Vahed workers syndicate 

Chronology

Background

The Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company (“Sherkat-e Vahed”) was formed in 1968 but was disbanded by the authorities in the early 1980s. Instead, a Workers’ House and Islamic Labour Council were formed by the government and the company. In 2003, activists began to re-establish their independent union. 

March – June 2005
At least 17 activists are dismissed from the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, including Mansour Osanloo.
 
9 May, 13 May, 1 June
Members of the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company (“Sherkat-e Vahed”)are attacked by the Workers’ House, Labour Council, company’s guards and the security force. A number of members are injured. Mansour Osanloo, in particular, is severely injured in the attack that took place on 9 May and requires hospital treatment, after which he is taken into custody for questioning.
 
3 June
The General Assembly adopts the union constitution and elects its leadership bodies despite the blockades of roads and violent interventions by the security force, the company and the Workers’ House. 8,000 of the 17,000 workers employed by the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company take part in the election.
 
7 September
Seven leaders and members of the union are arrested. They are charged with public order offences after which they are released on bail. They were arrested during a protest against unpaid wages, during which bus drivers in Tehran left their lights on while driving passengers around the city.
 
22 December
The agents of the Intelligence Ministry arrest 14 trade unionists including its President, Mansour Osanloo.
 
25 December
3,000 workers of Sherkat-e Vahedwalk out of the job in protest. 17 more unionists are arrested.
 
26 December
The ICFTU sends its first protest letter to the Iranian government.
 
27 December
All detainees except Mansour Osanloo are released. Meanwhile, all the trade unionists' bank accounts are frozen and wage payments are blocked.
 
31 December
Dr Ghalibaf, the mayor of Tehran, promises the trade union members that he will do everything in his power to free Mansour Osanloo and to resolve the other problems.
 
1 January 2006
150 workers from all the ten Bus Districts of Tehran assemble outside the Revolution Court on Mo Street, from 8.30 am to 1.30 pm, calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Mansour Osanloo.
 
2 January
At least 5,000 members of the union gather at Azadi Stadium Complex in Tehran demanding the immediate release of Mansour Osanloo.  The Mayor of Tehran, who attended the gathering, is confronted with angry trade unionists.
 
6 January
The ICFTU sends its second letter of protest. The ITF sends its letter of protest - both letters condemn “the inescapable conclusion that a new pattern of repression against free and independent trade union activists is emerging in Iran”.
 
7 January
The union requests the bus drivers in Tehran to leave their lights on in protest while driving passengers around the city. A new strike date is set as 29 January 2006.
 
19 January
The ITF Urban Transport Committee held in Paris unanimously adopts a resolution, demanding the immediate release of Mansour Osanloo.
 
*From late December, trade unions including those in Yemen, Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia, Jordan, Kuwait, Canada, USA, Great Britain, Austria, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Norway, Lithuania, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, the Philippines and Thailand have sent their protest letters to the Iranian government.

24 January
The Socialist Campaign Group of Labour MPs tables an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons expressing its concern and urging the British Government to press the Iranian government to respect trade union rights and International Labour Organization conventions.

26 January
8 members of the union’s executive board are summoned by the court and are not released. In an interview, the mayor of Tehran, a former top military official of Iran, who had made some promises to the syndicate, now calls the syndicate illegal and vows to stop the strike. The government and its intelligent and security forces, as well as the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, are using all kinds of intimidating and repressive tactics to prevent the strike. These include bringing new buses and drivers as strike breakers, distributing flyers in Tehran, accusing strikers as subversive and saboteurs and disseminating misinformation in the streets of Tehran that the strike will not take place.

28 January
In the morning, bus drivers are beaten and forced to drive buses in Tehran. According to the sources from Tehran, about 100 union members have been arrested since 27 January in Tehran. Despite facing heavy repression by police and other armed forces, the strike has already begun in some areas in Tehran. Some 1300 members of the union 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. The 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.

29 January
More than 700 members of the union and a number of supporters are still in custody. Some 30 arrested workers have been seriously injured and required immediate medical attention. Some had to be transferred to the hospital. The jailed workers in Evin prison have decided to go on hunger strike.

1 February
A group of family members and spouses of the jailed union workers gather outside the Majles (parliament). They are confronted by a large contingent of security force but some 100 members successfully proceed their demand for the immediate release of the imprisoned workers. The families vow to gather in front of the Islamic Revolution Court on 4 February.
 
In the meantime, the union issues its complaint letter to the International Labour Organization. Apart from the immediate release of the imprisoned unionists, recognition of the union and their collective bargaining rights, the union is demanding that the released workers be returned to work without any intimidation by the company to sign a statement of penitence in order to keep their job.

