The Iranian Government Crushed Tehran Bus Drivers' Strike!
An Urgent Appeal!
January 29, 2006- According to the independent interviews with the union's
activists and other sources from Tehran, over 700 members of the Syndicate of
the Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Vahed Bus Company and a number of supporters
are still in custody following the brutal use of police and the company's
security forces on January 28th. According to an interview with Mr. Yaghoob
Salimi, an alternate board member of the Syndicate, the Evin prison was full
with jailed workers. Mr. Salimi himself was not arrested during the strike but
the security forces raided his home and arrested three women and five children
including his wife and his 12 and 2 years old daughters. The release of his
wife and children was conditional upon Mr. Salimi turning himself to the
police, which took place on the same day. In an enormously emotional interview,
Mr. Salimi's daughter revealed that her mother and other two women were badly
beaten by the security forces, the 12 year-year-old was pepper-sprayed in the
eyes and her two year old sister was terribly beaten in such a way that her
face got badly bruised.
The government brought the military personnel and buses to the City in addition
to thousands of security and armed forces as well plain cloth officers that
were dispatched to suppress the strike. According to a statement by the
Syndicate, many drivers were beaten, threatened and forced to drive buses.
According to other sources, about 30 arrested workers have been seriously
injured and required immediate medical attention and some had to be transferred
from prison to the hospital. The jailed workers in Evin prison have decided to
go on hunger strike and the union is deciding about its next move. As the
Company's CEO had vowed to fire all striking workers, there are reports that
the company and the government authorities are forcing some workers to sign a
"penitent statement" in order to be able to return to work.
The union has issued a new plea for support urging their colleagues in Iran and
the international labour movements to condemn the attack on workers and support
their demands. These fellow workers have been simultaneously fighting back
against all these attacks on numerous fronts but, having no rights to organize
freely or to strike, their protests and walkouts have been brutally repressed
by security and intelligent forces. This heroic and tragic event once again
demonstrated that the Iranian labour movement not only needs its own free and
strong organizations but it also requires powerful international labour
solidarity and support to fight back against these violent offensives by the
employers and the oppressive government.
There is no doubt that the Islamic Republic of Iran is in total violation of
the most fundamental workers', human and children's rights. This government
must be hold accountable for its repressive actions. The International Alliance
in Support of Workers in Iran is urging all concerned organizations around the
world particularly the world's labour movements to intensify their pressure on
the Iranian government for the following urgent demands.
1- The immediate and unconditional release of all arrested workers including
members of the board of directors of the Syndicate and its president Mr.
Mansoor Osanloo.
2- All acts of violence against workers, women and children must be condemned.
Children must be properly compensated and those violated children's rights must
be prosecuted.
3- The immediate removal of the security and intelligent forces from the
company's workstations and bus depots, as well as putting an end to the violent
treatment of workers in labour disputes.
4- The recognition of the Syndicate as the genuine representative of workers.
5- The recognition of the right to negotiate collectively and the right to
strike.
6- The removal of the government-sponsored Workers House and the Islamic Labour
Council from the company's workplaces since they merely are agents of the
employer and the government and have no legitimacy amongst workers.
Furthermore, the Workers' House and Islamic Labour Councils must be expelled
from all international labour bodies (see below for background information).
7- The expulsion or suspension of the Islamic Republic of Iran from the
International Labour Organization due to its total violation of workers'
fundamental rights as stipulated by the international labour conventions and
the international human rights standards.
8- The Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company (Sherkat-e Vahed) and Tehran's Mayor must
be denounced strongly by the world's labour and human right's communities as
one of the most repressive employers and hold liable accordingly. The company
must be pressured to reinstate all workers, pay workers their due amount with
appropriate and fair compensation and recognize the union. The company must be
warned not to take any retaliatory actions against workers.
9- A fact-finding international labour delegation should be dispatched to Iran
to investigate the violation of workers and human rights and publicly report
their finding for appropriate actions.
For more information, please contact [email protected].
