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CUPE
calls for immediate release of imprisoned Iranian trade unionists
Iranian
government security agents brutalized and arrested approximately 60 trade
unionists after raiding the annual meeting of the Coordinating Committee
to help Form Workers’ Organizations on June 15 in Karaj, Iran. Nine trade
unionists remain imprisoned at the Rajai Shahr prison in Karaj.
In
response, members of the International Alliance in Support of Workers in
Iran (IASWI) in Ottawa organized a demonstration outside the Iranian
embassy calling for the immediate release of these political prisoners,
for the right to organize independent trade unions and labour associations,
the right to free speech, and freedom of assembly and expression in Iran.
CUPE
4772 President and IASWI organizer Farid Partovi helped organize the
event and acted as master of ceremonies. CUPE National President Paul
Moist spoke at the event.
“We,
today, call on the Canadian government to demand the release of these
workers, and restore trade union rights for the workers of Iran,” said
Moist.
“We
will never be free trade unionists if any workers around the world have
their rights stomped on. And today we stand foursquare with the workers
in Iran.”
According
to Human Rights Watch, the Iranian government is carrying out a campaign
to severely weaken civil society by targeting journalists, lawyers,
activists, and students. The number of executions has risen sharply since
2010, and authorities tightly restrict access to information. In March
2011, the UN Human Rights Council appointed a Special Rapporteur on Iran
in response to the worsening rights situation in Iran, but authorities
have so far refused to allow him access to the country.
Workers
are unable to exert their right to organize trade unions and associations
that are independent of the government and employers without facing
violent repression. Iranian authorities have arrested dozens, perhaps
hundreds, of trade unionists in recent years and many have experienced
harassment, torture and long prison terms.
Working
conditions in Iran are tough. Unemployment is as high as 24 per cent.
Millions of people live below the poverty line. The International Trade Union Confederation
(ITUC) reports that over 70 per cent of Iranian workers are employed on
temporary contracts with no job security. Under these economic and social
conditions the need for genuine trade union representation is
critical. *
Source:
http://cupe.ca/global-justice/calls-immediate-release-imprisoned
*This rally
was co-sponsored with Council in Support of People’s Struggles in Iran
(Toronto, Canada). In addition to CUPE National, the Canadian Union of
Postal Workers supported the protest. Mike Palecek,
National Union Representative of CUPW spoke at the rally. Amnesty
International-Canada also sent a statement for the rally. Stuart Ryan, a
CUPE activists, also spoke on behalf of International League of Peoples
Struggles.
Canadian
and Iranian media covered the story. Metro Ottawa: http://metronews.ca/news/ottawa/273807/iran-must-release-imprisoned-union-organizers-say-protestors/
By
Graham Lanktree
Metro Ottawa, June 22, 2012: Across from the iron gates of Iran’s Ottawa
embassy on Friday, a group of protestors called for the country to
release seven prisoners held after police cracked down on a labour union
in mid June.
“The
Islamic regime went into a meeting organized by labour activists and
arrested 60 people,” said Soroosh Hariri, a member of Ottawa’s Iranian
community. “Their only fault was asking how to organize a labour union
and we demand their immediate release from jail.”
In
the city of Karaj, 60 members of the Coordinating Committee to Help Form
Workers’ organizations were arrested June 15 by agents of Iran’s
Intelligence Ministry. All but nine of the prisoners have since been
released.
The
move came just days after Amnesty International released a report
demanding Iran release seven other trade unionists held in the country’s
prisons.
“We
are seriously concerned about repression of workers' rights in Iran,”
said Farid Partovi, one of the protest organizers and President of CUPE
4772.”Especially at a time when worker’s rights are being challenged all
around the world.”
“We’re
not demanding anything from the Canadian government,” said Hariri. “But
we will be here every week until they are freed.”
_________________________________________________________________________
International Alliance in Support of Workers in Iran
(IASWI)
[email protected]
www.etehadbinalmelali.com
www.workers-iran.org.
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