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WASHINGTON, June 8 (UPI) -- Iraqi union leaders met with a U.S. congressman they say is their biggest friend in Washington, urging a united front against Iraq's draft oil law.
Faleh Abood Umara, general secretary of the Iraq Federation of Oil Unions, and Hashmeya Muhsin Hussein, president of the Electrical Utility Workers Union, called the proposed law a theft of Iraq's oil.
"We believe this is a new invasion of our economy and especially to take over our oil fields," Umara told Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, in a private meeting Thursday in the congressman's inner office, which UPI was allowed to attend. Kucinich is a presidential candidate and Congress' most vocal war opponent.
The law, which is stuck in negotiations, is feared by the unions as giving foreign oil companies too much access to Iraq's oil.
Umara was one of 10 union leaders for whom arrest warrants were issued earlier this week as Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki responded to a strike of oil workers, who are demanding improved working conditions and a seat at the oil law negotiating table.
The unions began a strike Monday over the law, as well as working conditions, but the work stoppage has been temporarily halted as negotiations continue in Basra.
"Therefore we believe this is a very aggressive act to take over our resources," Umara said. "The oil law, in its current status, does not serve the Iraqi people."
Umara said foreign companies were welcome to Iraq's oil sector, but warned it should be limited.
The unionists urged the United States, via Kucinich, to oppose the law. President Bush and the Democratic-led Congress have called on the Iraq parliament to pass the law soon, both in official speeches and as part of legislation funding the war through September.
"Mr. Kucinich, we see you as a friend of the Iraqi people and that is the general belief over there," Umara said. "We would hope that your government could put pressure on our government to not pass the oil law."
Kucinich replied, "Unfortunately our government is putting pressure on your government to pass it."
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Ben Lando, UPI Energy Correspondent
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