International Alliance in Support of Workers in Iran
Your protest letters can be sent to the following addresses:
Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadjinejad,
President of the Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: [email protected]
Fax: + 98-21-6648.06.65 or: + 98 21 649 5880 &
Ambassador Mohammad Reza Alborzi, Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic
of Iran to the United Nations Institutions in Geneva, Chemin du
Petit-Saconnex 28, 1209 Geneva, Switzerland, Fax: +41 22 733 02 03, E-mail:
[email protected]
*CC: [email protected]
Background info:
Tehran Bus Workers-Strike Update 3
1300 Arrested!
Urgent Actions Required
January 28, 2006- 6:00 p.m. (EST)- According to the latest news from Tehran,
about 1300 members of the Syndicate of the Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Vahed
Bus Company have been arrested. Hundreds of drivers and their wives and even
children have been transferred to the Evin Prison where the jail and judiciary
officials are interrogating them. To crush the strike, the security forces used
tear gas, batons and the threat to shoot the strikers. In each area where 600
to 700 workers were expected to report to work about 1500 security forces were
present. Police has raided the homes of the syndicate members and the majority
of the members of the board of the union are now in custody. The Iranian
government and the city officials have brought additional buses and drivers to
prevent the spread of the strike. Although the strike has not yet ended but it
has been brutally oppressed by the government forces and the security guards of
the public bus company.
Almost all Iranian mainstream media have turned the blind eye on this strike
and the violent responses against workers. The new CEO of the Tehran and Suburb
Bus Company (which is under the City of Tehran and Mayor's supervision) has
accused workers as being saboteurs, traitors and anti-workers and vowed to fire
all the arrested workers.
The Islamic Republic of Iran is once again in total violation of workers' most
basic rights to organize, assemble, express and strike. The IRI must face
serious consequences for its violent and repressive treatment of workers. The
International Alliance in Support of Workers in Iran is calling on all
concerned organizations around the world particularly the world's labour
movements to intensify their pressure on the Iranian government.
For more information, please contact [email protected].
International Alliance in Support of Workers in Iran
Tehran Bus Workers - Strike Update 2
Drivers Beaten and Forced to Work!
The Strike Continues!
Latest Updates as of January 28, 2006; 12:00 am (EST):
Bus drivers have been beaten and forced to drive buses Saturday morning
in Tehran. According to the sources from Tehran, about 100 union members have
been arrested since yesterday in Tehran, and the security forces have been
raiding homes and arresting the syndicate activists and their wives.
It has been an extremely unsafe situation for Tehran's bus drivers
particularly since this Friday. Despite facing heavy repression by police and
other armed forces, the strike has already begun in some areas in Tehran. The
Syndicate of the Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Vahed Bus Company has once again
called on workers and labour organizations around the world to intensify their
pressure on the Iranian government. This struggle is extremely significant for
the Iranian working class in terms of the establishment of their right to
organize free and independent labour organizations and putting an end to years
of continued and systemic oppression.
More update to follow soon.
International Alliance in Support of Workers in Iran
[email protected]
Tehran Bus Workers - Strike Update
New Arrests
The Syndicate of the Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Vahed Bus Company has called
for strike action on Saturday, January 28, 2006 to demand for the release of
Mr. Mansoor Osanloo, the Syndicate's president, the recognition of the union
and a collective bargaining agreement.
Latest Updates as of Friday, January 27, 2006: On January 26th, 8 members
of the board of directors of the syndicate were summoned by the court for
questioning however they were never released last night and according to an
interview by another member of the board they all have been transferred to the
notorious Evin prison, where Mr. Osanloo, has been incarcerated since last
December. Their names are as follows:
Ebrahim Madadi, deputy director of the syndicate, Abbas Najand Koodaki,
Naser Gholami, Davood Rezaei, Ali Zadeh Hosseini, Saeed Torabian, Mansoor
Hayat-Gheibi, Abdulreza Tarazi.
