New Page 1

As a result of this a number of the activists of Vahed company have held a number of meetings, as the ‘Founding Committee for Reviving the Syndicate of the Workers of Tehran Bus Company “ and they have started new trade union activities by holding regular weekly and monthly meetings in the Hosseyniye of Tehran bakery workers syndicate, situated in Hassan Abad square- Khayam Ave, these activities have been welcomed by their fellow workers. The task of registering Vahed Company’s workers and self-help and educational classes are also progressing well.

News suggests that in some areas of Tehran Bus Company the syndicate activists have faced problems and obstacles to their efforts. Some of those in charge of the company originally thought that syndicate activities were illegal and dealt severely with those involved in such activities. However following clarifications made by union activists as well as their repeated visits to the Ministries of Labour and Interior, Guards and other responsible authorities, letters written to the President and a demand to meet Minister of Labour, any doubts about the legitimacy of these activities have bee removed. However, unfortunately in few districts those in charge of the company are still exercising restrictions, calling workers to the local Guards authorities, asking repeated irrelevant questions, and threatening workers named at the end of this statement with expulsion.

The Cultural Society in support of workers whilst congratulating diligent and devoted fellow workers in Vahed Bus company, reminds those involved of articles 26 and 27 of the country’s constitution, guaranteeing the freedom of trade union assemblies and activities and the clear position of points 1 and 2 of article 98 and points 1-8 of article 87 of the ILO (regarding the freedom of workers association and activities). Both articles are amongst the most fundamental and compulsory rules of the ILO. We therefore call on the authorities of Tehran Bus Company to work with the labour activists in the syndicate, to guarantee their job security and to ensure that no restrictions are placed on their activities.

We believe that in today’s Iran, syndicates, free and independent workers organisations can create healthy transparent work relations by presenting the workers demands, resolving workers trade and legal disputes and therefore help the quantity and quality of national production, reduction of rate of unemployment and therefore will cause growth and elation in society.

This is a list of syndicate and trade union activists of Tehran Bus Company who are facing pressure or the threat of expulsion because of their activities.

1-Ayat Jadidi – worker Area 3- compulsory transfer of work area

2-Mansour Ossalou – employee area 7- facing the sack

3-Ebrahim Madadi – Technical worker area2 - compulsory transfer of work area

4-Ali Zadeh Hosseini –worker area 7- repeated summoning to the local police authority faced with irrelevant questioning

5-Hossein Shahssavari – employee area 7

6-Ali Rafii medical assistant – Area 8- Compulsory transfer of work area

7-Abdollah Haji – Romanan are 7- Compulsory transfer of work area

8- Parviz Faminbar, Area6, Compulsory transfer of work area

9-Abdolreza Tarazi – area 3 – Compulsory transfer of work area

A number of other drivers have also been summoned and questioned by the police authorities and are facing compulsory transfers

Cultural Society in Support of Workers.

14/12/1383

March 4, 2005


	Tehran’s air is getting more polluted and the traffic is getting heavier every day. The combination of these two elements make the work of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company drivers, garage and other support workers more difficult, harder and more damaging to their health. The honest hard working employees of Vahed company (The main Tehran transit company) some working in garages and repair shops of the company cleaning and maintaining the vehicles, others driving buses with care and patience in the city’s busy, crowded streets, putting up with pollution, driving passengers from one end of the city to the other end, working from dawn to dust and at times an additional night shift. As the working conditions worsen for Tehran Bus company employees, industrial relations deteriorate to such an extent that in practise a large number of workers and drivers don’t consider the Islamic shoras organisations strong enough to represent their interests. More experienced, older workers remind others of their genuine trade union activities prior to 1983 and the achievements of that period such as collective bargaining on issues ranging from payment of end of year bonuses, to work clothes, provision of suits … many of these provisions still exist and are valid . The recollection of past syndicalist achievements and the transfer of such experiences to younger educated workers who are becoming aware of the history of the working class movement in Iran and throughout the world, have led these workers to conclude that under the current conditions the only way they can resolve their problems, to obtain their salaries and bonuses and to achieve their legitimate trade union rights, they have no alternative but to revive the syndicate of the employees of the bus company. As a result of this a number of the activists of Vahed company have held a number of meetings, as the ‘Founding Committee for Reviving the Syndicate of the Workers of Tehran Bus Company “ and they have started new trade union activities by holding regular weekly and monthly meetings in the Hosseyniye of Tehran bakery workers syndicate, situated in Hassan Abad square- Khayam Ave, these activities have been welcomed by their fellow workers. The task of registering Vahed Company’s workers and self-help and educational classes are also progressing well. News suggests that in some areas of Tehran Bus Company the syndicate activists have faced problems and obstacles to their efforts. Some of those in charge of the company originally thought that syndicate activities were illegal and dealt severely with those involved in such activities. However following clarifications made by union activists as well as their repeated visits to the Ministries of Labour and Interior, Guards and other responsible authorities, letters written to the President and a demand to meet Minister of Labour, any doubts about the legitimacy of these activities have bee removed. However, unfortunately in few districts those in charge of the company are still exercising restrictions, calling workers to the local Guards authorities, asking repeated irrelevant questions, and threatening workers named at the end of this statement with expulsion. The Cultural Society in support of workers whilst congratulating diligent and devoted fellow workers in Vahed Bus company, reminds those involved of articles 26 and 27 of the country’s constitution, guaranteeing the freedom of trade union assemblies and activities and the clear position of points 1 and 2 of article 98 and points 1-8 of article 87 of the ILO (regarding the freedom of workers association and activities). Both articles are amongst the most fundamental and compulsory rules of the ILO. We therefore call on the authorities of Tehran Bus Company to work with the labour activists in the syndicate, to guarantee their job security and to ensure that no restrictions are placed on their activities. We believe that in today’s Iran, syndicates, free and independent workers organisations can create healthy transparent work relations by presenting the workers demands, resolving workers trade and legal disputes and therefore help the quantity and quality of national production, reduction of rate of unemployment and therefore will cause growth and elation in society. This is a list of syndicate and trade union activists of Tehran Bus Company who are facing pressure or the threat of expulsion because of their activities. 1-Ayat Jadidi – worker Area 3- compulsory transfer of work area 2-Mansour Ossalou – employee area 7- facing the sack 3-Ebrahim Madadi – Technical worker area2 - compulsory transfer of work area 4-Ali Zadeh Hosseini –worker area 7- repeated summoning to the local police authority faced with irrelevant questioning 5-Hossein Shahssavari – employee area 7 6-Ali Rafii medical assistant – Area 8- Compulsory transfer of work area 7-Abdollah Haji – Romanan are 7- Compulsory transfer of work area 8- Parviz Faminbar, Area6, Compulsory transfer of work area 9-Abdolreza Tarazi – area 3 – Compulsory transfer of work area A number of other drivers have also been summoned and questioned by the police authorities and are facing compulsory transfers Cultural Society in Support of Workers. 14/12/1383 March 4, 2005