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International Day of Trade Union Action, Wednesday
15 February 2006
Dear friends,
Further to our message on 1 February concerning
continuing repression against the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs
Bus Company ("Sherkat-e Vahed" company), an in particular, the
arrests of hundreds of participants in the strike of 28 January, we are now
writing to confirm that we are requesting all affiliates and Global Union
Federations to join in a International Day of Trade Union Action on Iran on
Wednesday 15 February 2006. This call is issued on behalf of Global Unions
(representing the Global Union Federations, the ICFTU and the TUAC-OECD).
According to our latest information, up to 1300
workers may be detained in Tehran’s
Evin Prison, which is overflowing with detained union members and activists.
Unconfirmed reports suggest at least some of those detained have gone on hunger
strike. The Iranian government, Tehran
City authorities and the
Sherkat-e Vahed management are actively trying to impose an information
blackout on the union’s actions. Relatives of our sources on the spot have
again been intimidated and threatened not to provide information about these
events.
Many trade union organisations in various part of
the world have already protested to the Iranian government about these events
and we would like to thank them for their action. Rallies with important union
participation have already been held in front of Iran’s
embassies in Canada and the United Kingdom
(photos are available on request). It is however important to keep up this
mobilisation and make the 15 February Day of Action a resounding success. We
encourage union organisations in all countries hosting an Iranian embassy to
ask for an appointment with the Ambassador and/or hold a protest rally outside
the embassy’s premises. (A new list of Iran’s embassies around the world
is attached to this message). If useful, you may wish to present the embassy
with your own version of the model-letter included in our earlier message.
If there is no Iranian embassy in your country, you
may consider visiting your Ministry/Office of Foreign Affairs to raise your
concern; holding a press conference; organizing a petition, or taking any other
action which you consider appropriate.
Here are some slogans which you may consider using
on 15 February:
- Recognise trade union rights in Iran!
- Release Mansour Osanloo and all detained Sharket-e Vahed
unionists!
- Sharket-e Vahed Management respect union rights!
- Collective agreement at Sharket-e Vahed Now!
- Pay wage arrears to Vahed’s unionists now!
In order to encourage our Iranian brothers and
sisters in this dispute, we would like to use our webpage to update the
worldwide events. We would appreciate it very much if you could email us your
report of the protest day (along with a photograph) at your earliest
convenience. Any other information related to your organisation’s action in
this case will also be much appreciated.
Please inform us as soon as possible about your
organisation’s intentions with respect to the 15 February Day of Action.
With best regards,
ICFTU Department of Trade Union Rights
International
Confederation of Free Trade Unions(ICFTU)
+32 (2) 224 0232 - press@icftu.org
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