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Striking Iranian Bus Drivers Jailed

 
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PostPosted: Tue Feb 07, 2006 11:43 am    Post subject: Striking Iranian Bus Drivers Jailed Reply with quote

Striking Iranian Bus Drivers Jailed
Niusha Boghrati, Prague, Czech Republic, February 6, 2006

http://www.worldpress.org/Mideast/2259.cfm



Buses and other traffic in Tehran (Photo: Iran Daily)

Human Rights Watch condemned the recent incarceration of hundreds of bus drivers in Tehran and called on the Iranian government to release them immediately.

Approximately 500 drivers, bus organization workers and union organizers were arrested by the Iranian police on Jan. 28, and remain in detention.

The detainees were arrested after organizing a strike to protest the imprisoning of the Union of Workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company's director, Mansour Ossanlu, and to demand recognition of union activities by the Iranian authorities.

This was the second time in less than two months that the bus drivers decided to strike. The first strike occurred in early Dec. 2005, organized by Ossanlu. On Dec. 22, shortly after the strike, he was arrested at his home.

The reason for the first strike was the Iranian government's refusal to recognize the bus union's rights. The regime has refused to recognize the legitimacy of such unions.

More than 40 days have passed since Ossanlu's arrest and he remains in the highly notorious Evin prison in Tehran without any official charges being leveled against him or permission to meet with his advocate.

The unhealthy conditions under which Ossanlu is being held, particularly given a serious eye condition that requires immediate medical care, added to the demands of the bus union and resulted in another strike across the city of Tehran during the past week. This strike, however, was crushed by the police through mass arrests.

Trampling on workers' rights

"Iran's new government boasts of representing the interests of working men and women. Their violent crack down on the bus workers' union makes these words ring hollow," said Sarah Leah Whitson, executive director of the Middle East and North Africa division at Human Rights Watch.

Gholamreza Mirzaii, the union's spokesman, stated that their requests are plain and simple:

1. Freedom for all the detainees
2. Freedom for union activities
3. The signing of an authentic agreement between union representatives and the ministry of labor

According to Article 26 of the Iranian constitution, the government is obligated to guarantee freedom of association, "including the right to form and join trade unions."

The most shocking of the violent actions by the Iranian authorities came when the police arrested the wives and children of some union activists, using them as bait to capture the strike organizers. Many of the wives were subject to physical violence during this time, as reported in many media outlets outside of Iran.

"Although we have firmly stated and clarified that our demands and actions are not political, we have suffered from political labels directed at us by the regime. We have been tolerant of all the injustice applied to us, but beating our children and their mothers, and intimidating them is one thing we will no longer stand," Mirzaii said.

The union announced a one-day strike last Friday to protest the detentions.

Mirzaii, who has already been called by the Revolutionary Court of Iran, is in danger of being arrested has said he will start a hunger strike as soon as he is captured.

"I will neither eat nor drink, until the release of all my colleagues," he declared.

Hunger strikes

Iranian prisons have witnessed a large number of hunger strikes, the most well-known being that of Akbar Ganji, the Iranian journalist who revealed details about a series of murders victimizing journalists and political reformists, directed by Iran's intelligence services about seven years ago. Ganji suffered through a serious health crisis after a long, 80-day hunger strike while imprisoned in Tehran, but his condition has not engendered any flexibility from the judicial system.

Eight other prisoners in Karaj's Rajaee Shahr prison, all jailed on political charges, have also undertaken long hunger strikes, in addition to being subjected to the dreadful conditions inside the prison, according to their spokesman in Amsterdam, Sadgh Naghashkar.

Hadi Ghaemi, the Iran researcher for Human Rights Watch says that there is special concern about Iran in international circles. "There are a lot of worries concerning the possibility that the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran might want to take advantage of the situation which has been created by the atomic energy crisis in order to intensify the pressures inside the country towards activists. The case of the bus drivers could be counted as an example of this," Ghaemi said.

Human Rights Watch has called on the Iranian government to stop its persecution of the bus union workers and their families, not to retaliate against the workers, and to guarantee their safe return.

Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadjinejad,

President of the Republic

The Presidency,

Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection,

Tehran

Islamic Republic of Iran



Fax: + 98-21-6648.06.65



2 February 2006

Dear Mr. President,



Several hundred unionists and members of their family arrested at Sherkat-e Vahed (Tehran Bus Company)



On behalf of Japan Confederation of Railway Workers’ Unions (JRU) which represents railway workers in Japan, I am writing to protest in the strongest possible terms against the latest wave of arrests of Sherkate Vahed unionists and their relatives, as well as against the arrest of eight members of the Syndicate’s Executive Board, and the continued detention of its leader, our colleague Mansour Osanloo.



The JRU has been informed that during a strike on 28 January to call for the release of Mansour Osanloo, union recognition and collective bargaining, security forces used tear gas, batons and even threatened to shoot in order to crush the strike. Reported figures vary from 400 to 1300 arrests. The many arrests, whatever the exact number, are a completely disproportionate response to legitimate industrial action. Despite some prisoner releases, most workers still remain in detention.



Many workers were forced to work, beaten up or taken to prison for interrogation by security forces. About 30 workers reportedly sustained serious injuries and required medical attention. Replacement workers were hired, and threats of lay offs were made.



Before the strike, on 26 January eight members of the Syndicate’s Executive Board were summoned to Court and subsequently taken to Evin Prison for detention, where Mansour Osanloo is still being held under high security, without access to a lawyer or medical care, despite his poor health condition.



The continued persecution of trade unionists indicates that your government is still not prepared to meet its international obligations as a member of the ILO, in particular with respect to the principles of freedom of association and collective bargaining. I thus urge you to issue appropriate instructions to judicial and security authorities to immediately release Mr. Mansour Osanloo, as well as the many hundred other detained unionists, and to drop all charges against them and quash sentences against the Saqez union activists.



I look forward to your immediate and decisive action in these matters.





Yours sincerely





Yuji Oda

President

Japan Confederation of Railway Workers’ Unions







Copies :



- Mr. Guy Ryder, General Secretary, ICFTU, Brussels

- Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Geneva

- Mr. David Cockloft, General Secretary, ITF, London




IUF
International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations (IUF)




<<< <<< Home

Hundreds Jailed as Iranian Government Attacks Tehran Bus Workers

Posted to the IUF website on 06-Feb-2006




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Hundreds of Tehran bus workers/drivers remain imprisoned in the brutal crackdown by the Iranian authorities on a strike called for January 28. The drivers had organized the strike to protest the arrest of union leader Mansour Ossanlu and to demand recognition of their Union of Workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company.

Ossanlu was arrested at his home on December 22, without charges or access to a lawyer. On January 24, the union called a strike for January 28 in support of their demands. On January 26, security agents arrested 6 members of the union executive. On the eve of the strike, the authorities carried out mass arrests of union leaders and members, in some cases as they finished their shifts. Other union members were arrested at their homes, where the wives and even children of some were also arrested and even beaten.

Hundreds more workers were arrested on the day of the strike, January 28, and taken to the notorious Evin Prison. According to Amnesty International, workers were repeatedly beaten and threatened to force them to return to work and sign statements renouncing the union and the strike. So far only an estimated 50 signed the statements and have been released. Paramilitary Basij "volunteers", called in as strikebreakers, reportedly took part in the beatings. As many as 500 workers remain in detention, denied access to lawyers and family.

