Iran: justice for Iranian workers - global solidarity
action day, 26 June
Unite says support the call for the release
of jailed Iranian trade unionist
Join the protest at the Iranian Embassy in
London on Friday 26 June and make our voices heard!
Unite, together with the TUC and Amnesty
International, is supporting the Global Solidarity Action Day on
26th June which is part of the campaign for the release of jailed
Iranian trade unionists, and will be present at the Iranian Embassy
protest from 12.30 – 1.30 pm.
During the demonstration, 16,000 or more action postcards, sent
through Amnesty International, calling for the release of Mansour
Osanloo and other jailed Iranian trade unionists, will be delivered
to the Embassy, by Sally Hunt, TUC International Spokesperson and
David Cockcroft, General Secretary of the International Transport
Workers’ Federation (ITF).
The Embassy is in Knightsbridge (16 Prince’s Gate, London SW7
1PT) – map at http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?
A similar protest has been organised at the Monument, in
Newcastle-on-Tyne, so please support this if it is in your
area.
This campaign started out with the goal to fight for freedom for
Mansour Osanloo, jailed leader of the Tehran Bus Workers Union, and
Unite Transport Sector was at the forefront, working together with
the ITF and Amnesty International. Now, trade unionists from the
Tapeh Sugar Workers’ Union and from teachers’ trade unions have
been arrested and imprisoned for their union work.
Four global trade union organisations are calling upon their
affiliates to join a worldwide action day on 26th June 2009 to
demand justice for Iranian workers. The ITUC (International Trade
Union Confederation, EI (Education International), ITF
(International Transport Workers’ Federation) and IUF
(International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant,
Catering, Tobacco & Allied Workers’ Associations) are forming a
coalition for the event. Amnesty International is backing this
campaign.
Following the clamp down on the celebrations of the independent
workers’ organisations on 1st May this year, when scores of people
were arrested, the international trade union movement has
recognised that the struggle in support of fundamental labour and
trade union rights in Iran must be stepped up as the Islamic
Republic of Iran shows no sign of improving its record on workers’
rights.
Campaign Demands:
- The immediate and unconditional release of all imprisoned trade
unionists including Mansour Osanloo, Ebrahim Madadi and Farzad
Kamangar as well as the annulment of the recent one year prison
sentences for the 5 leaders of the Haft Tapeh Sugarworkers
Union.
- Unconditional recognition of all independent workers’
organisations in Iran and reinstatement of workers who have been
disadvantaged as a result of their support for these
organisations;
- Ratification of core ILO Conventions on freedom of association
and the right to collectively bargain by the Iranian
government;
- Conclusion of collective bargaining agreements between the
independent unions and the employers and reinstatement of unfairly
dismissed workers.
We call on Unite member to also support the Amnesty International
Urgent Action on behalf of four Iranian trade unionists and a
journalist – Jafar Azimbzadeh, Said Youzi, Kaveh Mozaffari,
Gholamreza Khani and Mehdi Farahani Shandiz) jailed after the May
Day demonstrations this year. Details of this protest are at
http://amnesty.org.uk/actions_details.asp?ActionID=613
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