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2 October
The ITF received these messages after the announcement of the Solidar Award and the release of Gholamreza Gholamhosseini in September 2008:

"Thanks a lot for sharing this information with us.  We hope and pray that the Iranian government will one day come to its real senses and accordingly release comrade Osanloo from prison ..."   Read more >>

22 September
More than 1,700 truck drivers are on strike in southern Iran since 7 September. Trucks, which belong to the government, are parked on the roadsides between the cities of Andimeshk and Ahvaz. The drivers are demanding the elimination of the labour brokers and better road safety.

16 September
Gholamreza Gholamhosseini is released on bail from Evin prison after being detained for nearly three months.  Bail was set at 100,000,000 Toman (US$100,000).  Gholamhosseini will have to attend court again to face whatever charges are made against him.  (ITF News Online >>)

15 September
SOLIDAR, a European network of labour and social organisations recognised by the ILO, announces that Mansour Osanloo and the Tehran Bus Workers' Union are to receive their Silver Rose Award.  The Silver Rose Award recognises individuals and organisations whose struggle contributes greatly to social justice and equality throughout the world.  (ITF News Online >>)

13 September
According to reports, Mansour Osanloo is transferred to Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj City rather than being moved to hospital to receive treatment for his eye problems.

29 August
Ali Reza Saghafi is released. (ITF Press Release >>)

27 August
The ITF condemns the detention in Evin Prison of Iranian journalist Ali Reza Saghafi.  According to information received by the ITF, Ali Reza Saghafi presented himself to the Saba Street office of the judicial authorities in Tehran on August 26 at 11:00 after being told to report to the authorities.  He then effectively disappeared and his family were left without any information about where he was and what had happened to him until today.  (ITF Press Release >>)

14 August
Education International (EI) releases its Urgent Action Appeal in its efforts to stop the executiion of teacher unionist Farzad Kamagar. (Education International >>)

LabourStart launches its Act NOW! campaign to protest the intensified repression against labour activists in Iran including whipping sentences and executions.  Farzad Kamangar is one of the cases highlighted in this campaign (LabourStart >>)

10 August
The Supreme Court of Employment rejects an appeal for return to work by nine bus workers who had still not been reinstated after they were dismissed by the company in 2006.  Only two workers - Nemat Amirkhani and Ebrahim Madadi - receive letters stating that the verdict was falsified and the plaintiif should be referred back to the Tehran east employment branch.  The nine dismissed bus workers are Saeed Torabian, Vahab Mohammadi, Seyedreza Nematipoor, Ata Babakhani, Soltanali Shekari, Amir Takhiri, Davood Razavi, Aliakbar Pirhadi and Reza Fazeli.

1 August
A local protest is held in Kamiram city to demand the release of Farzad Kamangar.

Benito Bahena (ATM, Mexico) and Antonio Fritz, ITF Inter-AMerican Regional Secretary, meet with the Iranian Ambassador in Mexico City to brief the Free Osanloo campaign and demand his immediate release.

29-30 July
The ITF Asia/Pacific Road Transport Meeting held in Tokyo unanimously adopts a motion in solidarity with the Iranian workers and demanding their basic trade union rights.

20 July
ITF affiliates in Turkey organise a rally and a joint press conference in front of the Iranian Embassy in Ankara at 12:00 to demand the release of Mansour Osanloo and to highlight that union rights should be respected in Iran and in Turkey.  100 union activists from BTS, TUMTIS, HAVA-IS and DADDER marched to the Embassy, where a black wreath was laid.

18 July
Amnesty International reports that Iranian Kurdish human rights defender Farhad Haji Mirza'i is being held in Tehran's Evin Prison and is believed to have been mentally and physically tortured.  Amnesty believes that he may be a prisoner of conscience, held solely on account of his peaceful activism in defence of human rights.