The mayor of Tehran, Mr. Ghalibaf a former top military official of the
Islamic Republic of Iran, who had made some promises to the syndicate, has now
in an interview called the syndicate illegal and has vowed to stop the strike.
The government and its intelligent and security forces as well as Tehran's
Public Bus company (Sherkate Vahed) are using all kinds of intimidating and
repressive tactics to prevent the strike including bringing new buses and
drivers as strike breakers and distributing flyers in Tehran accusing strikers
as subversive and saboteurs and disseminating misinformation in the streets of
Tehran that the strike would not take place. The union has reaffirmed today
that the strike would start on this Saturday morning unless their demands are
met, including the release of Mr. Osanloo and now the above 8 leaders of the
syndicate; the recognition of the union as the representative of bus drivers
and employees of Tehran's public bus company as well as a collectively
negotiated agreement that stipulates the rights and benefits of workers.
The syndicate has called again on all workers in Iran and across the
globe to support their cause and to pressure the Iranian government for
achievement of their demands. It is absolutely crucial to remember that all
these struggles are taking place under extremely unjust and risky conditions
where no worker in Iran have the right to organize or strike and the Iranian
government has always used the security and intelligent forces to crush labour
movements and strike actions.
Please support these fellow workers in any way you possibly can. Please
contact the IASWI if you need more information. You can send protest letters
to:
Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadjinejad,
President of the Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: [email protected]
Fax: + 98-21-6648.06.65 or: + 98 21 649 5880 &
Cc: [email protected]
International Alliance in Support of Workers in Iran
[email protected]
Strike Call for Osanloo's Freedom and
Collective Bargaining Rights
Greetings to all of you hard working and justice- seeking drivers and workers,
As you all know, the Syndicate of Workers of Vahed Bus Company have been
defending your rights unequivocally and in this struggle we have endured all
kinds of hardships such as solitary cells in Evin prison, dismissal, forced
exile and frequent summons by the intelligent forces, but we have never
retreated from our legitimate claims and legal rights and because of your unity
and efforts we are able to continue to guard your rights.
Unfortunately, despite all these efforts and hardships, our legitimate
demands have not been materialized, and, even worse, the president of our
board, Mr. Mansoor Osanloo, have been imprisoned without any clear explanation
since December 22, 2005. Given this unacceptable situation, we are calling upon
all our colleagues, particularly the courageous drivers in both morning and
afternoon shifts as well as workers in services stations and administration in
all ten areas in Tehran to walk off your jobs as of Saturday, 1384, 11, 8
(January 28, 2006) and congregate in these areas demanding Mansoor Osanloo's
freedom and the recognition of our syndicate and a negotiation for collective
bargaining agreement. We will continue the strike, with the coordination of our
board of directors, until we achieve our demands.
The Syndicate of the Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Vahed Bus Company
Bahman 4th, 1384 (January 24, 2006)
Public Statement by
the Syndicate of Workers of Vahed Bus Company
Release Mansour Osanloo!
Greeting to all our hard working and justice-seeking co-workers. Thanks for
your flourishing efforts and your unity.
As you hard working public servants are aware, the month of Dey (December) was
a difficult and worrisome month for all activists and the members of the
Syndicate. At the beginning of this month, ten executive board members and
Syndicate's activists, including Mr. Mansour Osanloo, were arrested without any
clear explanation and charges. On 4/10/1384 (Dec.25, 2005) in condemnation of
such this action, the bus drivers waged a wide spread strike that was expanded
to area six n Tehran, resulting in changes in the management of the Company.
During the strike, about 40 executive board members and activists of the
syndicate were arrested again but they were, with the exception of Mr. Osanloo,
subsequently released, all as the result of your efforts and protests.
Unfortunately, in spite of the massive protest of workers in the area 6 and
despite the gathering of tens of thousands to protest at the Azadi Stadium, Mr.
Osanloo is still in prison. He has been jailed in the Evin prison without any
charges while suffering respiratory problems, cardiac disease and physical
illness. Even his lawyers are not allowed to visit him because of the order by
the judicial authorities.