Click here to send a message via labourstart to the government of Iran calling for the immediate release of the jailed strikers and union leaders.
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PostPosted: Tue Feb 07, 2006 5:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

همدستی اداره کار با پلیس امنیتی برای به دام انداختن فعالان سندیکای کارگران شرکت واحد


کانون زندانیان سیاسی ایران(در تبعید) : دیروز دوشنبه، ۱۷ بهمن ماه ۱۳۸٤‌ طی قرار قبلی هیئتی از اعضای سندیکای کارگران شرکت واحد اتوبوس‌رانی تهران و حومه برای تسلیم شکایت‌نامه سندیکا در مورد اخراج اعضای زندانی و آزاد شده سندیکا، به اداره کار شرق تهران رفتند. پیشاپیش این هئیت، یکی از اعضای سندیکا که برای ماموران امنیتی و اداره کار شرق تهران شناخته شده نبود، برای بررسی اوصاع امنیتی وارد اداره کار شد. به محض تسلیم شکایت‌نامه، با اشاره صفری، رئیس اداره کار، یک نفر لباس شخصی که خود را مامور اطلاعات معرفی می‌کند به وی نزدیک شده و او را با نام یکی از فعالان سندیکا که قرار بود مسئولیت این هئیت را در ملاقات با صفری به عهده داشته باشد، صدا می زند. این فعال کارگری را برای دقایقی در محل تحت بازجوئی قرار می دهند، وقتی اطمینان حاصل می کنند که وی فرد مورد نطر آنها نیست، او را رها می کند. به این وسیله، شخص مورد نطر ماموران امنیتی و هئیت همراه او بی آنکه در محل ظاهر شوند، از آنجا دور می شوند و از گزند ماموران امنیتی در امام می‌مانند.
در گزارش دیگری آمده است که رانندگان آزاد شده از زندان اوین اظهار کرده‌اند گروهای بازجوئی زیادی شبانه روز به بازجوئی کارگران دستگیر شده در این زندان مشغول هستند. کارگران را چشم بسته بازجوئی می‌کند، آنان را توطئه‌گر می‌خوانند و با تحت فشار قرار دادن آنها مجبورشان می کنند، تعهدنامه‌هائی را امضاء کنند مبنی بر آنکه اشتباه کرده‌اند (حق خود را خواسته‌اند)و از این ببعد دست به اخلاگری نخواهند زد و در هیچ حرکت صنفی و اعتراضی شرکت نخواهند کرد.

حسن محمدی عضو هیئت رئیسه سندیکای شرکت واحد دستگير شد

غلام رضا میرزایی ، از اعضای سنديکای کارگران شرکت واحد در مصاحبه راديو برابری : حسن محمدی عضو هیئت رئیسه سندیکای شرکت واحد، ظهر امروز به هنگامی که قصد دیدار مادرش را بعد از چندین هفته داشته دستگیر شد. آقای محمدی با توجه به اينکه چند هفته بود مادر خود را نديده بودند به ملاقات ايشان ميروند که بلافاصله توسط نيروهای امنيتی دستگير شدند. معلوم نيست خانه تحت نظر بود يا خودشان تحت تعقيب بودند. او اعلام کرده که از اولین دقایق دستگیری به اعتصاب غدای خشک دست خواهد زد. این خبر از طرف همسر محمدی تایید شد.

اسامی شماری از رانندگان بازداشت شده شرکت واحد

۱- یوسف مرادی (عضو هیئت مدیره)

۲- عطا باباخانی (منطقه ۶ ) (عضو هیئت مدیره)

۳- غلام خوش‌مرام (منطقه ۶ ) (عضو هیئت مدیره)

٤- ناصر غلامی (عضو هیئت مدیره)

۵- یعقوب سلیمی(عضو هیئت مدیره)

۶- علی ذات‌حسین (عضو هیئت مدیره)

۷- علی ترازی (عضو هیئت مدیره)

۸- سید داود رضوی (عضو هیئت مدیره)

۹- سعید ترابیان (عضو هیئت مدیره)

۱۰- منصور حیات غیبی (عضو هیئت مدیره)

۱۱- ابراهیم مددی (عضو هیئت مدیره)

۱۲- منصور اسالو (رئیس هیئت مدیره)

۱۳- حسن سعیدی

۱٤- رضا بهروزیان

۱۵- محمدعلی عیسی‌آبادی (منطقه ۵)

۱۶- سیدرضا نعمتی

۱۷- آرش پولاد پور (منطقه ۵)

۱۸- محمدرضا محمدنژاد

۱۹- حسین شهسواری (عضو هیئت مدیره)

۲۰- وهاب محمدی

۲۱- علی بخشی

۲۲- ناصر محرم‌زاده (منطقه ۵)

۲۳- علی‌رضا یوسفی (منطقه ۵)

۲٤- علی‌رضا توسلی (منطقه ۵)

۲۵- مجتبی توانی (منطقه ۵)

۲۶- امیر قانعی (منطقه ۵)

۲۷- بهرام نشانی (منطقه ۵)

۲۸- محمدحسین هداوند (منطقه ۵)

۲۹- حجت‌الله کشاورز (منطقه ۵)

۳۰- حسین برشان (منطقه ۵)

۳۱- حسین فارسیان (منطقه ۵)

منطقه ۶ شرکت واحد

۳۲- جواد کفایتی

۳۳- سلیمان محمدی

۳٤- عیدالله حسینی

۳۵- حسن کریمی

۳۶- مسعود فروغی

۳۷- غلام‌رضا عباسی

۳۸- منوچهر مهدوی تبار

۳۹- علی بلندی (آزاد شد، اما از کار اخراج شد)

٤۰- مهدی حسینی

٤۱- حسن صفائی‌پور

٤۲- حسن رضائی (آزاد شد، اما از کار احراج شد)

٤۳- علی قربانی

٤٤- غدیانی

٤۵- همایون جابری

٤۶- صادق خندان

٤۷- مسعود بابائی

٤۸- علی‌اکبر نظری

٤۹- حبیب (منطقه ۱)

منطقه ۳ شرکت واحد

۵۰- احمد صامی (آزاد شده، اما از کار اخراج شد)

۵۱- ابراهیم قره قزلو (آزاد شده، اما از کار اخراح شد)

۵۲- مراد افروز (آزاد شده، اما از کار اخراح شده)

۵۳- محمد اسکندری (آزاد شده، اما از کار اخراح شد)

۵٤- علی امیری کردستانی (آزاد شده، اما از کار اخراح شد)

۵۵- محمد شکیبایی (آزاد شده، اما از کار اخراح شد)

۵۶- آیت جدیدی

۵۷- احمد ورمزیار

۵۸- محمدرصا عباسی

۵۹- عباس رحیمی

۶۰- ناصر احمدی

۶۱- غلام‌رضا ساعدی‌راد

۶۲- ولی وفادار

۶۳- یوسف مولوی

۶٤­‌- اصغر مختار پور

۶۵- ارسلان اسکندری

۶۶- داود باغربیگی

۶۷- محمرضا علی‌زاده

۶۸- امداد رحیمی (منطقه ۲)

۶۹- جهانگیر شیلی (منطقه ۲)

منطقه ۵ شرکت واحد

۷۰- محمدرضا مرادی

۷۱- فیروز رفیع‌پور

۷۲­- میریعقوب حسینی

۷۳- سیدرضا نعمتی‌پور

۷٤- محمد نعمانی‌پور (عضو هیئت مدیره)

۷۵- محمود هژبری (عضو هیئت مدیره)

۷۶- اصغر سلامی

۷۷- هادی کبیری

۷۸- مهدی سربندی

۷۹- مهدی بیانی

۸۰- فرهاد نوروزی

۸۱- مهدی فروندی

۸۲- رضائی

۸۳- مرادوند

۸٤- احمد حسنی

۸۵- خانی

۸۶­- ناصر باستانی

۸۷- رضا شهاب خراسانی

۸۸- علی ابراهیمی

۸۹- صادق محمدی

۹۰- علی قربانیان

۹۱- مجید طلائی

۹۲- حسین جوادی

۹۳- حسین مهدی‌خانی

۹٤- مصطفی امیری

دستیابی به اسامی بیشتر برای اعضای فعال سندیکای شرکت واحد اتوبوس‌رانی تهران و حومه، در حال حاضر ممکن نیست. به محض دریافت اسامی بیشتر، به این لیست اضافه خواهند شد.

