Dear Senator/Representative:

I am writing to bring your attention to severe worker rights abuses and anti-democratic restrictions being placed on the rights of Iraqi trade unionists. The fall of Sadaam Hussein in April 2003 saw the return of dozens of independent and democratic trade unions that were repressed under the old Ba’thist regime. Today, their existence is threatened again by government repression which include:

• Violating the right of freedom of association by interfering in union elections;
• Seizing the funds of trade unions and preventing them from spending their meager resources;
• Continuing to ban free and independent trade unions; and
• Failing to properly investigate the wave of targeted assassinations of trade unionists of all political, ethnic and religious stripes.

We urge you to ensure that Iraqi trade unionists enjoy the full rights of freedom of association as enshrined in the conventions of the International Labor Organization.

There are two additional actions the United States government, through the departments of State and Defense, can take immediately to ensure that workers' rights and democratic freedom in Iraq are protected:

• Protect the rights of migrant workers employed by foreign contractors that work with our military in Iraq. The U.S.  Government must insist that all contractors that work with our military follow the internationally recognized core labor standards that safeguard workers from trafficking and forced labor.
• Encourage countries to cancel all debt incurred under Sadaam Hussein’s regime. This debt has a crushing effect on the ability of the country to rebuild itself and its infrastructure and hurts the hopes of Iraqi working people.

Independent unions have a vital role in the rebuilding of Iraq's devastated national economy and consolidating the current political process in order to create a democratic state after years of repression and hardship at the hands of dictators. Trade unions are fundamental civil society institutions that allow democracy to grow and thrive.  I urge you to show your support for democracy in Iraq by addressing the above-mentioned workers’ rights abuses to the Iraqi government and demand that they fully investigate the murders of Iraqi trade unionists.

Sincerely,

[your name]