Iranian bus workers’ union wins award

17 October 2008

The Tehran bus workers’ union, whose president, Mansour Osanloo, remains in detention in an Iranian prison for defending trade union rights, has won a prestigious award to recognise its fight for social justice.

The SOLIDAR Silver Rose Award was presented to the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company at a ceremony on 15 October in the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium. Yussuf Mollaie, the union’s lawyer who received the award on their behalf said: "The unprecedented growth of the workers’ movement and the escalation of struggles over the last three years show that Iranian workers are aware of the solid support of the international community. When we raise our fists, we know that we are not alone. This award will strengthen our determination to continue and to broaden our struggles."

The ITF and the International Trade Union Confederation, as part of their campaign to promote workers’ rights in Iran, nominated the union and its imprisoned leader for the award.

The award highlights the achievements of exceptional people and organisations that dedicate their work to social justice and was launched in 2000 by SOLIDAR, a European network of social and economic justice non-governmental organisations.

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