1 February
ICFTU sends its third letter of protest to the Iranian government.

2 February
Amnesty International calls for the immediate release of the detained bus workers. Canadian Labor Congress (CLS) organises a protest rally in front of the Iranian Embassy in Ottawa. Trade unions including those in Japan, Australia, Luxembourg, Norway, Kenya, Great Britain send their protest letters. [read statement >>]

4 February
Members of the Iranian community in Britain hold a protest rally at the Iranian embassy in London. Representatives of TUC, GMB and ITF join the action. Argentinian train drivers' union sends its protest letter. Read the article here>>

7 February
According to the union's spokesperson, about 200 workers are now released. However, the company is refusing to reinstate them. In the meantime, on 6 February, the security force arrests another member of the union's executive board whilst he is visiting his mother.

8 February
Global Unions designate 15 February as their international action day to protest the violation of trade union rights against Teheran bus workers and their trade union.

Another member of the union's Executive Board is arrested in the southern part of Teheran. Only on the previous day, he made a narrow escape from the security force. He was almost detained at a job centre in Eastern Teheran where he was helping the bus workers that the company is refusing to reinstate. The authorities seem to be determined to arrest all members of the Executive Board and union's key activists.

12 February
The majority of the detained workers are now released. Some 70 - 80 unionists are still in Evin Prison. None of the union's Executive Board members are freed. The company continues to refuse reinstating those who were arrested.

13 February
Three members of the union's Executive Board are now released. 15 remain in custody. In the meantime, another bus driver is arrested. Some 100 workers stage protest in front of the Labour Ministry in Teheran for two consecutive days. ICFTU Online is released. ITF's Coordinating Committee for UK and Ireland sends out its statement  concerning 15 February to the affilates.

14 February
Transport workers' unions including those in Australia, Canada, Korea, Russia and Turkey send their protest letter to the Iranian government. Buzz Hargrove, CAW cites; "the many arrests, whatever the exact number, are a completely disproportionate response to legitimate industrial action". Global Union Federations such as ICEM, IUF and UNI join the global protest.

15 February - Action Day Report 1

India: A delegation from the Transport & Dock Workers Union delivered protest letters at the Iranian Consulate General.

Japan: Members of the JRU trade union visited the Iranian Embassy in Tokyo and asked the minister, Mohammad Ali Sarmadi Rad, to release imprisoned union members. The JRU reports that:   "He told us the detained 
union members will soon be released, and the government allows the demonstration of workers in front of the Parliament held today. We told him to respect workers’ rights in Iran."

Australia and New Zealand: A letter of protest was delivered to the Iranian President by the National/General Secretaries of the Maritime Union of Australia; Australian Rail, Tram and Bus Industry Union; Transport Workers Union of Australia; Maritime Union of New Zealand; and Rail &  Maritime Transport Union (New Zealand).

Middle East: The ITF's represenative for the Middle East reports protests and actions by road transport unions in  Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco, as well as by the petrochemical union in Jordan, the rail workers' trade union in Tunisia, and the maritime workers' union in Tunisia. In Iraq the GFIW ( General Federation of Iraqi Workers ) have delivered a letter of protest and are demonstrating in front of the Iranian Embassy in Bagdhad.

15 February - Action Day Report 2

Austria: Members of Railway Workers' Union, GdEÖ and Municipal Workers' Union, GdG, held a solidarity meeting in a bus depot with the Iranian community group in Vienna. FNCTTFEL, Luxembourg also sent its representative. The national labour centre, ÖGB will feature the issue.

Great Britain: More than 100 people participated in a protest rally outside the Iranian Embassy in London. Trade union representatives from ASLEF, GMB, RMT, UNISON and ITF took part in the action with the Iranian community groups. Excellent media coverage.

16 February - Action Day Report 3

Seven more members of the Executive Board are now released. Eight are still detained.

Thailand: Coordinated by the ITF Thai Committee, 50 members of BMTA-SWU, TRAN-U, LU-ETA, SRUT and AOT-SWU organised a  demonstration and a march to the Iranian Embassy in Bangkok. The unionists were received by the Third Secretary, Aliakbar Nazari.  Prior to the Action Day, the Committee sent a protest letter to the Iranian Government.

Canada: More than 100 labour activists took part in the rally in front of the Iranian Embassy. Representatives of the CLC,  Canadian Postal Workers' Union, New Democrat Party and Centre for Research on Globalization as well as members of four  Canadian and Iranian organisations were present.

USA：Teamsters Union and Amalgamated Transit Union joined the protest rally in Washington DC. Some 100 participants chanted  "free Mansour Osanloo now!"

Australia: Australian Unions and representatives from the Iranian community protested in front of the Iranian Embassy.  Speakers from the MUA, RTBU, TWU, CFMEU and CSPU called upon the Iranian Ambassador to send the unions' message of protest.  The Ambassador, however, did not receive the delegation.

23 February
On 22 February, some 150 bus workers hold a protest rally outside the Ministry of Labour, demanding their reinstatement.  On 21 February, the judge for the first time allows the families of three detainees to meet them at Evin Prison.