14 July
The CAW sends a letter to the Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran demanding the immediate release of Mansour Osanloo >>

12 July
It is reported that in Rasht, twelve intelligence forces attack the house of the head of the Iranian Teachers Trade Associations, where a meeting of the Central Body of the Coordinating Council of the Associations was being held.  The attack takes place at 11:00 local time, on the second day of the meeting.  Participants at the meeting are beaten and insulted by members of the intelligence forces.  According to reports nobody is arrested.

11 July
The Court demands a US$150,000 bail from the family of Gholamreza Gholamhosseini as a condition for his release.  His family are unable to pay this amount.

The Supreme Court of Iran approves the execution of Farzad Kamagar, a 33-year old Kurdish teacher and trade unionist. (Education International >>)

10 July
On the anniversary of the violent arrest of Mansour Osanloo the ITF, ITUC and Amnesty International release a statement demanding the release of Osanloo and calling for solidarity with all Iranian workers.(ITF Press Release >>)

9 July
The ITF receives a report that Osanloo may have been diverted from a pre-arranged hospital appointment and instead taken to court for a further arraignment.

24 June
Gholamreza Gholamhosseini, a member of the Vahed Syndicate Executive Board, is arrested by police in Tehran while visiting Shirodi Stadium, where an event to mark Iran's Women's Day was taking place.  He is sent to Evin Prison the following day.  (ITF News Online story >>)

18 June
Osanloo is transferred from Labafinejad hospital to a medical centre in Evin prison.

The first Founders Board of the Syndicate of the Workers of Haft Tapeh Sugar Cane is established.  The Vahed Syndicate sends a message of solidarity to the workers >>


31 May
Osanloo receives his third eye surgery in Tehran.  According to reports, Osanloo is taken to hospital in handcuffs and after his operation is watched over by four guards, one of whom is armed.

15 May
The union holds Chehelom in memory of Janek Kuczkiewicz.  This is a religious ceremony that takes place 40 days after a death.

14 May 1 May

6 March - Global Action Day in solidarity with workers in Iran

Headlines from Breaking News 1-7
* Action Day in Iran
* Rally in Toronto
* Gatherings in Basra and Palestine
* Embassy visits in Lisbon, Oslo and Seoul
* Solidarity from oil, rail and inland waterway workers
* Unions from Middle East and North Africa join the Action Day
* FNV awards Febe Elisabeth Velasquez Prize to Osanloo
* Nationwide actions in Belgium and Great Britain
* More embassy protests; Amman, Casablanca, Bangkok, Berlin and London
* Picket in Vilnius
* Protest Letter in Romania
* Embassy visit in Moscow
* Meeting with Iranian shipping company in Hamburg
* Information campaign in Denmark
* Demonstrations in Delhi and Brussels
* Global Unions delegation visits Iranian Mission in Geneva
* Rail workers from Belgium, France, Germany and Luxembourg express their solidarity
* 45,000 leaflets distributed in Japan
* Visit to Embassy in Tokyo
* Rally in Lahore
* Protest letters in Ethiopia
* Protest in Jakarta and Sydney
* Leafleting in Hong Kong
* Solidarity message by MUA crew members
* Protest in Kiev and Wellington
* Australian Foreign Minister statement

For more information about the 6 March Action Day, click here >>

5 March
CAWs Take Action Now! >>

ITF Worldwide Update (3) >>

ITF media releases
* Mass support for Osanloo release: UK events >>
* World support for Osanloo release >>
* ITF puts spotlight on Iranian ships in defence of jailed union leader >>

Joint message by the ITUC, ITF and Amnesty International >>
(français) (español) (Arabic) (Farsi)

Leaflet by ACV-Transcom >>

Protest letter by CFDT, CGT Transports, CGT Cheminots and FO, France >>

Statement by the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia >>

Protest letter by the Maritime Union of New Zealand >>

New Zealand unions media release >>

Protest letter by the AFL-CIO >>

Posters by Australian unions >> (poster 1) >> (poster 2)

Teamsters Canada lobbies parliamentarians >>

BWI web story >>

RMT confirms leafleting on 6 March, together with the TUC and other transport unions, at several stations in Great Britain from 07:30-09:00 >>

2 March
The ITF releases the Worldwide Update with action plans from 34 countries for 6 March >>

28 February
ITF Inspectors in the port of Antwerp (Belgium) visit an Iranian ship to deliver the ITF message.

27 February
The ITF Inspector in the port of Bunbury (Australia) visits an Iranian ship to deliver the ITF message.

The ITF Inspector in the port of Nordenham (Germany) sends the ITF message to an Iranian vessel due to visit the port.

