Reflections: On International Labour Day, 1 May 2007
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Following his participation in a May Day rally in Tehran, Iranian trade union leader Mansour Osanloo, pictured centre, left, was assaulted by unidentified men who made a thwarted attempt to arrest him.
Osanloo, who has twice been imprisoned in the last year and a half (the first time for eight months) as a result of his union activities, suffered a shoulder injury during the incident. However, he succeeded in resisting arrest with the assistance of passers-by and union colleagues, who helped free him from his attackers. No warrant was presented for the attempted arrest, though it is claimed the men were acting under orders from a commanding officer of the security forces.
Osanloo is currently awaiting the verdict of a court hearing at which he was charged with “propaganda against the system and taking action against national security”.
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Celebrations in Uganda
Our union successfully organised Labour Day celebrations at Peniel Beach in Entebbe. The chief guest was the mayor of Entebbe, Steven Kabuye.
The celebrations began at about 10.30 am with a workers’ parade at the Muzinga Park opposite Entebbe Municipal Council Hall. Many of our union members and workers from sister unions and associations in and around Kampala and Entebbe joined in the parade.
There were delegations of workers from nine sister unions and three associations of transport workers. The secretary general of the National Organisation of Trade Unions (NOTU) and the five Workers’ Members of Parliament sent representatives with solidarity messages to the function.
Employers’ representatives from the various companies were present at the occasion and delivered a joint message of encouragement and solidarity to the workers and their union.
A celebration function close to the airport at Entebbe was organised by the union with financial support from a number of companies. This provided an opportunity for workers from different organisations to interact freely.
On the eve of the Labour Day, there was a radio talk show on one of the local language FM radio stations, discussing the trade union movement and the organising strategies of ATGWU. On the day itself, both print and electronic media organisations covered the event.
This is the first time that a national union has organised and hosted Labour Day celebrations in the recent history of Uganda. The ATGWU will continue organising such celebrations and taking them to the workers at their workplaces.
-Romano Oijambo-Ochieng, general secretary, Amalgamated Transport and General Workers’ Union of Uganda
Call for unity in Nepal
I would like to inform you about the 118th May Day celebration here in Kathmandu. Nine trade union centres jointly organised a massive rally and meeting, which was addressed by speakers including the minister for labour and transport, Ramesh Leekhak and Laxman Basnet, president of the Nepal Trade Union Congress and a member of the governing body of the International Labour Organization (ILO).
Workers attending the rally called for a single trade union voice to represent them on issues of common concern. Our union also organised a range of other celebrations around the country. These included a vehicle rally in Surkhet district, a blood donation programme in Biratnagar City and fruit distribution at a hospital in Chitwan.
-Ajay Kumar Rai, president, Nepal Yatayat Mazdoor Sangh (NETWON)
Have your say
If you have a trade union experience or view to share with TI readers, please send your brief comments to parris_kay@itf.org.uk. Letters may be edited.
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