کانون زندانیان سیاسی ایران(در تبعید)

دوشنبه ۱۷ بهمن ۱۳۸٤ برابر با ۶ فوریه ۲۰۰۶‌

كارگران آزادشده شركت واحد اتوبوسراني تهران اجازه بازگشت به كار نيافتند

راديو فردا : نزديك به ده روز از دستگيري صدها كارگر و فعال سنديكايي شركت واحد اتوبوسراني تهران و حومه و همسران و فرزندان آنها توسط ماموران اطلاعاتي و امنيتي جمهوري اسلامي در تلاش براي سركوب اعتصاب كارگران شركت واحد مي گذرد. اين در حالي است كه منصور اصانلو رئيس هيات مديره سنديكاي كارگران شركت واحد اتوبوسراني تهران و حومه نيز بيش از 45 روز است به اتهام نامعلوم دستگير و زنداني شده است. غلامرضا ميرزايي عضو هيات مديره و سخنگوي سنديكاي شركت واحد اتوبوسراني تهران و حومه در مصاحبه با راديو فردا ضمن اشاره به جلوگيري از اشتغال زندانيان آزادشده در روزهاي اخير، تامين و امنيت شغلي كارگران را باعث نگراني و از مهمترين خواسته هاي صنفي سنديكا مي خواند. آقاي ميرزايي در پاسخ به اين پرسش كه آيا دستگيري هاي جديدي در پي تجمع روز شنبه خانواده هاي كارگران زنداني شركت واحد در مقابل دادگاه انقلاب تهران انجام گرفته يا نه مي گويد:

غلامرضا ميرزايي: تا آنجايي كه ما اطلاع داريم و همكاران به ما اطلاع دادند، همكاران جديدي بازداشت نشدند و فقط يك نگراني ما و تمام خانواده هاي دستگيرشدگان داريم و آن اين كه تمامي آزادشگان طي چند روز اخير اجازه بازگشت به سر كار را نيافتند و مراجعه كردند به مناطق مربوطه و پاسخ شنيدند كه كار شما از عهده ما خارج است و دست شوراي تامين استان تهران است. پيروي همين مساله امروز يكشنبه تعدادي از دوستان به اداره كار استان تهران مراجعه كردند كه قرار بر اين شده دوباره تلفن بزنند اطلاع دهند به كارفرما يا نماينده تام الاختيار ايشان كه فردا ساعت ده صبح در اداره كار استان تهران حضور يابند و به نمايندگي از كليه كارگراني كه آزاد شدند، ما و تعدادي از همكارانمان از سنديكا در اين اداره هستيم ساعت ده صبح فردا تا ببينيم كه چه جوابي به ما مي دهند.

مسعود ملك (راديو فردا): آقاي ميرزايي ماه گذشته در جريان اعتصاب كارگران شركت واحد، آقاي قاليباف شهردار تهران خودشان حضور پيدا كردند و وعده دادند به اين تنش ها پايان دهند و وعده تلاش براي آزادي آقاي اصانلو را دادند. اكنون بيش از 40 روز از دستگيري آقاي اصانلو مي گذرد. آيا از شهردار تهران هيچ واكنشي در اين مدت گرفتيد در اين مدت؟

غلامرضا ميرزايي: در اولين ساعت صبح پنجم ديماه جناب آقاي قاليباف در منطقه شش حضور يافتند و صحبت هاي كارگران را شنيدند و در جمع بيش از چهار پنج هزار نفري در زير باران و در ساعت حدود يك بامداد به صراحت گفتند در عرض دو هفته تا بيست روز من فرصت مي خواهم كه با توجه به اختيارات جديدي كه گرفتم و مسئوليت مستقل شركت واحد را قبول كردم، تلاش خودم را مي كنم كه يك قسمتي از خواست هاي شما را جامه عمل بپوشانم و تلاشم را بكنم كه آقاي اصانلو هرچه زودتر آزاد شود كه متاسفانه الان نزديك به 50 روز است آقاي شهردار هيچ گونه اقدام عملي در اين رابطه انجام ندادند و متاسفانه در مصاحبه روز نهم بهمن هم به صراحت در روزنامه همشهري اعلام كردند سنديكا را چون مجوز از وزارت كشور ندارد و قانوني نيست به رسميت نمي شناسيم. در حالي كه ما طبق مقاوله هاي بين المللي انتخابات انجام داديم، اساسنامه خودمان را به راي گذاشتيم و تصويب كرديم و در وزارت كار به ثبت رسانديم و شماره ثبتمان را هم گرفتيم و موجود است.

م . م: حركت بعدي سنديكا فكر مي كنيد چه خواهد بود براي رسيدن به خواسته هاي صنفي و از جمله آزادي همه همكاران؟

غلامرضا ميرزايي: به آگاهيتان مي رسانم از فردا بعد از ظهر ما اطلاعيه اي را آماده كرديم، اطلاعيه رسمي سنديكا با توجه به اين كه اكثريت قريب به اتفاق اعضاي سنديكا الان در زندان هستند، اين را ما با فعالين سنديكا كه در خارج هستند مشورت كرديم و يك بيانيه رسمي را آماده كرديم كه از فردا بعد ازظهر به دست تمام كاركنان شركت واحد برسانيم. با توجه به امكانات كم سعي مي كنيم كه حتي المقدور همكارانمان از اين اطلاعيه باخبر باشند. روي سخن ما به كارگران زحمتكش است و رونوشت آن را براي دفتر معظم رهبري، دفتر رياست جمهوري،‌شوراي محترم تامين استان تهران، دفتر مديرعامل شركت واحد و اداره كار استان تهران و كليه رسانه ها و جرايد رسمي كشور مي فرستيم. ما مجددا خواسته هايمان را مطرح كرديم، خواستار آزادي هرچه زودتر زندانيان شديم و بخصوص الان بيشترين نگراني ما و تمام خانواده هاي بازداشت شدگان تامين شغلي و آينده شغلي و امنيت شغلي همكارانمان هستند كه هيچ يك از آنان هنوز شاغل نشدند و از اين نظر مشكلات عديده اي براي خودشان و مشكلات روحي رواني زيادي براي خانواده هايشان وارد است.
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 4:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

----- Original Message -----
From: Ramin Etebar, MD
To: Ramin Etebar, MD
Sent: Wednesday, February 08, 2006 5:11 AM
Subject: Vahed (Bus Strike) update 2/8/06 (Bilingual)

Tehran Bus Workers, Updates and Actions!

200 workers released; all were denied the right to return to their jobs

Hundreds others are still in prison

February 7, 2006- According to the reports by Mr. Gholamreza Mirzaei, the current spokesperson of the Syndicate of workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, about 200 workers have thus far been released following the mass arrests on January 28th. Mr. Mirzaei reported that none of the 200 released workers have been able to return to their jobs and hundreds others are still in prison. The company has refused to reinstate their jobs. Workers have been told that all the cases related to the employment of the Vahed workers and those arrested must be dealt with at the office of the Ministry of Labour at the Tehran East. The Syndicate has been trying to deal with this issue through contacts with the Ministry of Labor officials, which has not successfully taken place amid the intimidations and the threats of further arrests.
In addition, Mr. Mirzaei reported that on Monday, February 6, 2006, the security forces arrested another member of the board of directors of the Syndicate, Mr. Hassan Mohammadi, who got arrested while visiting his mother. The security forces raided his mother’s rental apartment, entering through the roof, without any previous notices given to her or to the landlord. During the past couple of weeks, countless protest letters have been sent to Ahmadinejad and we have seen a number of protest demonstrations with the participation of Iranian labour activists abroad and labour organizations in different countries, from Canada and United Kingdom to the Sweden and Germany. These actions are absolutely important and necessary. However, as the Iranian government is escalating its repressive measures against workers, it is crucial to intensify pressures on this government in various ways including sustained pressure on all relevant authorities of the Iranian government and all embassies of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
As the Amnesty International has correctly pointed out, the Iranian government is supposed to be bounded by a number of international treaties including International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and International Labour Conventions. It is absolutely unacceptable that Tehran transport workers are still behind bars for demanding their most basic rights. The Iranian labour movement, particularly the Tehran transport workers’ union, expects urgent and swift interventions by the international bodies on human and workers’ rights, including the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association and others, for the immediate and unconditional release of all arrested workers and their safe return to work.
For more information, please contact info@workers-iran.org.

