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Action Day impacts inside Iran

30 June 2009

Independent unions in Iran have reacted positively to protests for freedom in Iran that were held worldwide on 26 June, in which trade unionists and human rights activists from over forty countries took part.

Twenty-six independent unions and other Iranian workers' organisations released a statement in conjunction with the Action Day expressing appreciation for this solidarity.

The ITF was told that inside Iran, activists used the Internet to watch the list of participating countries grow longer and longer by the hour, and that this support left them feeling encouraged.

Reports from the events worldwide reported heightened sensitivity at Iranian embassies however, many of which refused to receive visitors bearing letters or petitions.

Directly before the 26 June Action Day, all except one of the trade unionists arrested during earlier May Day protests were released. However, Tehran's independent bus union leaders Mansour Osanloo and Ebrahim Madadi are still detained along with education worker, Farzad Kamangar. Dozens of journalists are also behind bars in the wake of recent political unrest in Iran.

The action day, organised by the ITF together with the ITUC (International Trade Union Confederation), EI (Education International), and IUF (International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Associations) drew attention to Iranian workers' rights and to human rights; it also focused trade union concerns over the current political crisis, following presidential elections in Iran. Amnesty International (AI) backed the action.

Rallies and protests involving ITF affiliated unions took place in New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand, India, Morocco, Austria, Belgium, Italy, Turkey, United Kingdom, Norway and Canada, among others. A rally in Toronto saw a turnout of well over 1,000 people.

AI was responsible for initiatives in other countries including Czech Republic and in Denmark.

For an ITF video covering the Action Day go to Youtube
For photos posted by participants visit Flickr
For more news about the event go to www.justiceforiranianworkers.org

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