The Syndicate of Workers of Vahed Bus Company honours its principles of human
rights and dignity, thus defending Mansoor Osanloo is its highest priority. We
thank all friends and activists for their support, solidarity and efforts for
this action. The Syndicate believes union activity is their legitimate right
and a right that all workers should enjoy based on section 26 of the
constitution as well as international conventions on the fundamental rights of
workers. Therefore, we expect these rights to be expected by all government
agencies from judiciary and intelligent systems to the national authorities.
At the end, the workers of Syndicates express our dissatisfaction with the
government's arrest of our respectful representative. Furthermore, we hereby
announce our readiness to defend his legal and humanitarian rights until his
freedom.
The Board of Directors of the Syndicate of Workers of Vahed Bus Company
[email protected]
www.syndicavahed.com
Condemn Workers' House and the Islamic Labour Councils Participation
at the International Labour Conference
On May 30, 2005, the Iranian Labour News Agency (ILNA), which belongs to
the government-sponsored Workers House, announced that a number of leaders of
the Workers House and the Islamic Labour Councils will attend the International
Labour Conference, 93rd Session, 31 May -16 June 2005, "on behalf of the
Iranian Labour Community". The group, which ILNA calls a "high ranking
Iranian labour delegation," includes such figures as Hassan Sadeghi (the
Secretary of the High Centre of Islamic Labour Councils), Parviz Ahmadi Panjaki
(leader of the executive committee of Central province Islamic Labour Shoras),
and Mohammad Hamze'I (the head of the international relations of the Worker's
House).
It is an internationally known fact that the Workers House and the Islamic
labour councils are merely instruments of the ruling regime in Iran. They are
means of controlling and suppressing independent labour activities in Iran. The
Iranian labour movement undoubtedly sees the Workers House and the Islamic
labour Councils as puppets of the Islamic Republic. These people have been
vigorously campaigning for the re-election of the former despotic and anti-worker
president, Hashemi Rafsanjani.
It is also an internationally acknowledged fact that the Iranian labour
movement is basically unorganized because it does not have the right to
organize free and independent organizations. Workers, even for their struggles
for their most basic rights, routinely face persecution, arrests and
suppression.
The above "high ranking labour leaders" encompass some of the major
barriers to free organizing in Iran. For instance, On May 9, 2005 the same
figures Hassan Sadeghi, Parviz Ahmadi Panjaki and Mohammad Hamze'I and several
others who were all members of the various regional Islamic labour Councils,
accompanied by members of Basij (the paramilitary group funded by the Iranian
government) and the security department of the Tehran Bus Company violently
attacked the meeting of the Funding Board of Labour Syndicate for Tehran Public
Bus Transportation Company, breaking doors and windows, tearing up documents,
destroying books as well physically attacking about 10 members of the labour
syndicate who were present a the time. In these attacks one member of the
committee, a worker with 20 years seniority, was severely injured and his
tongue and neck required multiples stitches. The representatives of the labour
syndicate have written and met as well with the ILO Director General, Mr. Juan
Somavia, urging him to condemn this brutal act and assisting workers to set the
occasion for justice trials and sentencing of these agents of the Islamic
Republic of Iran. They also demanded the call to expel these groups as the
Iranian Workers Representative from International Labour Organization.
Although the International labour movements, including the ICFTU, ITF, CLC and
many others, have strongly protested the Workers House's violent attack on
Tehran Transportation workers, this has not stopped them from shamelessly
attending the ILC.
These criminals, who in fact are facing criminal charges for their assaults on
workers, are attending the International Labour Conference in Geneva today. It
is a shame and a big slap in the face of the Iranian workers and independent
labour activists. It is a mockery of the concept of free and independent labour
organization that ILO has also allowed to continue.
We are therefore calling on all representatives of national and international
labour organizations to oppose any recognition given to the Workers House and
the Islamic councils and to protest their participation and attendance at the
International Labour Conference.
International Alliance in Support of Workers in Iran
[email protected]
May 31, 2005