24 February
Mansour Osanloo is taken to a hospital for a medical check on his left eye.

22 February
The ITF Inspector in the port of Kaohsiung (Taiwan) visits an Iranian ship to deliver the ITF message.

19 February
ITF Inspectors in the ports of Muuga (Estonia), Le Havre (France) and Incheon (Korea) visit Iranian ships to deliver the ITF message.

16 February
The ITF Inspector in the port of Cochin (India) visits an Iranian ship to deliver the ITF message.

15 February
The ITF Inspector in the port of Felixstowe (UK) visits an Iranian ship to deliver the ITF message.

13 February
LabourStart launches its online petition demanding the release of Mansour Osanloo and Mahmoud Salehi >>

12 February
The ITF Tokyo Office, together with Rengo and Koun Rokyo holds a conference on workers' rights.  110 participants from ITF affiliates, UNI as well as human rights organisations including Amnesty International discuss the ITF's campaigns in Iran, Guatemala and Burma.

9 February
The ITF Inspector in the port of Gladstone (Australia) visits an Iranian ship to deliver the ITF message.

8 February
Japanese public transport union, Shitetsu Soren, features the Iran Campaign on its web news >>

ITF FOC Coordinator, Joris De Hert organises the "I'm wearing the badge!" photo session in Antwerp >>

TUC, RMT, ASLEF, T&G Section of UNITE, UNISON, GMB, ITF and Amnesty International UK Section meet to plan the Action Day on 6 March.

7 February
ITF releases its media statement on the joint ITUC/ITF Action Day, 6 March 2008, in solidarity with the Iran workers >>

ITF shows the campaign film, Freedom Will Come, to the maritime members of the Swedish Transport Workers' Union.

6 February
Indonesian Seafarers' Union (KPI) "asks President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to cancel a planned visit to Iran because of what it said was Tehran's suppression of labor unions and human rights" says the Jakarta Post >>

5 February
ITF FOC Coordinators watch the campaign film, Freedom Will Come, at their meeting in London and pledge their solidarity and support to the Iran Campaign.

2 February
Mansour Osanloo is sent back to Evin Prison despite the doctors' recommendation for adequate treatment at hospital (see also 24 January).

1 February
Maritime journal "Tradewinds" reports that Iranian owners are shunning their national flag and placing their ships in the Maltese and Cypriot registers in an effort to secure financing from international banks.  It includes Iran's top owners, the National Iranian Tanker Co (NITC) and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL).

28 January
The Dutch trade union federation FNV informs the ITF that Mansour Osanloo has won their Febe Elizabeth Velasquez Trade Union Award 2007.  Each year, the FNV honours those who have defended union rights under difficult circumstances and at their personal risk.

In its resolution, the Presidency of the European Union calls upon the Iranian authorities to put an end to all acts of harassment against all Iranian human rights defenders >>

24 January
Mansour Osanloo receives a second surgery on his left eye at a hospital outside of Evin Prison >>

22 January
The Tehran Bus Workers' Union sends a message of solidarity to the ITF Urban Transport Committee meeting held in the Netherlands.  The ITF organises the film show and delegates wear the Free Osanloo badge during the meeting.  The meeting resolves to organise a worldwide action day in March to support the workers' movement in Iran.

21 January
Judge Mohamedi dismisses the doctors' request to release Mansour Osanloo from jail for 45 days for medical treatment.  He says that the family has to pay an impossible amount of 1 billion Toman as bail.

Chiako Gharbehi and Mehrdad Amin Vaziri are detained by the police.  They are members of the Committee in Defense of Mahmoud Salehi.  Their charge was taking photographs of Mahmoud Salehi at hospital.  They are released the following day.

