, that support the U.S. blockade of Cuba, cannot operate in Norway.

Meanwhile, Norway's anti-racism organization, Antirasistisk Senter, has filed a suit, charging violation of the law prohibiting discrimination based on race or ethnic origin.

Our two weekly columns (LaborTalk and The World of Labor) can be viewed at our Web site: http://www.laboreducator.org.