[ACHRS] solidarity with the democratic associations and labor unionists

The extraordinary conference of the General Federation of Labor Unions convened in Jordan and made illegal decisions that were taken in contrast with the goals of the labor union. The decisions have added further legal restrictions to the union freedoms and rights. The decisions also violated the provisions of Article 99, Paragraph B and Article 100, Paragraph D, and Article 115 of the Jordanian Labor Law.

There is no doubt that the measures taken in the conference were non-democratic. For example, the internal regulations of the General Federation of Labor Unions were approved. The approval needed the agreement of two thirds of the attending members. The approval was secured  by devising a mechanism which was weird for the democratic norms and principles of voting. The votes of those who did not approve the new amendment were counted. The remaining votes were regarded as being cast in favor of the amendment. The voting was not done in a way to determine who approved the amendments first, followed by those who were against the amendments, and finally those who abstained from voting.

This method of voting was applied to all the amendments and proposals submitted as one package. Voting on the amendments was not submitted for discussion and voting on the basis of each amendment separately.

It should be recalled that the current professional organization represented in the General Federation of Labor Unions in Jordan no longer musters the necessary unionist legitimacy, vitality and democracy for the success of the labor union action, particularly after the decision to dissolve all branches of the General Federation that were spread in the various governorates. 28 branches which represent the real weight of the labor presence were dissolved. The branches were replaced with superficial union committees which do not possess the minimum power, but are appointed by the General Federation which is accommodated in the capital city of Amman. Labor union action was also weakened by the decision to transform all the other subscriptions and financial resources belonging to these branches to the labor unions which were subject to the hegemony and influence of businessmen.

It should be recalled that membership of the labor unions has been retreating year after year. Real union activists and labor unions are being harassed in favor of the hegemony of the representatives of government and businessmen. The status quo of the labor unions is no longer acceptable and we should not be passive toward it, particularly after the fierce attack launched by the leaders of the General Federation against the democratic unions and activists and the accompanying repressive actions which reached the point of separating a number of unionists known for their loyalty to the democratic issues, struggle and demands of the workers.

Meanwhile, the leadership controlling the General Federation has publicly and scandalously turned down the simplest legitimate labor demands.

The liberation of the labor action from the hegemony and despotism of the businessmen dictates the creation of labor pluralism so as to guarantee the right of workers to form their independent unions. This idea is supported by all the democratic societies and all the international conventions on human rights.

In view of the foregoing, the Labor education unit at the Amman center for Human Rights Studies [ACHRS] realizes the importance of the formation of a preparatory committee to create a National Federation of Jordanian workers. In fact, it held its first meeting on Wednesday, 17 September 2008 and supported the decision to form a drafting committee for the regulations of the National Union of Jordanian Workers as a real, independent labor organization embracing all the labor unions, including those which were hurt by the decisions of the extraordinary conference of the General Federation of Labor Unions held on 23 August 2008.

We hope that all democratic organizations and local, Arab  and international human rights organizations would voice their full solidarity with the requirements of the follow-up committee and appeal to the local, Arab and international labor organizations and human rights organizations to exert pressure in the direction of the labor pluralism in Jordan in accordance with the international labor criteria and the agreement number 87 which advocates labor pluralism, liberty, and legal protection of the trade unionists, particularly after the recurrent developments topped by the arbitrary separation of many workers from the General Federation’s membership  and the failure of introducing any democratic reforms to the General Federation of Labor Unions