The Austrian transport union, VIDA, sends a letter to the European Parliament to request further promotion of workers' rights in Iran >>

The Haft Tapeh Sugar Cane Company workers issue a statement on their decision to form an independent organisation after their successful strike action in 2007.  The first step is to create a founding committee which will organise a general assembly of workers.

17 January
Mahmoud Salehi is taken from the prison's medical clinic to Tohid Hospital's emergency unit.

Iran Labour Rights Watch reports that Alireza Hashemi, General Secretary of the Teachers Organisation in Iran is sentenced to three years in jail >>

15 January 
New Internationalist magazine - which has campaigned for global justice for 30 years - has awarded a human rights gold medal to the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company (Sherkat-e Vahed) and its members, including its imprisoned leader, Mansour Osanloo.
www.newint.org
 
14 January
A question is raised in the House of Commons, UK about Mahmoud Salehi's health conditions. www.publications.parliament.uk

The Deputy Chair of the Parliament of Venezuela writes to the Iranian Ambassodor to Venezuela, urging the Iranian government to resolve the cases of Mahmoud Salehi and Mansour Osanloo.
 
The Mexican public transport union (ATM) leader requests the Iranian Ambassodor to Mexico to meet and discuss the cases of Salehi and Osanloo. He is also the president of Mexico/Iran Friendship Association.
 
The UK public services union, UNISON is circulating its request for Urgent Action on Iran to all its branches (1,200) with a link to the Amnesty hosted email action.
www.unison.org.uk/international/pages_view.asp?did=6304

14-15 January
ITF civil aviation unions express solidarity and support to the Free Osanloo Campaign at a meeting in Cairo.

10 January
The ITF releases pictures of Mansour Osanloo taken on 1 January when he made a day visit to the hospital for treatment on his eye.

9 January
Mahmoud Salehi is transferred to the Tohid Hospital for medical tests from Sanandaj's Central Prison. He is, however, taken back to jail on the following day. 

We have been informed by our affiliate, KPI in Indonesia that President Yudhoyono is to postpone his official visit to Iran until February after the mass protest by ITF unions on 3 January over Iran's violation of trade union and human rights.

The T&G Section of Unite Branch 6/680 in Liverpool shows the "Freedom will come" film and expresses solidarity with the Iranian workers.

8 January
The T&G Section of Unite (Passenger Transport Group) shows the ITF promotional film at its national meeting.  More film shows will now be organised by the delegates with possible contacts in the UK Muslim community.

The union reports an "unexpected meeting" on its webpage.  It says that Yagoub Salimi, a member of the Executive Board was at a clergy group's meeting in the old building of the Islamic Council Parliament where he talked to the President of Iran personally and asked him to solve the problems of dismissed bus workers >>

7 January
Human Rights Watch releases its report, "You Can Detain Anyone for Anything: Iran's Broadening Clampdown on Independent Activism", criticising the Iranian government relying on its broadly worded 'security laws' to suppress virtually any public expression of dissent >>

5 January
ISNA reports that Ebrahim Madadi is now charged with 'obstruction of public order'.  He was summoned to the Revolutionary Court on the previous day.  It is believed that this is related to the incident on 3 July 2007 when he was detained for one night by the Bharestan station police for alleged 'public disorder'.  He was arrested upon his regular visit to the Western Tehran Labour Department to discuss the dismissal of 40 workers.

3 January
500 activists rally in front of the Presidential Palace in Jakarta. Organised by the ITF Indonesian Coordinating Committee prior to the official visit to Iran by President Yudhoyono, the unions demand the Indonesian government to raise the cases of Mahmoud Salehi and Mansour Osanloo with the Iranian authorities.

1 January 2008
Members of the union's Executive Board greet Osanloo at the hospital where he was making a day-visit for treatment on his eye.
 
A group of doctors is making a recommendation to the court that Osanloo be given proper medical treatment outside of jail for at least three months. They are now waiting for the response from judge Hadad.
 