The Iranian Labour News Agency (ILNA) reported on 11 February that a "Committee to Defend Workers' Trade Organisations in Iran" has released a statement demanding the unconditional release of all bus workers in Tehran.  The Committee is comprised of 14 "traditional" unions (see below*).  The statement cites that "independent" or "unofficial" trade union organisations continue to be oppressed in Iran and are led on a road to subservience and gradual death.  The statement stresses that "these bus workers are protesting to achieve their basic rights and achievement of decent wages above the pverty line.  Those who do not recognize such lawful rights of independent trade unions are treating workers unjustly and unfairly."

*Driver Training Organisation of Iran, Organisation of Inter City Bus Drivers of Iran, Trade Organisation of Inter City Bus Drivers of Kerman, Driving School Teachers' Trade Organisations of Tehran, Mashad, Arak, Shahrekord, Esphahan, Free Newspaper Reporters' Trade Organisation of Tehran, Painters' Trade Organisation of Tehran, Trade Organisation of the Employees of Khatamolanbiya Hospital, Driving School Teachers' Trade Organisation of Khoramabad, Islamic Labor Council of Tehranshimi Company, Trade Organisation of Mehrad Hospital Employees.

The statement has been sent to the Minister of Justice, Iranian President, Head of the Iranian Parliament, members of the Labour and Social Affairs Caucus of Parliament, Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, Mayor of Tehran, and all news agencies and Iranian newspapers.

24 February
Justice Minister Jamal Karimi-Rad admits on 22 February that six men are being held for "illegal acts" but fails to specify the charges.  The authorities and the official press initially have been silent about the case.  On February 6, Iran's reformist party, the Participation Front, lodged a protest.

27 February
The English version of the union's statement "On the Support and Solidarity of Workers Internationally" is released.  It thanks all those who took part in the global Action Day on 15 February.  The statement reveals the authority's announcement that the detainees would only be released if they sign a pledge to stop participating in union activities.  Apparently, the authority has also said that it is not "wise at this time to allow the formation of trade unions in the country, and anyone deciding to participate in the union activities would be considered the opponent of the Islamic Republic System and thus will be prosecuted".  The union is seeking further international pressure on the Iranian government.  The original statement in Farsi was released on the day after the global protest.

4 March
Car plant workers at Khodro in Tehran put down their tools in protest for poor remuneration.

7 March
The union's spokesperson, Golam Reza Mirzaie is arrested three days ago in Tehran.

8 March
Representatives from the ICFTU and CLC lobby Angelika Beer, MEP in Brussels.

14 March
A list of 46 workers whose contracts have been terminated has been published by the state-owned bus company Sherkat e Vahed.  The list includes five members of the union's executive who are still in prison.  The company has stated that the orders came from the regime's intelligence authorities.

On 13 March, around 120 workers once again gathered outside various government offices and the bus company headquarters in protest at the continued barring of around 1,000 bus workers from work who have been without pay for the past six weeks.  The workers were told that a decision will be made by 18 March.

The full list of 46 workers whose contracts have been terminated can be viewed here >>

15 March
Exactly one month after the international Action Day in solidarity with the Tehran bus workers, Global Unions send a joint letter of protest to the Iranian Government once again.  It condemns the continued arrest of the union leadership and the notice of dismissal to 46 Tehran bus workers that the company announced the previous day.  Click here to read the letter >>

The ITF/FES road transport workers' seminar held in Cairo on 12-14 March 2006 adopts a resolution in support of the Tehran bus workers.  Unions from Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Palestine, Tunisia and Yemen send their protest to the government of Iran.

18 March
Ebrahim Madadi, the union's Vice-President and a board member Yaghoub Salimi are released.

19 March
The remaining imprisoned activists with the exception of Mansour Osanloo and Afshin Bahrami, an auto worker who was arrested for supporting the bus strike, are released.

20 March
On the Iranian New Year's Day, Mansour Hayat Ghaibi has reportedly been re-arrested, less than 24 hours after he had been released from prison. 

10 April
Mansour Hayat Ghaibi is released.

27 April
The ITF Executive Board meeting unanimously accepts the application for affiliation from the Tehran Bus Workers' Union.

1 May
1,000 police and security forces surround the 250 bus workers who gather at the Tehran Bus Company for a May Day rally and arrest 13 members including the union's Vice-President.

Action Day Links

Australia

ASU: ASU calls for release of Iranian public transport workers from prison

MUA: MUA solidarity with imprisoned Iranian unionists

ACTU: International Day Of Action On Iran

Austria

OGB: Soziale Situation im Iran

Great Britain

UNISON: Unions to protest at Iranian embassy

Stop the War Coalition: Support Bus Workers' Strike in Iran

Norway

Norwegian Transport Workers' Union: Demonstrerte for iranske arbeidere

USA

Teamsters: Teamsters, Other Unions Demonstrate at Iranian Interest Section

ACILS: February 15: Day of Action for Iranian Bus Drivers