LABOR SUPPORTING PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATE; UNION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 002539

SIPDIS

NEA/ARN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/29/2013
TAGS: PGOV ELAB JO ILAB
SUBJECT: LABOR SUPPORTING PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATE; UNION
LEADER OPTIMISTIC ON POST-SADDAM WORLD AND COOPERATION WITH
THE PALACE.

REF: AMMAN 3761 (2002)

Classified By: CDA GREGORY L. BERRY. REASONS: 15. (B) and (D)


1. (C) SUMMARY. Fathallah Omrani, Vice President of the
Jordanian International Textile Workers Union, told us April
29 he is optimistic a parliamentary candidate in Irbid
endorsed by the textile union would be elected. He was also
pleased to report increased contact with the Palace on
QIZ/labor issues. Finally, Omrani noted that QIZ investors
are "much more relaxed" following the fall of Saddam's
regime, and reported hints that QIZ investment here may
benefit from the SARS epidemic in Asia. End summary.

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GETTING ORGANIZED: LABOR
BACKS PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATE
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2. (C) On April 29, PolOff met with Fathallah Omrani.
Omrani was upbeat, and was happy to report that union-backed
Gibreel Abu Rahman, director of a large QIZ textile plant
near Irbid, was off to a strong start with his parliamentary
election campaign. Last week, Omrani organized a meeting of
120 QIZ workers, where he stressed the need for the workers
and their families to vote, and to vote for Abu Rahman.
Omrani told the workers that having a parliamentarian who was
elected "by the laborers" is crucial. He estimates that
there are over 2,500 votes in the Irbid QIZ factories.


3. (C) Omrani said he understands that many are going to vote
for their own tribe's candidate, but expects the majority of
laborers in the district to go with Abu Rahman. Omrani told
PolOff that many QIZ workers, male and female, have
volunteered to work for Abu Rahman's campaign. "Abu Rahman is
very, very popular. He is the labor candidate. People know
that the union, and the new QIZ jobs, have allowed people to
take care of themselves and their families." He noted that
thousands of people have access to basic health care through
the union's cooperative health clinic that Omrani organized
with QIZ plant mangers and factory owners (reftel).

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ROYAL PALACE IS 'LISTENING'
TO LABOR CONCERNS
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4. (C) Omrani reported that he has direct contact with the
Royal Palace on labor issues. In early April, Omrani was
invited to a roundtable meeting with King Abdullah to discuss
labor issues. Since then, he has had an on-going dialogue
with Dr. Khalid Wazani, Director of the Economic Department
for the Royal Palace. Omrani said this is a refreshing
change after being "ignored" for years by the Prime Ministry
and other GOJ ministries. He noted that Wazani specifically
told Omrani to "talk with him first" -- as opposed to the
ministries -- on issues of concern. Omrani was very happy to
report delivery of computers donated by the GOJ, which were
delivered recently by Wazani. According to Omrani, Wazani
will visit the QIZ factories next week, but has requested
that it be "low-key" with no media or photo opportunities.


5. (C) Omrani was confident that investors will continue to
invest in the QIZs here. With the war over, investors are
"much more relaxed," he said. He also said that some
investors reportedly are looking away from investing in
traditional textile powerhouses in southeast Asia because of
SARS, and he expects a mild windfall for Jordanian QIZs.

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COMMENT
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6. (C) Omrani is a well organized, politically astute labor
leader. Thus, we expect Abu Rahman to be have effective
backing in his parliamentary campaign in Southern Irbid.
Given the dearth of organized political entities beyond the
IAF, a victory by organized labor would be noteworthy.


7. (C) From the labor side, the QIZs appear to be in very
good shape post-Saddam. Omrani, who has been outspoken and
disenchanted with the GOJ at various times over the past few
years, seems to be genuinely mollified by the Palace
attention to him and his cause, and encouraging union members
to participate in the forthcoming parliamentary elections.

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BIO NOTE
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8. (SBU) Gibreel Abu Rahman. Abu Rahman is a
Palestinian-Jordanian in his mid-thirties. In 1996, he began
working at the Al-Aser sewing factory in quality control and
has risen to become the director of the 2,400 worker textile
plant. We have nominated him for this year's international
visitor's program.
GNEHM