27 December 2007
Four labour activists, Ebrahim Gohari, Mohsen Hakimi, Alireza Asghari and Hossein Gholami are released on bail. They were arrested on 14 December at the Chitgar Park in Tehran.

The Australian union, ASU sends its protest letter to the Iranian government >>
 
21 December
Mansour Osanloo is visited by his mother in prison. He complains of a kidney problem.
 
The ITF Indonesian Coordinating Committee delivers a letter to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Campaigning for the release of Mahmoud Salehi and Mansour Osanloo, they request President Yudhoyono's intervention during his official visit to Iran from 11 January 2008.
www.thejakartapost.com

The Seafarers and Maritime Workers' Union of Western Russia sends its protest letter to the Iranian government >>
 
20 December
Education International (EI) reports that nine teachers were sentenced to 91 days imprisonment on 14 December by a criminal court in the province of Hamadan. Ali Sadeghi, Yousef Zareie, Majid Fourouzanfar, Jalal Naderi, Yousef Refahiyat, Hadi Gholami, Nader Ghadimi, Ali Najafi, Mahmood Jalilian are charged with "disturbing social order, issuing announcements and holding illegal gatherings".
www.ei-ie.org
 
19 December
The ITF and ITUC send a joint letter to the Iranian authorities to demand urgent medical treatment for Mahmoud Salehi.
 
Many unions around the world respond immediately. They include the Canadian Merchant Service Guild; AKT, Finland; the State Railway Workers' Union of Thailand (SRUT); Teamsters Canada; Trades Union Congress (TUC), UK; the T&G section of Unite Grampian and Northern Isles District Committee, UK; the Seafarers' Union of Croatia; the Indonesian Seafarers' Union (KPI); ACV-CSC Transcom, Belgium; the General Federation of Jordanian Trade Unions; SYTRACOM, Democratic Republic of Congo.

18 December
Amnesty International starts its Urgent Action for Mahmoud Salehi.
[visit amnesty.org.uk  external site]

16 December
Ebrahim Madadi, the Vice-President of the union is released.
 
16 December
The Painters Union leader, Reza Dehgan, is released from Evin Prison.

14 December
Four activists are arrested at the Chitgar Park in Tehran as they participate in a social gathering.

12-14 December
The ITUC General Council Meeting held in Washington DC adopts a resolution to step up the internationally coordinated action with the independent Iranian trade union movement. www.ituc-csi.org/IMG/pdf/3GC_E_15_c_-_Resolution_on_Iran.pdf

11 December
The ITF Asia/Pacific Railway Section Meeting in Jakarta resolves to support the Free Osanloo Campaign. The delegates from Australia, India, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, Malaysia, Mongolia and Thailand wear the campaign badge and visits the Iranian Embassy in protest.

Mahmoud Salehi is taken to the Tohid Hospital in Sanandaj for the second time in a week. This time, he was unconscious and his blood pressure is very unstable. 

7 December
The visiting delegation from the European Parliament meets with trade unionists and the families of the arrested union leaders in Tehran.

6 December
The ITF organises a "Free Osanloo" film show in Sydney for union representatives from AMWU, ASU, MUA, RTBU and TWU.  The meeting agrees to set-up a solidarity committee in Australia.  The film show also takes place simultaneously in Melbourne for the members of the Victoria Trades Council.  The meeting adopts a resolution in solidarity with the Iranian workers' movement >>

5 December
The ITF "Free Osanloo" film is shown in Hobart, Tasmania at the RTBU national conference.  The delegates wear the Free Osanloo badge and adopt a resolution in solidarity with the Tehran Bus Workers' Union.

4 December
Charges against Sayed Davood Razavi relating to his arrest on 9 August are dropped by the Court.

30 November
One of the dismissed bus workers, Nemat Amir Khani is granted the right to resume his job by the Supreme Court.

Mansour Osanloo complains of a hernia problem.

29 November
The ITF "Free Osanloo" film is shown in Tunisia to the railway unions from Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia.

