News online
Unions stage international protest against Iran repression
16 February 2006
 |  |
| Demonstrators in Thailand take to the streets | |
Union representatives from around the world yesterday condemned the violent treatment meted out to trade unionists in Iran, in a government bid to crush the country’s first independent trade union for 20 years.
Unions across the world staged their protest in response to a call by Global Unions for worldwide action against the detentions in Tehran of workers of the Sandikaye Kargarane Sherkate Vahed, the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company union. Thirteen hundred were arrested during a strike on 28 January – teargas and batons were used against them. They were protesting against the imprisonment of the union’s leader Mansour Osanloo on 22 December last year on trumped up charges. Most were released on 12 February, with the exception of the union’s executive committee, three of whom were released on 13 February; a further seven, yesterday. Eight committee members, including Osanloo, remain imprisoned.
Road transport unions in Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco, the petrochemical union in Jordan, as well as the rail workers’ and maritime workers’ unions, also in Tunisia, all held actions. In Iraq members of the General Federation of Iraqi Workers delivered a letter of protest and demonstrated in front of the Iranian embassy in Baghdad.
Actions were also organised by unions in countries such as Austria, Australia, Canada, India, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Philippines, Russia, Thailand, the UK and US.
Additionally, the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, Union Network International and Public Service International made a joint representation to the Iranian embassy in Geneva, Switzerland.
Commenting at the UK rally in London, ITF Assistant Inland Section Secretary Eddie Dickson said: “When workers are prepared to face the might of the state to obtain organising rights, it is the responsibility of unions worldwide to support them. I am pleased with the international solidarity of transport workers with their Iranian colleagues.”
Back to current news online stories
