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Iran – detentions remain while others released
22 March 2006
Global Unions have been asked to keep up pressure on the Iranian government to release trade unionists Mansoor Osanloo and Afshin Bahrami who are still in detention despite the release of the remaining unionists from the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company (Sherkat e Vahed) on 18 and 19 March. The releases coincided with the Iranian new year, celebrated on 20 March 2006. A number of prominent detained dissidents have also been released.
Those remaining in jail are Osanloo, the union President and Bahrami, a worker from the automotive industry who supported the Vahed workers. Osanloo’s wife was allowed to visit him last Saturday, 18 March.
According to the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, Mansour Hayat Ghaibi, a member of the union’s executive committee, has reportedly been re-arrested this Monday, 20 March 2006, less than 24 hours after he had been released from prison.
The detentions continue over a month after unions in up to 50 countries held an international day of action to protest against the mass arrests of striking bus workers in Iran. As a result, the vast majority of the detainees were released within days.
Meanwhile up to 1000 workers who took part in the strike have still not been able to return to their jobs. The ITF understands that the bus company issued formal dismissal notices to 46 of these workers on 9 March, while hundreds more workers are having their cases reviewed and may yet be dismissed for having participated in the strike.
Global Unions leaders, including ITF General Secretary David Cockroft, issued a second joint letter of protest to the Iranian government, to demand the release and reinstatement of all detained and sacked workers.
Referring to the demands of the bus workers for the recognition of the union and conclusion of the collective bargaining agreement, the letter states: “These demands are fully legitimate and are the fundamental rights of all workers. The Islamic Republic of Iran has acknowledged these fundamental rights when it became a member of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and by virtue of this membership, it is under a strict obligation to respect the principles of freedom of association and collective bargaining.”
The Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company was formed in 1968 but was disbanded by the authorities in the early 1980s. Instead, a Workers’ House and Islamic Labour Council were formed by the government and the company, which is now operated by the City of Tehran. Activists began to re-establish their independent union in 2003.
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