International Appeal Promoted Internationally by:
* US Labor Against the War (USLAW)
* International Confederation of Arab Trade Unions (ICATU)
* International Liaison Committee of Workers and Peoples (ILC)

WITHDRAW ALL FOREIGN OCCUPATION TROOPS FROM IRAQ!

PEACE AND SOVEREIGNTY FOR IRAQ!

We, the undersigned trade unionists and labour activists from around the world, applaud the decision by the new Spanish government to withdraw its troops from Iraq. We call on all governments with occupation forces in Iraq – especially the US government – to take similar action.

Indeed, the situation facing the Iraqi people is alarming: The number of Iraqi deaths – particularly civilians, women and children – increases by the day, with untold human suffering. The torture of prisoners by the US occupation forces is heinous and has stirred public outrage the world over. Hunger is widespread, resulting from the destruction of the country's infrastructure under the occupation.

Iraq's sovereignty has been trampled upon. There is a complete absence of democratic rights, including the right of workers to form trade unions of their choice, as stipulated by the Conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

As trade unionists and labour activists, we believe that the labour movement worldwide must speak out in one voice to demand an end to this horrific situation: The occupation of Iraq must end. The Iraqi people and nation must be able to regain their rights, freedoms and sovereignty – as well as the full control over their resources, wealth, and economic, social and political destiny.

On April 18, the Spanish government -- which was elected by an important margin in the election of March 14 – decided in a free and sovereign manner to withdraw its troops from Iraq. Newly elected Prime Minister José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero declared the day following this action that "the decision to send troops to Iraq and to support the war on Iraq has led to the destruction of a country and has only generated more insecurity and instability."

On May 2, Zapatero stated: "The invasion and occupation of Iraq has been a disaster. This should serve as a message to the international community so that never again will there be a 'pre-emptive war' that violates international law."

The working people of Spain, who mobilised by the millions in opposition to the war and who elected a government with a clear mandate to get out of Iraq, welcomed with great enthusiasm the decision by the Spanish premier to make good on his pledge and withdraw all Spanish troops from that war-torn country.

The working people of Spain do not want war – not with the Iraqi people nor with any other people.

People the world over share this same aspiration – including the North American people, who have mobilised in huge numbers to express the need for peace and fraternal relations among peoples.

As trade unionists and labour activists who defend the interests of all working people, we are particularly concerned that our sons and daughters, our sisters and brothers, our fellow workers and union members not be placed in harm's way in wars of aggression and destruction. We are also mindful that in such wars, it is innocent civilians who pay the greatest price.

That is why we affirm that nothing is more urgent today than to wage a united struggle for the withdrawal of all foreign occupation troops from Iraq. In this sense we embrace the call issued May 3 by US Labor Against the War (USLAW), which states: "We call for an end now to the US occupation and for all military, political and economic authority to be transferred to the people of Iraq."

US trade unionists involved in USLAW's Military Families Task Force have insisted that their sons and daughters, their sisters and brothers, should return home alive now – not in coffins or body bags!

That is why we address ourselves to all our governments to demand an end to the occupation, for the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Iraq – so that a future of peace and democracy can be opened for the Iraqi people.

The decision by the Spanish government to remove troops from Iraq was followed soon after by a similar decision by the governments of Honduras and the Dominican Republic. In many other countries the discussion about withdrawing troops is taking place.

Clearly, this sovereign and free decision by the Spanish government is being supported with great enthusiasm by the workers and peoples around the world, as well as by their organisations.

We, the undersigned trade unionists and labour activists, issue this appeal for an end to the occupation of Iraq. The governments with occupation forces in Iraq must heed the will of the majority of their people. They must allow the Iraqi people to reclaim their freedom and their sovereignty.

Initial Signatories from the United States and Spain

(* All titles for individual endorsers are listed for identification only)

(FROM THE UNITED STATES)

- Communication Workers of America Local 1180 (New York, N.Y.)
- Philadelphia Central Labor Council (AFL-CIO)
- South Bay Labor for Peace & Justice (Silicon Valley, California)
- United Health Care Workers of Greater St. Louis (UHCW)
- St. Louis Labor Against the War Committee

David Bacon, labour journalist, member of International Labour Rights Campaign Delegation to Iraq (Berkeley, Calif.)
Alan Benjamin, OPEIU Local 3 Delegate to S.F. Labor Council; Co-coordinator, Open World Conference Continuations Committee *
Joe Berry, Chicago Coalition of Academic Labor *
Ed Bruno, Iraq Labor Rights Task Force, USLAW (Boston, Mass)
Gene Bruskin, Co-convenor, US Labor Against the War (USLAW)
Larry Duncan, Producer, Labor Beat (Chicago, Illinois)
Michael Eisenscher, Coordinator, Bay Area Labor Committee for Peace and Justice (S.F. Bay Area, Calif.)
Chris Kaihatsu, Labor antiwar activist (Chicago, Illinois)
Kevin Hussey, BMWE Lodges 3014 & 3068 USLAW delegate *
Dan Kaplan, Executive Secretary, AFT Local 1493 (San Mateo, Calif.) *
Jim Martin, Philadelphia Central Labor Council delegate to USLAW
Amy Newell, Organizer, US Labor Against the War (USLAW)
Mike Parker, UAW Local 1700, Labor Notes *
Claude Piller, Organizing Director, AFSCME Local 3299 (San Diego, Calif.) *
Nancy Romer, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334 (Brooklyn, New York) *
Ed Rosario, President GCIU Local 4-N; Co-coordinator, Open World Conference Continuations Committee *
Jeffrey Segal, Vice President, Southeast Region, National Organization of Legal Services Workers, UAW Local 2320 *
Marsha Steinberg, Field Representative/Organizer SEIU Local 660 (Los Angeles, Calif.) *
Clarence Thomas, Executive Board, ILWU Local 10; member of International Campaign Delegation to Iraq (San Francisco, Calif.) *
Jerry Tucker, USLAW organizer (St. Louis, MO)

