Iraq-Unempl Rate?unions? - Democratic Underground

oscar111

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Mon Jun-28-04 02:28 PM
Original message

Iraq-Unempl Rate?unions?

What is the unemployment rate in iraq? If possible, how has it varied since a year before the war?

How many are in trade unions?

Which parties are like our Dems?
Which are like the Repubs?

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bigbillhaywood

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Mon Jun-28-04 02:34 PM
Response to Original message

1. No hard numbers on trade union membership, but...

Here's a link to Iraqi Federation of Workers Trade Unions, who's HQ was raided by US military a few months back: http://www.iraqitradeunions.org/

Also, Communist Party in Iraq is one of the better organized secular parties.

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denverbill

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Mon Jun-28-04 02:37 PM
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2. No stats here.

However, everything I've read indicates unemployment is staggeringly high in Iraq (like 50%). That's why people keep signing up as cops and soldiers. Those are the only jobs available.

When you go from a one party fascist dictatorship as existed under Saddam, and then you disband the party, a whole lotta jobs go with it.

There are no trade unions. Unions would have been a competitive power with Saddam.

Parties are in their infancy. It's highly highly unlikely any of them remotely resemble Democrats, however, the theocrats might might resemble the Republicans.

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bigbillhaywood

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Mon Jun-28-04 02:46 PM
Response to Reply #2

3. There are trade unions. See my reply above. They were underground

during Saddam's reign, but maintained their organization. As to the political parties being in their infancy, the Iraqi Communist Party has been in existence for over 50 years. Unlike many of the other chickenshits on the Iraqi Governing Council, they did not operate in exile, they stayed in Iraq as an underground organization. Ironically, they have undergone something of a renaissance under US occupation. That would be awesome if they took over and kicked US oil interests out.

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denverbill

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Mon Jun-28-04 03:20 PM
Response to Reply #3

4. Interesting.

I wouldn't have figured they even existed in Iraq. Iraq went straight from the middle ages to the modern era under dictators. I wouldn't have figured labor would have ever had a remote chance to organize.

Hard to believe they would run the risk of doing it 'underground'. If they'd been caught, Saddam would've certainly not treated them well.

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bigbillhaywood

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Mon Jun-28-04 03:22 PM
Response to Reply #4

5. Labor organizations in this country have had to operate underground

during times of severe repression as well.

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