19 October 2007
Morocco
On 19 October, the road transport union, UMT organised a gathering for its members and distributed the "Free Osanloo" badges. A presentation was made about the situation in Iran and the challenges being faced by the union. At the end of the meeting, all participants signed a letter addressed to the Iranian President demanding the immediate and unconditional release of Mansour Osanloo and his colleagues. (Email report by Bilal Malkawi)
Thailand
The road transport unions in Thailand have continued their activities for the Action Week. On 18 October, a short ceremony was held to open a union exhibition at BMTA and its union's premises in Klongtoey District. Representatives from BMTA attended the event. Information about the Free Osanloo campaign was also presented to the meeting. On 19 October, BMTA-SWU together with LU-ETA and TRAN U, visited various BMTA depots in Bangkok to raise awareness of union members, workers and management on the ITF Action Week. Leaflets with the messages "Fatigue Kills!" and "Against Privatisation" were distributed and small rallies were held at each location. Informal dialogue between the union and management was also held at the last visit to the Suan Siam Depot. (Email report by Su-angcana Tungworachet)
West Africa sub-regional event
On 17-18 October, more than 150 activists and union leaders from Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Mali and Niger gathered at Zegoua on the border between Mali and Côte d'Ivoire to participate in the annual West Africa sub-regional celebration as part of the ITF Action Week. Nazi Kabore represented the ITF at the event. In the evening of 17 October, participants, local residents and drivers who had stopped at the border for the night watched the ITF film on HIV/AIDS, "Highway of Hope". The following morning, participants distributed leaflets to drivers at the border. The leaflets highlighted the unions' demands for better working and living conditions for road transport workers in the ECOWAS countries. They were drawn up at the ITF/SASK seminar held in Accra in June 2007 and included information on ITF anti-harassment procedures for the region. Contact information for local union representatives was also distributed to drivers. At 09:00, the event culminated with a rally. Speeches were made denouncing the police harassment that still occurs in Côte d'Ivoire and Mali. Unions in the two countries had prepared for the event with workshops on 15-17 October. (Email report by Nazi Kabore)
View photos of activities organised in West Africa >>
Australia
Bus workers of the Transport Workers' Union of Australia wore badges in support on Mansour Osanloo on 18 October. TWU members demonstrated their public support for the Iranian workers at press conferences in bus yards in Canberra and Wollongong. The Federal Member of Parliament, Sharon Bird attended the meeting in Wollongong and expressed her support for the campaign. Media coverage of the activity was good. (Email report by Daniel Kicuroski)
View photos of activities organised in Australia >>
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| Members of Teamsters and ILWU at the US/Canadian truck border crossing in Blaine | |
US / Canada
Despite torrential rain and wind, representatives from the Teamsters and ILWU locals in the US and Canada distributed leaflets on 18 October with the message "Better Pay - Safer Trucks - Cleaner Air - Booming Ports - Go Union!" and spoke to drivers as they crossed the US/Canadian truck border crossing in Blaine, Washington. The message of organising to raised standards received a positive response. (Report by Doug Henderson and Ron Carver)