International Alliance in Support of Workers in Iran
*Please note that in addition to the president of the Islamic republic of Iran at dr-ahmadinejad@president.ir, the following authorities of the Iranian government can be contacted.
The Officials of the Islamic republic of Iran Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs:
- Reza Moghadasi, Ministry of Labor’s Public relation's Director General: Email: public_relation@irimlsa.ir
- Dr. Hossein Talaa,

Director General, the Security, Ministry of Labour

Email: herasat_v_kar@irimlsa.ir.

- Saeed Hooshmand, Director General, the National Office of the Labour and Employer Organizations. Email: woem_o@irimlsa.ir

The Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva:

H. E. Mr. Mohammad Reza ALBORZI

Ambassador, Permanent Representative


H. E. Mr. Seyed Mohammad Kazem SAJJADPOUR

Ambassador, Deputy Permanent Representative


28,ch.du Petit-Saconnex,1209 Geneva, Switzerland

Tel.(41-22)332 21 00-21 /Fax.(41-22)733 02 03

Email: mission.iran@ties.itu.int

Embassies of the IR Iran:

Armenia: info@iranembassy.am;;

Australia: ambassador@iranembassy.org.au;

Azerbaijan: info@iranembassyaz.org;

Brazil: webiran@webiran.org.br;

Canada: ambassador@iranembassy.org;

China: information@iranembassyinchina.org;

Finland: ambassador@iran.fi;

Germany: iran.botschaft@t-online.de;

Hungary: rahnama@iranembassy.hu; embiran@iranembassy.hu;

India: info@iran-embassy.org.in, pl2@iran-embassy.org.in;

Indonesia: irembjkt@indo.net.id;

IRI Interests in the US: requests@daftar.org;

Japan:sjei@gol.com;

Netherlands: info@iranianembassy.nl;

New Zealand: info@iranembassy.org.nz;

Norway: ambassador@iran-embassy-oslo.no;

Philippines: ambassador@iranembassy.org.ph;

Russia: iranembassy@iranembassy.ru;

South Africa: Ambassador@Iranembassy.org.za,Deputyambassador@Iranembassy.org.za;

Sweden: consular@iran.se;

UAE: iranemb@emirates.net.ae

UK : INFO@IRAN-EMBASSY.ORG.UK;

Vienna: public@iranembassy-wien.at;

Vietnam: embiri@fpt.vn

For more information, please contact info@workers-iran.org.

International Alliance in Support of Workers in Iran

To French Trade unionists participating in the Manifestation of February 7, 2006

French workers, our brothers and sisters! Today, you have gathered form all over France to demonstrate against laws enforced by the French government and to make your protests heard. We wish you success in your action. We, the workers of the Tehran Bus Company "Vahed", have done all in our power to create our independent trade unions, however time and time again we have faced repression by the authorities.

On the 3rd of May 3, 2005, the constituent general assembly of our union was attacked by the agents of the Islamic council of work and the house of the workers [ 2 organizations ser up by the State to repress the independent organized labour - ]. At the time of this attack, they damaged our offices and wounded Mansour OSSANLOU, the president of the trade union in the face and the body using sharp blades. On the 1st of June 2005, our office located in the offices of the trade union of the bakers in Teheran, was the object of another attack , this time incendiary bombs were used. Following these acts, the same day, approximately 3000 workers expressed their demand for the dissolution of the Islamic Council of Work.

On the 3rd of June 2005, the workers of the company were invited to attend the constituent assembly. In the early hours of the morning, agents of security services prevented workers from entering the building. The arrival of large numbers of workers in support of the meeting, force the police to move back. The assembly took place in the presence of thousands of workers and in accordance with international standards and protocols 98 and 87 of the ILO. At the time a free election took place and the trade union officers were elected and the charter was approved. Since then we have faced more pressure. 17 trade unionists were fired. They were the members of the office or militant activists of the trade union. The directors of the company refused to recognize the trade union while 8000 workers from a total of 17000 had joined the trade union.

On the 2nd of December 2005, at 6 am security agents arrested 14 trade unionists, members of the executive committee, on the orders of judge Mortazavi, the prosecutor of Teheran. They were accused of establishing an illegal trade union and acting against law and order. The trade union organized a strike which was well supported, calling for the immediate release of the trade unionists. The new mayor of Teheran promised to act for the release of the prisoners and to support our claims. In spite of these promises, Mansour Ossanlou is still in prison, and none of our claims have been accepted. In confronting the deaf authorities in charge, we decided to organize a strike on Saturday January 28th. However before the strike stared, the workplace was ransacked with unprecedented violence by security agents . They attacked the workers and forced the drivers to resume work. Those in charge for the security services took women and children (families of Bus workers) as hostages the children and the wives in order to force the men to reume work. . A number of the executive committee of the trade union , as well as more than thousand of our fellow-members were arrested and taken to Evin prison and the ministry for Information. A number of trade unionists were laid off and they were told they cannot return to work unless they sign a letter of repentance and abandon trade-union activities. A few workers released from prison were laid off arbitrarily. They and their families must undergo the hard days of the winter without any income. Lastly, a number of trade-union activists were forced to escape, spending day and night fearful of arrest.

Dear hard-working friends, Brothers and sisters!

At a time when press and media censorship has prevented any reporting of our struggle, we call on you to make our voices of protest heard by any means you can. Call on your government to demand the release of 1200 prisoners, the return to work of all activists and the acceptance of free trade unions in Iran as well as improvement of the standard of living, the recognition of our trade union in accordance with international standards, acceptance of collective bargaining . We wish you success.

The Executive committee of the Trade union of Vahed Bus Company Teheran and its suburbs –

Public relations Teheran, February 5 2006-02-06

فراخوان کنفدراسیون بین المللی اتحادیه های آزاد کارگری و فدراسیون اتحادیه های جهانی

فراخوان کنفدراسیون بین المللی اتحادیه های آزاد کارگری و فدراسیون اتحادیه های جهانی
(ICFTU& TUAC- OECD)
روز جهانی در دفاع از کارگران ایران
7-2-2006

پیرو دستگیری تا 1300 کارگر سندیکای شرکت واحد اتوبوس رانی تهران و حومه و آزاد نشدن آنان، کنفدراسیون بین المللی اتحادیه های آزاد کارگری به همراه فدراسیون اتحادیه های جهانی، روز 15 فوریه 2006 را روز جهانی در حمایت از کارگران ایران اعلام کردند.
این تشکلات کارگری جهانی از همه اتحادیه ها در سطح جهان خواسته اند که در هر کشوری که سفارت جمهوری اسلامی ایران وجود دارد، تظاهرات اعتراضی خود را در جلو آن سفارت خانه و در غیر اینصورت در مقابل وزارت کشور خود جهت تحقق خواسته های زیر سازمان دهند.

1- برسمیت شناختن حق تشکل مستقل کارگران در ایران
2- آزاد کردن منصوراسانلو و کلیه کارگران دستگیر شده سندیکای شرکت واحد
3- پذیرش حق داشتن سندیکا از طرف مدیریت شرکت واحد
4- برسمیت شناختن حق قرارداد دسته جمعی
5- پرداخت دستمزدهای عقب افتاده کلیه کارگران و اعضاء سندیکا
کنفدراسیون بین المللی اتحادیه های آزاد کارگری از تمامی اتحادیه ها در سطح جهان درخواست کرده است که ضمن ارائه گزارش کامل اقدامات خود در این مورد، در هر کجای جهان که هستند اخبار اقدامات خود همراه با عکس و چگونگی پیشبرد این حرکت را با ای میل جهت انعکاس در سایت این کنفدراسیون ارسال دارند.

