Iraqi Communist Party leads demo in central Baghdad on International Labor Day.

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The Iraqi Communist Party (ICP) has organized a demonstration for hundreds of workers in central Baghdad’s al-Tahrir (Liberation) Square on occasion of the International Labor Day, taking place today (Sunday).   IraqiNews.com news agency’s correspondent, who attended the occasion, said that the demonstrators carried placards, demanding their legitimate rights, the abolishment of the expression ‘employees’ for workers and the issuance of laws that organize their work and vocational life.   “The majority of demonstrators belong to the Iraqi Communist Party, as well as workers of the public sector and representatives of the private sector, who demanded the legislation of new labor laws that open employment chances for unemployed workers,” he said.   The correspondent quoted the trade union Railways cadre, Latif al-Mash’hadany, as saying: “The Iraqi Communist Party calls on all working masses, unions and workers trade unions, the mass protest committee in Iraq and the youth organizations to stand together to the side of the ICP in its struggle, on the occasion of the International Labor Day, in such a way that matches with the working class and its historic movement in Iraq.”   “Iraqi workers demand the Parliament and the government to legislate new labor laws and abolish all decisions that were issued against the workers, granting them their full rights and putting an end for corruption and unemployment,” he said.   A statement, issued by the demonstrators, copy of which was received by IraqiNews.com, said: “The demands, raised by the revolutionary masses since Feb. 25 th last, were all workers demands, or demands by the working class.”   “The first of May is the day for raising those demands highly by the workers themselves in Iraq ’s main streets and squares, along with their strikes and sit-in demonstrations, being an important step to expand the revolutionary situation,” it added.   The statement demanded “the freedom of strikes, demonstration, organization, abolishment of self-financing, achievement of work or guarantees against unemployment, release of all detainees, especially those detained in demonstrations and trial of all criminals who opened fire on the demonstrators.”   SKH (FT)   600