Demand the Immediate Release of the Arrested Auto Worker

May 8, 2005- The following statement has been issued in Iran by a group of workers at the Iran Khodro Company. Iran Khodro, which is today the largest car manufacturer in Iran and the Middle East, has a history of worker intimidation and harassment. There are many labour activists in the company; however, workers are not allowed to form their free labour organization and many of these workers are currently hired on the contract basis which makes them ineligible for the benefits that permanent employees receive. The working conditions in the company, which has been pressuring workers for higher output, have been exceedingly excessive and intolerable. The company’s numerous workplaces have become exceedingly hazardous for worker; and many workplace injuries and deaths have been reported in recent ears. Workers have been protesting in the recent months as well as last year for a variety of issues and work related problems. Mr. Parviz Salarvand, who is a permanent worker in the company, was arrested after he had expressed sympathy to the demands of temporary workers of the company. The Company’s security department, which acts as a police force, arrested and interrogated Mr. Salarvand on April 12^th. There is no official information about the whereabouts of Mr. Salarvand. The only informal update is that he has been transferred to the notorious Evin Prison in Tehran.

Iran Khodro is one of the richest, most important and most repressing corporations with close ties with the Iranian government. It is very crucial that the international labour movement, auto and industrial workers and members of the Global Union federations, react swiftly to this gross violation of workers and human rights in Iran. The Iranian government needs to be pressured for the immediate release of this fellow worker. There are news of other arrests, intimidations and abductions of workers in other parts of Iran, which we will report soon after they have been confirmed. We should not allow the Iranian government and corporations in Iran to get away with these kinds of anti-worker and repressive practices.

Please send your protest letters to:

Mr. Seyed Mohammad Khatami
President
The Presidency
Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection
Tehran
Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax: 98-21-648.06.65

Email: [email protected]

Please send a copy of your protest letters to:

International Alliance in Support of Workers in Iran

[email protected]

Iran Khodro Workers Demand Freedom of Their Co-worker

Dear colleagues and workers,

Twenty days have passed since the arrest of our colleague Parviz Salarvand, but there is no sign of his release. He was arrested on April 12, 2005 following a series of protests by company’s contract workers for the attainment of their New Year bonus and denunciation of the unequal treatment of employees by the management. Mr. Salarvand was severely interrogated in the basement of the security section of the company and he has not been heard of since then. Parviz Salarvand is not guilty of any wring doing. Besides, he has not had anything to do with the contract workers’ protest. We, as a group of workers at the Iran Khodro Company condemn the actions of the company management, and declare that no one has the right to arrest or imprison a worker for objecting to certain conditions and going on strike. All international conventions recognize the freedom of speech and assembly and the right to strike. Contract workers have the right to protest against the non-payment of their wages and bonuses, but the management of Iran Khodro has no right to arrest or imprison them for demanding what is lawfully theirs. Why does the security office of Iran Khodro violate the workers’ freedom? The Security office had no rights to arrest and imprison workers in its basement. Why has the basement of the company’s security department been turned into the torture chamber of workers? Instead of nullifying the temporary contracts and responding to their grievances, the company’s management is sending the workers to prison.

We are asking all workers to start a campaign of protest against these actions and demand the immediate and unconditional release of their arrested colleague.

Fellow Workers, Parviz Salarvand’s freedom is dependant on our struggle. His family is awaiting his return. We can end their anxiety with our unity and solidarity. We, the Iran khodro workers demand the immediate and unconditional release of our colleague and his return to work.

The imprisoned worker must be freed!

Long live worker’ solidarity!

A Group of Workers of Iran khodro Company

3 May 2005


	Appeal for Urgent Action: Iran Demand the Immediate Release of the Arrested Auto Worker May 8, 2005- The following statement has been issued in Iran by a group of workers at the Iran Khodro Company. Iran Khodro, which is today the largest car manufacturer in Iran and the Middle East, has a history of worker intimidation and harassment. There are many labour activists in the company; however, workers are not allowed to form their free labour organization and many of these workers are currently hired on the contract basis which makes them ineligible for the benefits that permanent employees receive. The working conditions in the company, which has been pressuring workers for higher output, have been exceedingly excessive and intolerable. The company’s numerous workplaces have become exceedingly hazardous for worker; and many workplace injuries and deaths have been reported in recent ears. Workers have been protesting in the recent months as well as last year for a variety of issues and work related problems. Mr. Parviz Salarvand, who is a permanent worker in the company, was arrested after he had expressed sympathy to the demands of temporary workers of the company. The Company’s security department, which acts as a police force, arrested and interrogated Mr. Salarvand on April 12^th. There is no official information about the whereabouts of Mr. Salarvand. The only informal update is that he has been transferred to the notorious Evin Prison in Tehran. Iran Khodro is one of the richest, most important and most repressing corporations with close ties with the Iranian government. It is very crucial that the international labour movement, auto and industrial workers and members of the Global Union federations, react swiftly to this gross violation of workers and human rights in Iran. The Iranian government needs to be pressured for the immediate release of this fellow worker. There are news of other arrests, intimidations and abductions of workers in other parts of Iran, which we will report soon after they have been confirmed. We should not allow the Iranian government and corporations in Iran to get away with these kinds of anti-worker and repressive practices. Please send your protest letters to: Mr. Seyed Mohammad Khatami President The Presidency Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection Tehran Islamic Republic of Iran Fax: 98-21-648.06.65 Email: [email protected] Please send a copy of your protest letters to: International Alliance in Support of Workers in Iran [email protected] Iran Khodro Workers Demand Freedom of Their Co-worker Dear colleagues and workers, Twenty days have passed since the arrest of our colleague Parviz Salarvand, but there is no sign of his release. He was arrested on April 12, 2005 following a series of protests by company’s contract workers for the attainment of their New Year bonus and denunciation of the unequal treatment of employees by the management. Mr. Salarvand was severely interrogated in the basement of the security section of the company and he has not been heard of since then. Parviz Salarvand is not guilty of any wring doing. Besides, he has not had anything to do with the contract workers’ protest. We, as a group of workers at the Iran Khodro Company condemn the actions of the company management, and declare that no one has the right to arrest or imprison a worker for objecting to certain conditions and going on strike. All international conventions recognize the freedom of speech and assembly and the right to strike. Contract workers have the right to protest against the non-payment of their wages and bonuses, but the management of Iran Khodro has no right to arrest or imprison them for demanding what is lawfully theirs. Why does the security office of Iran Khodro violate the workers’ freedom? The Security office had no rights to arrest and imprison workers in its basement. Why has the basement of the company’s security department been turned into the torture chamber of workers? Instead of nullifying the temporary contracts and responding to their grievances, the company’s management is sending the workers to prison. We are asking all workers to start a campaign of protest against these actions and demand the immediate and unconditional release of their arrested colleague. Fellow Workers, Parviz Salarvand’s freedom is dependant on our struggle. His family is awaiting his return. We can end their anxiety with our unity and solidarity. We, the Iran khodro workers demand the immediate and unconditional release of our colleague and his return to work. The imprisoned worker must be freed! Long live worker’ solidarity! A Group of Workers of Iran khodro Company 3 May 2005