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(FROM SPAIN)

Agustín Pachón Sánchez, C. Ejecutiva Federación Estatal Sanidad CC.OO
Alberto Elosúa, SEC general FES UGT Euskadi
Alfonso Porras Jara, miembro ejecutiva estatal Federacion de Comunicacion y Transporte del Papel, Graficas y Fotografia
Angel Campabadal, sector estatal de ahorro de FES UGT
Angel Jiménez Martínez, comité nacional de UGT de Cataluña
Antonio Amaro, C. Ejecutiva Federación Estatal Sanidad CC.OO.
Antonio Esquinas Sanchez, miembro ejecutiva Federacion de Comunicacion y Transporte (Madrid-Region) CCOO
Araceli Ortiz Arteaga, C. Ejecutiva Federación Estatal Sanidad CC.OO

Beatriz Gómez Morante, secretaria sección sindical CCOO Siemens
Blas Ortega, sindicalista UGT país Valenciano
Carmen Chacón Roldán, Comisión Ejecutiva Confederal de CC.OO.
Carmen Pedrero, Sª Gral. Federación Sanidad Extremadura CC.OO.
Eduardo Marquina Nagore, Secretario general FIA UGT Euskadi
Enrique Sanchez Collado, secretario general UGT Millars plana baixa palancia
Felix Fernández, Comisión ejecutiva FES UGT
Fernando Ruiz Zaragoza, economista de la federación del metal de Madrid CCOO
Francisco García Crespín, comité nacional FSP UGT de Cataluña
Francisco Hortet, Comisión ejecutiva de federación estatal del metal de CCOO

Francisco Imaz Abad, miembro ejecutiva Federacion de Comunicacion y Transporte (Madrid-Region) CCOO
Francisco J. Cepeda, miembro ejecutiva Federacion de Comunicacion y Transporte (Madrid-Region) CCOO
Gumersindo Benítez, Presidente comité de empresa Bizkaibus UGT
Jesús Béjar, comisión ejecutiva comarca sur de Madrid CCOO
Joaquin Juzgado Feito, miembro ejecutiva Federacion de Comunicacion y Transporte (Madrid-Region) CCOO
Joaquín Martínez, comité nacional de Cataluña de UGT FSP
Joel Vasquez Alcantara, miembro ejecutiva Federacion de Comunicacion y Transporte de Galicia CCOO
Jose Allmela, secretario sindicato comarcal MCA UGT millars plana baixa palancia
José Antonio Pozo, Comité Nacional UGT Cataluña
José M. García Cruz, C. Ejecutiva Federación Estatal Sanidad CC.OO
José Miguel Villa, secretario general FES-UGT Madrid comité confederal UGT
Juan Manuel Canle, Comisión ejecutiva de la sección estatal de UGT en Unicaja
Juan Sánchez, Secretario general de FES UGT
Julio Novillo, secretario FSAP CCOO Ayuntamiento de Madrid
Koldo Méndez, secretario general UPTA UGT Euskadi
Luis González, secretario general de CCOO de sanidad de Sevilla
Luis Lozano Mercadal, secretario general FSP UGT País Valenciano
Luis Lunar, comisión ejecutiva de la federación estatal agroalimentaria CCOO
Luis Mª Pérez, SEC general FSP UGT margen izquierda Vizcaya
Manuel Fernandez Balanza, miembro ejecutiva Federacion de Comunicacion y Transporte (Madrid-Region) CCOO
Miguel Ángel Sánchez, secretario de organización de UGT-FSP Cataluña
Miguel Muñoz, secretario formación federación estatal de enseñanza de CCOO
Pedro Marquina, secretario general transporte UGT Euskadi
Pedro San Frutos, Comisión Ejecutiva Confederal de CCOO
Pilar Manjón, CE de CCOO de Madrid (madre de uno de los fallecidos el 11M)
Rafael Aguilera, Comité federal FSP UGT
Raul Sevilleja Ramos, delgado CCOO de OTIS
Roberto Tornamira, secretario organización FES UGT Madrid
Salce Elvira, Comisión ejecutiva confederal de CCOO
Ventura Montalbán Gámez, sindicalista de CCOO País Valenciano

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For more information about the International Campaign Against the Occupation and For Labour Rights in Iraq, contact:

US Labor Against the War, 1718 M Street #153, NW, Washington DC 20036, USA

website: www.uslaboragainstwar.org
International Confederation of Arab Trade Unions, 213 Baghdad Street, PO Box 3225, Damascus, Syria. Tel: +963 11 445 95 44, Fax: +963 11 442 03 23, email: [email protected]

International Liaison Committee of Workers and Peoples, 87, rue du Faubourg-Saint-Denis, 75010 Paris, France. Tel: +33 1 48 01 88 28, Fax: +33 1 48 01 88 36. website: www.owcinfo.org

email: [email protected]