اتحاد بین المللی در حمایت از کارگران در ایران از تمامی نیرو های آزادیخواه ، تمامی نهادهای سیاسی، افراد، . مدافعین حقوق کارگران و اقشار تهیدست جامعه ایران اتنظار دارد ضمن شرکت در این تظاهرات اعتراضی ، جهت غنا بخشیدن به این اقدام جهانی کمال همکاری را با اتحادیه های کشورهای محل سکونت خود بعمل آورده و خبر این اقدام را جهت درج در رسانه های گروهی ارسال دارند.

برای اطلاعات بیشتر می توانید با ای میل زیر تماس بگیرید.

info@workers-iran.org

ابراهيم گوهري عضو هیات مدیره سندیکای کارکنان شرکت واحد هنگام تلاش برای حل اختلاف کارگران آزاد شده از زندان با کارفرما دستگیر شد

راديو فردا : ابراهيم گوهري عضو هيات مديره سنديكاي كارگران شركت واحد اتوبوسراني تهران و حومه روز سه شنبه توسط ماموران اطلاعاتي و امنيتي جمهوري اسلامي دستگير شد. تاكنون اكثر فعالان و اعضاي هيات مديره از جمله منصور اصانلو رئيس هيات مديره سنديكاي كارگران شركت واحد دستگير و زنداني شده اند. در مصاحبه با راديو فردا غلامرضا ميرزايي عضو هيات مديره سنديكاي شركت واحد اتوبوسراني تهران و حومه شرح مي دهد كه چگونه ابراهيم گوهري در جريان تلاش براي ادامه اشتغال زندانيان آزادشده شركت واحد و خلف وعده مسئولان اداره كار دستگير و زندان شد.

غلامرضا ميرزايي: آقاي ابراهيم گوهري از اعضاي خيلي فعال و عضو هيات مديره سنديكا و مسئول كميسيون حل اختلاف سنديكا بودند كه در اين زمينه تا كنون فعاليت هاي خيلي چشمگيري داشتند در رابطه با مراجعه به ادارات كار و حل اختلاف حقوقي و حتي در برخي موارد جزايي همكاران خارج از حتي شركت واحد. كه من و تمام همكاران از دستگيري ايشان واقعا متاسف شديم. ايشان شاغل در منطقه هشت شركت واحد بودند. دو روز پيش ما مراجعه كرده بوديم اداره كار شرق تهران. آقاي گوهري هم خودشان آنجا حضور داشتند به اتفاق سه تن ديگر از اعضاي هيات مديره رفتند و به اتفاق حدود بيست تن از همكارانمان سعي كرديم از هر منطقه شركت واحد دو نفر باشند به نمايندگي از زندانياني كه آزاد شدند و هنوز هيچ كدامشان را سر كارشان راه ندادند. اينها مراجعه كردند دو روز پيش و اعتراض كردند كه چرا ما را سر كار راه نمي دهند و ايشان مطرح كردند كه در هر حال بازداشت شده بودند و تفهيم اتهامي شده و اينها پاسخگوي اتهامات هستند و جرمشان هم اگر ثابت شود تاوانش را مي دهند، ولي در هر حال الان قاضي حكم آزاديشان را داده و از نظر حقوقي اينها مشكلي براي بازگشت به كار ندارند. در اداره كار، آقاي صفري مسئول اداره كار شرق تهران گفته بودند شما برويد فردا ساعت ده صبح بياييد ما سعي مي كنيم با توجه به اين كه تعداد شما زياد است، به اين مساله رسيدگي كنيم و ما هماهنگ مي كنيم از كارفرما، شركت واحد يك نفر هم بيايد تا به قضيه به صورت ويژه رسيدگي كنيم. ديروز دوشنبه ما بنا بر دعوت آقاي صفري و بيست تن از همكاران ديگر به اتفاق چهار نفر از اعضاي هيات مديره به اداره مراجعه كردند و مي بينند كه از اعضاي شوراي اسلامي كار هم در آنجا حضور دارند و همچنين از شركت واحد هم يك فردي آنجا بوده و همچنين تعدادي از نيروهاي امنيتي كه حتي رئيس اين گروه كارت شناسايي نشان داده و گفته من دنبال آقاي ابراهيم گوهري مي گردم. چون چهره ايشان را نمي شناخته، آقاي گوهري بلافاصله محل را ترك مي كند و به من جريان را گفت و من گفتم سريع محل را ترك كند. من برداشتم اين است كه اينها حداقل حفظ ظاهر را هم كنار گذاشتند و يك برنامه اي را دارند هماهنگ اجرا مي كنند.

م . م: جو در داخل شركت واحد و ميان آنهايي كه شاغل هستند، در خيابان ها چطور است؟

غلامرضا ميرزايي: با توجه به اخباري كه ما داريم و شاهد هستيم، جو خيلي مسموم است و فضا يك فضاي آلوده است. آنقدر تبليغات يك طرفه و بي انصافانه از سوي شورايي ها، حراستي ها، مديران مناطق و دست نشانده هاي اينها دارد پخش مي شود به صورت ناجوانمردانه كه يك حالت ياس و نااميدي را مي خواهند در دل كارگران ايجاد كنند. ولي من فكر مي كنم كارگران آنقدر آگاه هستند و درك و شعور اجتماعي دارند كه گول اين حرفها را نمي خورند. چرا كه خودشان مي دانند و ما هم مي دانيم و نيت خودمان هم اين است كه ما جز خواسته صنفي تاكنون چيزي طرح نكرديم و الان هم طرح نمي كنيم. ولي خب در هر حال ما اكنون درگير يك مبارزه نابرابر شديم كه تمام امكانات تبليغاتي و دولتي و انواع و اقسام تربيون ها دست طرف هاي ما هستند مانند شورا و مديران مناطق، كارفرما و از طرفي ما كه واقعا اين وسط مظلوم واقع شديم و حتي نمي توانيم كوچكترين ارتباطي حتي با خانواده زندانيان برقرار كنيم تا ببينيم چه احتياجاتي دارند تا از همكاران ديگر بگيريم و در اختيارشان قرار دهيم. اين حداقل كار را هم آنقدر ما را محدود كردند كه متاسفانه شرمنده خانوده زندانيان شديم.





