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International day of action to free Iranian trade unionists
9 August 2007
Transport workers across the world took part in a day of action to demand the release of two trade union leaders who currently remain imprisoned in Iran.
The international day of action was called jointly by the ITF and the International Trade Union Confederation to call for the release of Mansour Osanloo, President of the Tehran Bus Workers’ Union, and Mahmoud Salehi, a founding member of the Saqez Bakery Workers’ Association and of the Coordinating Committee to Form Workers’ Organisations.
Osanloo has been subjected to years of repression at the hands of the Iranian government and his health has suffered as a consequence. This latest spate of imprisonment has left him without medication or legal representation – his family, doctor and lawyer have all been prevented from seeing him. Meanwhile, Mahmoud Salehi is also being held in detention and there are reports that his health is also suffering.
Addressing protestors at the UK rally, which took place outside the Iranian embassy in London earlier today, ITF General Secretary David Cockroft commented: “We are determined to ensure that all those seeking to defend simple trade union rights are given proper freedom. These are freedoms that are outlined in international standards that Iran has accepted by being a member of the International Labour Organization.”
“The way that Osanloo and Salehi have been treated goes against all these international standards.”
Cockroft later presented the Iranian embassy with a petition demanding the trade unionists’ release.
Protests were also held today in Algeria, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Canada, Egypt, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Indonesia, Iran, Finland, Japan, Jordan, Malaysia, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Palestine, Panama, Romania, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Tunisia, Trinidad, the USA and Yemen.
Since the day of action, reports have been received that the Iranian government has arrested five executive board members of the bus workers’ union. It is also believed that state security agents have been positioned at Osanloo’s house, threatening union members who planned to stage a rally to call for his release.
Commenting on the arrests, Cockroft said: “These arrests prove more than anything that the Iranian government is concerned about the international support that Osanloo and Salehi are receiving.”
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