The January meeting of Cambridge Trades Union Council (CTUC) passed the following motion: “Cambridge Trades Council condemns the murder of Iraqi trade unionist Hadi Salih [pictured], the murderers of Hadi Salih, and the apologists for the murder and murderers of Hadi Salih.”
“Cambridge Trades Council resolves to produce and circulate a further leaflet calling for support for Iraqi trade unionists which covers: the attacks on, and murders of, Iraqi trade unionists and workers; recent developments in the Iraqi trade union movement; support for Iraqi trade unions from UK unions.”
When the motion had been passed by a local Amicus branch a fortnight earlier – for forwarding to CTUC – a branch member had commented how “uncontroversial” the motion was.
But when the motion was discussed at the CTUC meeting, it proved to be anything but “uncontroversial”. It was passed only on the casting vote of the chairperson!
The SWP/Respect/Stop the War Coalition bloc led the opposition to the motion, backed up by the isolationist wing of the British trade union movement (“Iraq? Let sleeping dogs lie.”).
“Hadi Salih was a member of the Communist Party.” But how do his political affiliations excuse his murder? Are all Communist Party members in Iraq ‘legitimate targets’?
“The Communist Party collaborates with the puppet government.” In one form or another, most Iraqis could be accused of ‘collaboration’ (e.g. intending to vote in this month’s elections). Are most Iraqis therefore ‘legitimate targets?
“Hadi Salih was not elected to his union position of international spokesperson.” So Owen Tudor, Hadi Salih’s counterpart in the TUC, is a legitimate target as well? (He holds an un-elected position.)
“How can trade unions operate under conditions of occupation?” Perhaps like the Japanese unions who organized a general strike under the post-war American occupation?
“We should be condemning Falujah and the 100,000 deaths caused by the Americans.” But why counterpose condemnation of the US (and the British) to condemnation of the anti-working class ‘resistance’?
“The French resistance killed a lot of people as well.” But many socialists at the time were critical of both the politics and the tactics of the French resistance. In any case, the ‘resistance’ in Iraq has more in common with the Nazis who occupied France than with the French who opposed them.
A proposal that the first sentence of the motion be deleted and replaced by a condemnation of Falujah and the American occupation was floated but not pursued.
Instead, when the vote was called, the ‘anti-imperialist’ bloc voted outright against the motion – another glorious chapter in the annals of the British socialist movement!
And one which gives the lie to the claims of the Stop the War Coalition that it condemns the murder of Hadi Salih.