وصيت نامه آقاي شهسواري عضو هيئت مديره سنديكاي شركت واحد اتوبوسراني تهران و حومه

وصيت نامه آقاي شهسواري عضو هيئت مديره سنديكاي شركت واحد اتوبوسراني تهران و حومه

سايت آشوب : اينجانب حسين شهسواري از اعضاي هيئت مؤسس سنديكاي شركت واحد بدين وسيله اعلام ميدارد كه در كمال صحت و سلامت اين سطور را رقم ميزند اصل مطلب اين است كه جنبش سنديكايي در ايران پس از سي سا ل در ايران دوباره سر بر آوردكه خوشبختانه ما از پيشاهنگهاي آن بوده ايم . چه در سال 82 كه با هيئت مؤسسان كارگري كار ميكرديم وچه زمانيكه هيئت مؤسس و احياء سنديكاي شركت واحد را درآوايل سال 83 بينان گذاشتيم و 7 نفر بيشتر نبوديم اما اكنون تمام شركت واحد و بيش از 15 هزار نفر را سنديكاي ما در بر ميگيرد . پدر من از اعضاي فعالين سنديكا ي خبازان در سالهاي 40 تا 50 بود و اين براي من كه افتخاري بود به ويژه اينكه پدرم از فعالين و هيئت مديره سنديكاي خبازان در سالهاي 40 تا 50 بود . اين براي من در عين حال كه افتخاري بود ايجاد مسئوليت بيشتري ميكرد به هر رو ما اين وظيفه را به دوش داشتيم كه در پس از امضاء مقابله نامه هاي 98 و 87 توسط وزير وقت كارجمهوري اسلامي در سال 80 به دنبال ايجاد سنديكا فعال شديم و اين هدف را دنبال كرديم . هرچند جمهوري اسلامي بعد از امضاء اين مقابله نامه ها با توجه به سكون و سكوتي كه در جامعه كارگري بود پس از امضاء اين مقابله نامه ها بدنبال سنديكايي خودساخته و سنديكايي حكومتي و فرمايشي بود ولي به ناچار و به ناگهان ما , همچون گلي از ميان شكفتيم وبه در آمديم كه اينها در معادلات اينها نمي گنجيد و تمام مشكلاتي كه اينها دارند همين هست چرا كه خصلت كار سنديكايي خصلت و ويژگي كار سنديكايي و فعاليت سنديكايي خواستن وطالب بودن خود كارگران است يعني كارگران بايد بخواهند كه سنديكا داشته باشند و ايجاد مجمع عمومي كنند و هيئت مديره خود را انتخاب كنند وسنديكا ايجاد كنند سنديكا براي همين است كه خيلي براي آنها خطر ناك است چون تنها چيزي است كه اجازه ,مهلت و دستور از هيچ كجا نمي گيردما در خود مقابله نامه هاي بنيادين كار در مقابله 87 داريم كه كارگران ميتوانند بدون كسب هيچگونه اجازه از هرگونه مقامات دولتي به تأسيس سنديكاي خود مبادرت كنند به ررو من يك ايراني هستم يك مسلمان شيعه هستم وبا اعتقاداتي كه دارم و در ايام ماه محرم و با ياد حرمت احترام امام حسين و يارانش اين را مينويسم شايد بعنوان وصيتي باشد و به هر رو ما افتخار براي خود ميدانيم كه در اين كارسنديكايي فعاليت سنديكايي بوديم و اين اعتصاباتي كه صورت گرفت ناشي از آن ويژگي دمكراسي سنديكايي است و انتخاباتي كه در سنديكا صورت گرفت و اعضاي هيئت مديره با اكثريت آرا به اين اعتصابات رأي دادند پس ما هم بايد به آن گردن مينهاديم به همين خاطر هيچگونه خطا و اشتباهي در اين مورد نشده چرا كه اين اعتصابات در واقع ناشي از فوران مطالبات و مشكلات كارگران شركت واحد در سيستم استثماري كار و سرمايه در اين كشور است به هر رو ما دراين حال كه هيچگونه مخالفت و دشمني با نظام جمهوري اسلامي و مسائل سياسي نداريم و نظاممان را فعلأ تحمل ميكنيم فعلا باآن دشمني نداريم و كار سياسي اصلأ نداريم و اگر اعتقادي داريم اعتقادات شخصي هست بهر رو در راه اين سنديكا تا پاي جان ايستاده ايم بخصوص براي آزادي آقاي اسانلو در مورد آقاي اسانلو ,آقاي اسانلو حدود 30 سال در شركت واحد بوده است كسي است كه از نظر اخلاقي ازنظر انساني هميشه دنبال مسائل روشنفكري دنبال مسائل كارگري بوده است , ايشان هم پدرشان جزء هيئت مديره سنديكاي شركت نفت بوده است ما دو نفر كارمندي هستيم كه سنديكايي هستيم كه از 26 هفت سالگي در سنديكا بزرگ شده است من به آقاي اسانلو اعلام كنم كه هرگونه راه و روشي كه آقاي اسانلو داشته باشد من به دنبال آن هستم ومن شريك جرم او اگر آنها آنرا جرم ميدانند شريك تمام كارهاي اوهستم و در كنار او خواهم بود و آقاي اسانلو را به او اتهام سياسي مي چسبانند در صورتي كه آقاي اسانلو يك دو سه ماه به خارج از كشور رفته بود و پارسال تابستان برگشت اگر او مورد سياسي داشت پس چرا ايشان را در همان فرودگاه دستگير نكردند اگر آقاي اسانلو مورد سياسي داشت چرا ماه گذشته سال گذشته شش ماه گذشته چرا پس از اينكه سنديكاي شركت واحد پا گرفت و جان گرفت و 10 منطقه شركت واحد متحد شدند و ما براي اولين بار, ببينيد كانون نويسندگان ايران با آن سابقه ديرينه اش درجمهوري اسلامي نتوانست مجمع عمومي برقرار كند بعد از 30 سال هنوز ولي ما براي اولين بار مجمع عمومي گذاشتيم و اين كار بزرگي بود درجامعه اي كه جامعه شورايي نيست جامعه بسته ايست ديگر و مفاهيم سنديكايي را مثلأ اينها بصورت فرماليستي بصورت ظاهري ميپذيرفتند به هر رو آقاي اسانلو در واقع پيشتاز و رهبر ماست واقعأ من خودم را يكي از شاگردان ايشان ميدانم و انشالله كه لياقت طرفداري و پشتيباني از او را داشته باشم و در عمل بتوانم دنباله رو ايشان باشم جنبش سنديكايي اگر در كشور ما حل بشود خيلي مشكلات حل خواهد شد ولي اين حاكمان و تند روان حاكمان نمي فهمند ويا منافعشان اجازه نمي دهد اما خانه كارگر و شوراها و خيلي از وابستگان به آنها در وزارت كار در بيمه ها تمام حلقه هايي بودند كه هم وصل بودند و با هم از يك جا ميخوردند و كارگران ما اكثرأ فاقد بيمه تأمين اجتماعي هستند و اكثرأ كارگرهاي ما الآن دراسلوي 
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 15, 2006 2:21 pm    Post subject: Unions Around World to Protest Iran's Treatment of Bus Worke Reply with quote

Unions Around World to Protest Iran's Treatment of Bus Workers
February 15, 2006
The Washington Post
Nora Boustany

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/14/AR2006021402216.html

While the international community is locking horns with Iran over its plan to push ahead with uranium enrichment -- a potential first step toward making nuclear weapons -- a separate global confrontation is gathering steam over labor practices under the Iranian theocracy.

Labor unions in 18 capitals, including Washington, are taking part today in demonstrations outside Iranian embassies and interest sections to protest the coercive treatment of bus drivers in Tehran and its suburbs, who have been beaten, jailed and dismissed for attempting to negotiate better wages.

A number of international and Washington- based organizations are responding to a call by the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, based in Brussels, for an international day of action on Iran. The AFL-CIO, its Solidarity Center here and the federation's Metropolitan Washington Council have called for a demonstration at noon in front of the Iranian Interest Section at 2209 Wisconsin Ave. NW.

Abroad, protests are scheduled by transportation unions in France, Britain, Spain, Austria, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Canada, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, Chile and Bermuda.

The catalyst for the global protests was the arrest on Dec. 22 of Mansoor Osanloo , president of the Syndicate of Workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Co., along with the members of its executive board.

Under pressure from international labor and human rights groups, the board members were released, but Osanloo remains in jail and is reportedly in poor health. On Jan. 28, the 17,000-member Syndicate called a strike to protest his detention and demand that the government recognize the rights to form a union and engage in collective bargaining -- rights protected under the conventions of the International Labor Organization.

On the eve of the strike, police raided the homes of union activists and arrested workers, in some cases with their wives and children, including a 2-year-old girl who was bruised and hurled into a patrol van, according to a report posted on the Web site of the Solidarity Center.

The next day, the government and the public transportation company dispatched security and armed forces, who used tear gas and wielded batons while threatening to shoot at rioters. Others who arrived at the picket line were rounded up at gunpoint.

Hundreds of people were arrested in their homes, said Heba F. El-Shazli , regional program director for the Middle East and North Africa at the Solidarity Center. Some prisoners have since been freed but have been denied the right to go back to work.

Hundreds remain at Tehran's Evin prison without formal charges.