The ITF and ITUC submit additional information to the ILO's Freedom of Association Committee.  They also write to the ILO to request that the union and its leaders in prison are properly represented by lawyers.

27 November
The union lawyers, Parviz Khorshid and Dr. Yousef Mowlaie, submit their resignations to the Court.  They will no longer represent the union.

25 November
Hospital Employees' Union, CUPE, Canada sends a protest letter to the Iranian President >>

23 November
The Tehran Bus Workers' Union send a message of solidarity to the French transport workers (Farsi >>) (French >>)

22 November
Ver.di organises the Free Osanloo film show in Borken to officers responsible for the urban transport sector in the Nordrhein Westfalen region.

21 November
The Belgian union, BTB sends a protest letter to the Foreign Affairs Minister in Brussels >> (French >>)

19 November
The British union, T&G Section of UNITE sends a protest letter to the Iranian government >>

18 November
Reza Dehghan, Union of the Painters (Sandicika Nagash) is arrested.  He is summoned by court and then taken to Evin prison.

16 November
The ITF Dockers' Section Steering Committee resolves to support the Free Osanloo Campaign.

15 November
Mansour Osanloo is moved from Ward 209 to Ward 7 in Evin prison.  On the same day, he is taken briefly to Basir Hospital for his eye check-up.

Gorban Alipour, the Haftapeh Sugar Factory spokesperson is released on a US$10,000 bail >> (Iran Labour Rights Watch)

10 November
The General Union of Transport Workers of Palestine sends its message of solidarity to the Tehran Bus Workers' Union >>

8 November
Early Day Motion in the UK House of Commons condemns attacks on Iranian unionists >>

7 November
Haft Tapeh workers go on a shift strike following another arrest of a workers' representative >> (Iran Labour Rights Watch)

6 November
Homa News in Iran reports that bus drivers in Busheher, Southern Iran, have not received their wages for the last two months.

The ITF's European arm, the European Transport Workers' Federation (ETF) lobbies the members of the European Parliament >>

1 November
Teamsters Canada demonstrates solidarity at Parliament Hill >>

30 October
The ITF condemns the announcement of Mansour Osanloo's sentence >>

29 October
A question is raised in the House of Commons, UK about Mansour Osanloo's health conditions >>

26 October
The ITF Executive Board meeting held in Tunis adopts an emergency resolution demanding the immediate and unconditional release of Mansour Osanloo, Ebrahim Madadi and Mahmoud Salehi >>

An ILO mission, led by Cleo Doumbia-Henry, to investigate the compliance of ILO Conventions 95 and 111, visited Tehran from 26 October.  While in Tehran, she raised the issue of Osanloo's continued imprisonment which appeared to be in relation to trade union activities as well as his state of health with the Deputy Minister of Labour, the Deputy Minister of Parliamentary and International Affaris and the Deputy Minister of Justice and requested permission to visit him.  While informed that the government had no objection to such a visit, the judge concerned declined to allow a visit, citing Osanloo's health condition as the main reason.  The mission was, however, given assurances by the government that he was now receiving proper medical treatment.

25 October
Mansour Osanloo is sent back to Evin Prison and enters its medical centre.

23 October
The European Parliament resolution on Iran calls on the United Nations and the UN Human Rights Council to resume the monitoring of the human rights situation in Iran and re-appoint a Special Rapporteur for this purpose >>

20 October
ITF Press Release: Mansour Osanloo receives emergency eye treatment >>

17 October
Amnesty International launches an emergency petition to demand medical treatment for Mansour Osanloo and Mahmoud Salehi >>

UK union, RMT sends a protest letter to the Iranian government >>

16 October
The ITF launches the film "Freedom will come - the story of Mansour Osanloo" >>

15-21 October
I'm wearing the badge! Bus workers worldwide wear the "Free Osanloo" badge during the ITF Action Week.  An European protest rally is held in front of the Iranian Embassy in Brussels >>

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ITF Press Releases >>
ITF News Online >>

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