The Joint Statement of the Iranian Labour Solidarity Organizations Abroad

In clear animosity against the working class and toilers of Iran, the Islamic Republic capitalist regime is accelerating daily its repressive measures. In recent weeks, the anti-labor actions of the Iranian government have expanded extraordinarily:

- Although the Kurdistan appeal court repealed charges against Mahmoud Salehi, Jalal Hosseini, Borhan Divargar and Mohsen Hakimi for participation in the May Day 2004 event, the Saqez Revolutionary Court has convicted these activists on new charges of “assembly and conspiracy to break the law.” Thus, Salehi has been sentenced to 4 years imprisonment, and Hosseini, Divargar and Hakimi to two years imprisonment each. Another court has convicted Mahmoud Salehi and his wife, Najibeh Salehzadeh, on bogus charge of offending a Revolution Guard and they were sentenced to pay fines.

- On November 19, 2006, Intelligence agents kidnapped Mansour Osanloo, the President of the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs United Bus Company (Sandikaye Kargarane Sherkate Vahed Otobosrani Tehran va Hoomeh) and took him to prison.

- On December 3, 2006 three members of the Tehran and Suburbs United Bus Company Workers’ Syndicate (Vahed Workers’ Syndicate) were arrested for distributing flier about the Syndicate’s achievements and a translation of a recent letter by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC). Two of these were released within hours and the third was freed on bail after 6 days in custody.

- Javanmir Moradi, Chair of Electrical and Metal Worker’s Trade Association of Kermanshah, has been summoned to court for participating in the May Day 2006 march.  Also, 17 members of the Vahed Workers’ Syndicate have been summoned to court.

- Security forces have fired shots at workers in Deylam Port killing a worker named Baroon Haghighat.

- By re-authorization of Section 191 of the Labour Law by the Majles (parliament), workers employed in establishments with 10 or fewer employees continue to be deprived of legal protections. As most such workers are women this measure facilitates further discriminations and exploitations of women.

- Plans have been drawn to deport Afghani workers to Afghanistan.

- With pretext of reforming the labour law, a systematic effort is underway to establish the law of the jungle in labour relation; to give employers total freedom to sack workers, depriving them of their wages and their most basic rights and entitlements, and to suppress any protest.

- The suspended workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, who are not allowed to return to their jobs because of membership in the Syndicate or participation in the strike, continue to be in limbo.

- The denial of the most basic and internationally recognized rights of workers including: the right to organize independent organizations, equal pay for equal work for women, abolishment of time limited labor contracts, timely payment of wages, unemployment insurance, job security, and so on. Under these circumstances working class families are denied normal and quiet life and are placed under severe pressures.

Thus, to protest the onslaught of the Islamic Republic regime on workers and labour activists, we, the undersigned organizations, while declaring our solidarity with all the working people of Iran, condemn the anti-labor measures and practices of the Islamic Republic.  We urge all labour and progressive activists in Iran and all countries of the world to condemn these actions and take active measures in defense of the violated rights of workers in Iran.

We are calling on all supporters of the working class and tolling people of Iran to organize such activities as demonstrations, solidarity nights, informational meetings, and contacts with labor and union activities in your respective countries.  In this regard, we intend to organize a joint protest action in one of the European countries in near future.

We are inviting all concerned individuals and active labour organizations to join us for a united and coordinated campaign for the realization of the following demands in defense of the Iranian working class: The freedom of Mansour Osanloo and all other jailed workers, the repeal of  sentences against all  labour activists, the unconditional cessation of all persecutions and legal proceedings against labour activists in Iran, the reinstatement of Vahed Workers’ Syndicate’s suspended  activists and the payment of their overdue wages, the recognition of the right to organize independent workers’ organizations, the right to organize the May Day, the elimination of all forms of discrimination and oppressions against women workers in the workplace and society, protest against the  repatriation of Afghan workers from Iran, the payment of unemployment insurance to all the unemployed workers, the abolition of child labour, job security and so on.

Long live international solidarity of the working class!

1. Australia- Solidarity Committee with Iranian Workers

2. Canada - Solidarity Committee with Iranian Workers- Toronto

3. Finland – The solidarity Association of Immigrants

4. France: Socialist Solidarity with Workers of Iran

5. Germany - Solidarity Association with Iranian Workers- Hanover

6. Germany- Solidarity Association with Iranian Workers- Cologne

7. Germany- Solidarity Committee with Iranian Workers- Hamburg

8. International Alliance in Support of Workers in Iran (IASWI) - Branches in the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Switzerland, Netherlands, Denmark and the United States.

9. Norway - Solidarity Association with Iranian Workers

10. Sweden – The Free Voice of Iranian Workers- Gothenburg

December 11, 2006