It was not possible to contact the Iranian Interests Section for comment. The Tehran government has accused some labor unions of acting against national security, holding illegal gatherings and being linked to banned communist and Kurdish groups.

In a Feb 1. letter, AFL-CIO President John J. Sweeney wrote to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to protest the arrests. Sweeney wrote that the AFL-CIO "strongly condemns the arrest of workers exercising their legitimate, internationally recognized trade union rights and demands the immediate and unconditional release of all detained trade unionists."

According to Gholamreza Mirzaei , a spokesman for the Tehran bus workers union who was quoted on another Web site, 200 workers were freed by Feb. 7 but none have been able to go back to their jobs, and hundreds still languish in prisons.
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PostPosted: Fri Jun 22, 2007 2:04 pm    Post subject: Iran Union Leader: "I Will Not Be Intimidated" Reply with quote

Iran Union Leader: "I Will Not Be Intimidated"
June 21, 2007
ITUC OnLine
scoop.co.nz

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0706/S00411.htm

Brussels -- In an address to the ITUC General Council meeting in Brussels today, Iranian trade union leader Mansour Osanloo told of the persecution of him and other members of his union in the “Sherkate Vahed” company (Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company) by their employers and the Iranian authorities. Osanloo, who was accompanied by a delegation from the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF), described the harassment and intimidation which Sherkate Vahed members have been facing, with some members of the union having been arrested 10 or more times, and family members, including young children, being beaten, detained and subjected to inhumane treatment.

Just prior to arriving in Brussels, Osanloo had been notified that a five-year prison sentence had been passed on him, however he remained defiant in the face of this latest violation of fundamental rights by the Iranian authorities, telling the General Council that “I will not be intimidated by this”. Osanloo has already faced periods of detention, including in the notorious section 209 of Evin prison in Tehran. Following his arrest in November 2006, the ITUC and the ITF lodged a complaint with the International Labour Organisation, which also raised the cases of four other Sherkate Verhad members, who received prison sentences of between two and four years as a result of their trade union activities.

“Mansour Osanloo and his colleagues in the union are determined to continue their work in support of decent wages, employment conditions and fair treatment. The Iranian authorities should be ashamed of their continued denial of the right to independent and democratic trade unionism, and the ITF will continue to work with the ITUC to provide international solidarity to their cause”, said ITF General Secretary David Cockfroft.
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PostPosted: Fri Jun 22, 2007 2:54 pm    Post subject: Re: Iran Union Leader: "I Will Not Be Intimidated" Reply with quote

cyrus wrote:
Iran Union Leader: "I Will Not Be Intimidated"
June 21, 2007
ITUC OnLine
scoop.co.nz

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0706/S00411.htm

Brussels -- In an address to the ITUC General Council meeting in Brussels today, Iranian trade union leader Mansour Osanloo told of the persecution of him and other members of his union in the “Sherkate Vahed” company (Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company) by their employers and the Iranian authorities. Osanloo, who was accompanied by a delegation from the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF), described the harassment and intimidation which Sherkate Vahed members have been facing, with some members of the union having been arrested 10 or more times, and family members, including young children, being beaten, detained and subjected to inhumane treatment.

Just prior to arriving in Brussels, Osanloo had been notified that a five-year prison sentence had been passed on him, however he remained defiant in the face of this latest violation of fundamental rights by the Iranian authorities, telling the General Council that “I will not be intimidated by this”. Osanloo has already faced periods of detention, including in the notorious section 209 of Evin prison in Tehran. Following his arrest in November 2006, the ITUC and the ITF lodged a complaint with the International Labour Organisation, which also raised the cases of four other Sherkate Verhad members, who received prison sentences of between two and four years as a result of their trade union activities.

“Mansour Osanloo and his colleagues in the union are determined to continue their work in support of decent wages, employment conditions and fair treatment. The Iranian authorities should be ashamed of their continued denial of the right to independent and democratic trade unionism, and the ITF will continue to work with the ITUC to provide international solidarity to their cause”, said ITF General Secretary David Cockfroft.


I am surprised to see he was allowed to leave Iran for this conference.
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 23, 2007 3:28 am    Post subject: Questions Reply with quote

Hi, I have some questions. I am trying to start some awareness of this movement among people who should really be interested but don't seem to even know anything about it. I'm talking mostly about Messianic Jewish and Christian circles. I think there is a big untapped potential interest group there. Also, there could be interest among Military families and families with military age sons who are afraid of a draft being reinstated. Military age men make another big possible interest group. I'm sure that a war with Iran would mean the draft would be reinstated.

I would like to understand how you all relate to the Solidarity Iran group, and how solid you think that effort is gong to be. I would like to start a phone campaign to call Congress, but I want know what I'm talking about before I call or get others to call.

Do you have any suggestions about how to give a Congressman the best option for exactly what group and what effort to support?
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cyrus
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PostPosted: Sun Jun 24, 2007 1:01 pm    Post subject: Re: Questions Reply with quote

DvorahChavahYaeli wrote:


Do you have any suggestions about how to give a Congressman the best option for exactly what group and what effort to support?


Dear DvorahChavahYaeli,
1- Helping to Free All political prisoners in Iran.
2- Respect for Human Rights and Women Rights In Iran.
3- Stop Torture in Iran.
4- Don't talk to illegal regime in Iran.
5- Helping Iranian People for Regime Change and establishing Free Society in Iran.
6- Please Watch Mullahs Executing Iranian Youth Music Video Clip

7- They can watch these video clips as tip of iceberg and ask for correct actions
8- if they are commited to TRUTH may consider to Implement some of our demands in the following petitions.
Important ActivistChat Supported Petitions:

All Petitions ActivistChat Supports 30 Active Petitions For FREE Iran
Petition 1: Regime Change In Iran By Promoting Human Rights -July 8th, 2003[ActivistChat]
Petition 2: Kazemi: Expel the IRI from United Nations - July 24, 2003[ActivistChat]
Petition 3: A Plea for Justice Bam Earthquake Genocide[ActivistChat]
Petition 4: TRUE SECURITY BEGINS WITH REGIME CHANGE IN IRAN[ActivistChat]
Petition 5: A Plea For Support and Demonstration Attendance[ActivistChat]
Petition 6: United We Stand International Candlelight Vigil Public Invitation On September 11 To Remember Victims of All Human Tragedies and Hope For Peace and FREE Societies.[ActivistChat]
Petition 7: Free Iran and Regime Change[Ramin Etebar, M.D.]
Petition 8: Save Nazanin - With Over 200,000 Signatures[By Miss World Canada Nazanin Afshin-Jam]
Petition 9: Help Save Humanity's Cultural Heritage[Amil Imani is a poet, writer and ActivistChat Member]
Petition 10: Save the Precious Archeological Sites of Pasargad in Iran[SavePasargad.com]
Petition 11: Demanding To Prevent Terrorist Master Mahmood Ahmadinejad From Entering U.S.A. to Attend the UN General Assembly in New York in September[Majles Shora Hambastegi]
Petition 12: Expelling Envoys to the United Nations of the Islamic Republic[Majles Shora Hambastegi]
PETITION 13: Protesting Terrorist Ahmadinejad's Trip To U.S.A[SOSIRAN]
Petition 14: Demanding action against any nuclear adventures led by the mullahs in Iran and to FREE Iran and its people from this nightmare and tyranny[Majles Shora Hambastegi]
Petition 15: Gayteens Executions in Iran[COC Frank van Dalen]

