Support Our Fellow Workers

international | worker & community struggles and protests | press release Wednesday November 14, 2007 09:06 by John - Hands Off the People of Iran - HOPI

Trade unionists and activists across the world are calling for the immediate release of bus workers jailed in Iran.

Workers employed by the United Bus Company of Tehran (Sharekat-e Vahed) were arrested and detained in Evin prison in an attempt to prevent a strike. The workers are demanding a pay rise, collective bargaining, recognition of their union and the release of their union’s president. 12 leading members of the Union of Workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company were arrested following their fight for better pay and working conditions. After their arrest, 3,000 bus workers staged a walkout in protest. Police responded by making further arrests.

All those detained were released except for Mansour Ossanlou, the union’s president. Calls for his release continued, with almost 5,000 union members gathering outside the Azadi stadium in protest. Six members of the union executive were summoned to court following the union’s call for an all-out strike on 28 to demand the release of Ossanlou. They were interrogated then sent to Evin for their refusal to cancel the strike. On the eve of the strike, the state arrested hundreds of workers as a preventive measure. Nevertheless many gathered the following day. They were attacked, rounded up and also sent to Evin. Family members, students and activists supporting the strike were also arrested. The workers are courageously struggling on. Family members and supporters staged a protest outside the Iranian parliament calling for the immediate release of all those imprisoned. The action was successful in getting 200 workers released. But hundreds are still in custody and two other union executive members have now been detained. And those released have been refused reinstatement by the bus company.

The bus driver’s union was formed in 1968 and played an important role in the 1979 revolution. In the early 1980s it was disbanded by the state in order to crush its militancy. In 2004 it was reactivated, but is still not legally recognised. The strike is a sign of the new mood developing inside the Iranian working class, defying not only the bosses, but also government officials.

The struggle of Iranian workers has the potential to gather broader forces around it in the fight for democracy and social justice. Students and women’s rights activists have been at the forefront of the pro-democracy movement that developed from the mid-1990s. But that potential is being strangled by the US’s sabre rattling against Iran. Regime hardliners have capitalised on the US threat of war to rally support and to quell any opposition. Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s election campaign was centred on his promise to redistribute the country’s oil wealth to the poor. Unable to deliver on this, he increasingly relies on an anti-Western and anti-Israeli rhetoric to strengthen his hand against other factions of the regime. This is why activists in Iran are facing two challenges. On the one hand they are fighting to enhance the lives of ordinary people.

What can workers do in solidarity:

1. Please deposit your financial support to the account number of 732280 at Meli Bank of Iran, Branch of Tehran Nou, Branch Code 134, under the names of Ebrahim Madadi, Davoud Razavi and Naser Gholami from any branches of Meli Bank . You can also support us directly and get the Syndicate’s receipt.
Address: P.O.Box 4557-111 Syndicate of Workers of the Tehran and Suburban Bus (Vahed) Company,
Email Address: syndica_vahed@yahoo.com and syndicavahed@gmail.com
This bank account has been suspended. Please see this comment for details of how to transfer money
2. Send messages of solidarity to above address.

3. Send messages of complaint to Iranian Embassy:
Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran
72 Mount Merrion Avenue
Blackrock
Co. Dublin
Tel: 01 288 0252 /01 288 5881
Fax: 01 283 4246
Email: iranemb@indigo.ie

Published by HOPI
Hands Off The People Of Iran fights against the threat of any imperialist intervention, war or sanctions against Iran. It looks to build active, practical solidarity with grass-roots radical secular forces in Iran, the militant women’s, workers and students movements. We want regime change, both in Iran and in the imperialist countries. But we know that change must come from below - from the struggles of the working class and social movements - if it is to lead to genuine liberation. Our campaign demands are:
• No to imperialist war!
• No to the theocratic regime!
• The immediate and unconditional withdrawal of US/UK troops from the Gulf region!
• Opposition to Israeli expansionism and aggression!
• Support to all working class and progressive struggles in Iran against poverty and repression!
• Support for socialism, democracy and workers' control in Iran!
• For a nuclear-free Middle East as a step towards a nuclear-free world!

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