Petition 17: Open Letter to the Lawyers of the World - Iranian Case[Shokooh Mirzadegi - Dr. Esmail Nooriala ]
PETITION 18: Denouncing Ahmadinejad's U.N. Visit[Roxanne Ganji]
PETITION 19: Chaos, Crisis Create Islamic Republic Illusions[Amil Imani is a poet, writer and ActivistChat Member]
Petition 20: ATTACK ON CENTER OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE[IOTM]
Petition 21: PERSIAN EMPIRE WAS OMITTED IN THE SCHOLASTI[The Global Concerned Scholars on SCHOLASTIC Conduct]
Petition 22: Defend Iran's territorial integrity from separatists[ROOZBEH FARAHANIPOUR marzeporgohar.org]
Petition 23: Defending the children of Iran's striking bus drivers[Shokooh Mirzadegi]
Petition 24: A Call to Protect Civil Rights for All Iranians By American Harvard University Students[American Harvard University Students ]
Petition 25: YES! TO WOMEN SPORTS FANS OF IRAN Over 109,675 Signatures[ALL IRANIAN SPORTS FANS and written by Kaveh Mahjoob and Daryoush Zahab]
Petition 26: Mission for Establishment of Human Rights in Iran - Protest the Legitimization of Islamic Regime by the United Nations[mehr.org]
Petition 27: Persian Gulf will remain persian[PersianBlog Community - Mehdi Boutorabi ]
Petition 28: Iranian Azarbaijanis Eternally Remain Integral Compatriots in Shaping The History and Life of IRAN[Professor Kaveh Farrokh, Independent Historian Scholar]
Petition 29: More atrocities against women in Iran[ SOS Iran]
Petition 30: Stop Legal Action Aganist Iranian Archeological Assets in the US[Shokooh Mirzadegi - Dr. Esmail Nooriala]
Petition 31: Save Malek Qorbani (Iranian Young Female) From Stoning To Death In Iran [Farshad Hoseini]
Petition 32: Stop bias on the Persian Gulf[Stefania ]
Petition 33: Save Malak Ghorbany from Death by Public Stoning [Lily Mazahery]
Petition 34: Free Ahmad Batebi[Mahshid Rasti]
Petition 35: Free Mohammad Majzadeh Ghaemmagmi[Monica Zandi, his cousin]
Petition 36: Reject Invitations to Khatami As Islamofascist Reformist Servant and Shirin Ebadi As “Muslim Women” . Are We Iranians or Muslims?[Activistchat]

Petition 37: A Plea for Justice - FREE Iran Real Cases Mock Trials Against Mullah Khatami, Khameni, Rafsanjani, Amadinejad ... As Islamic Fascists And For Crimes Against Humanity [Activistchat]
Petition 38: The University of St. Andrews awards Mr.Khatami an Honorary Degree![Dariosh Afshar]
Petition 39: Save Zahra kamalfar from violation in Iran and in Russia [Farshad Hoseini]

Petition 40: Petition 40: Liberty for Iran [Ali Mohebi]
Petition 41: Petition 41: Stop Internet censorship in Iran[Sensor-Free Iran]
Petition 42: National Referendum On The Faith Of The regime In Iran [Dr. Manouchehr Ganji]
Petition 43: Stop the dolphin and whale killings (brutal slaughter) in Taiji [Pedro Oliveira]
Petition 44: No Bombs, No Appeasement: Support the People of Iran's Struggle for a Secular, Peaceful Democracy [Amil Imani]
Petition 45: 300, an unethical movie picture[Dr. Hamed Vahdati Nasab ]
Petition 46: Boycott the Movie 300 [Mitra Dunn]
Petition 47: Power of Attorney to Dr. Dadkhah in relation to the impounding of Sivand Dam [Mitra Dunn]

Regards,
Cyrus
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Posts: 4993

PostPosted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 5:24 pm    Post subject: Workers of Iran Unite Under a New Leader Reply with quote

Workers of Iran Unite Under a New Leader
June 27, 2007
Gulf News
Amir Taheri

http://www.benadorassociates.com/article/20865

Some Western commentators have called him "the Iranian Lech Walesa" after the Polish trade unionist who helped bring down the Communist empire. The mullahs ruling Iran, however, regard him as "a dangerous enemy of Islam".

The man himself, Mansoor Osanloo, a 48-year old leader of one of the many illegal trade unions that have sprung up in Iran in the past few years, shies way from both sobriquets.

"We do not have a political agenda," he says. "All we are asking for is for Iranian workers to be treated as free human beings, not as slaves."

Osanloo first made his name in 2004 when along with 14 fellow-workers he created the Syndicate of Workers of the Tehran United Bus Company.

Within weeks, most employees of the company, owned by the Tehran municipality and controlled by the Ministry of the Interior, had joined the new union. That left the so-called Islamic Workers Council, a regime-sponsored organ imposed in many industries as an ersatz trade union, exposed and isolated. Workers across the country soon emulated the example set by the Tehran public transport employees. On this year's International Labour Day more than 400 free trade unions, boasting a membership of millions, raised their banners in Tehran.

Osanloo and his colleagues were among the founders of the Workers Organisations and Activists Coordination Council (WOACC) which is emerging as the principal voice of wage earners, especially in the public sector that accounts for more than 70 per cent of the Iranian economy.

The emergence of independent trade unions has meant the demise of Islamic Councils in many work places and the virtual death of the so-called Workers' House set up by the mullahs to control labour. Hundreds of mullahs who headed the Islamic Councils, often enjoying high salaries and perks, have been chased away by the free unions.

Osanloo was first jailed in 2005 when his union organised an original form of strike in Tehran.

This consisted of bus workers announcing free rides for all comers. When the authorities sent armed security men to deal with the situation, the workers went on strike, bringing Tehran, a megapolis of some 12 million inhabitants to a virtual halt.

The authorities then tried terror and intimidation. A group of 300 members of the Iranian branch of Hezbollah, armed with clubs and knives, attacked Osanloo and his colleagues and beat up their families, including small children.

Osanloo himself suffered knife wounds, including a deep cut in his tongue, inflicted by a Hezbollah member who had vowed to "silence the enemy of Islam".

A partial return to work was soon interrupted when bus drivers refused to implement a new rule under which female passengers were confined to back seats of the buses which, in practice, meant that more than 80 per cent of the seats in Tehran's double-decker buses were reserved for men.

Anxious to prevent a prolonged strike, the authorities released Osanloo eight months later, only to re-arrest him, again without charge.

In February, he was presented at a one-day trial held in camera.

"They had a file against me running into 1,300 dense pages," Osanloo says. "I wonder how the judge could go through all that in a single day."

Released from prison last March on bail of £164,000, a huge fortune in Iran, Osanloo was allowed to travel to London and Brussels earlier this month to address the annual conferences of the International Transport Workers Federation and the International Trade Unions Conference.

Having spent almost a year in Tehran's dreaded Evin Prison, known as the "Islamic Alcatraz" on two occasions, Osanloo risks being rearrested and jailed at any moment.

Nevertheless, if the Tehran authorities had hoped that allowing him to visit abroad might tempt him to stay in exile, they would be disappointed. He has no intention of throwing in the towel.

"We are at the start of a long struggle," he said in a conversation in Brussels. "We are fighting for what is a basic human right: the right of workers to organise themselves in free and independent trade unions and negotiate conditions under which they accept employment."

New draft code

The current administration in Iran, however, considers such talk as "dangerous for the faith and the state".

President Mahmoud Ahmadi-nejad has unveiled a new draft labour code under which Iranian workers would lose almost all the rights they had secured over decades of struggle and as a result of Iran's membership of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

The philosophy behind Ahmadinejad's position is simple: the division of people into employees and employers is a "Jewish-Crusader" invention. In Islam both employers and employees are part of the ummah (the community of faithful") and bound by divine laws that cannot be questioned, let alone amended.

If enacted into law, the proposed labour code would make the formation of trade unions, theoretically allowed under the existing Constitution, illegal, abolish the minimum wage and allow employers to fire any worker they wish instantly and without compensation.

The avalanche unleashed by the Tehran transport workers more than two years ago has continued with hundreds of strikes, sit-ins and other industrial action throughout Iran. Right now an estimated 100,000 workers are on strike in a range of industries.

"Iranian workers are discovering their power," Osanloo says. "The authorities would be wise to acknowledge that power and address the legitimate grievances of workers. At present, however, there is no sign that this is the case."

Iranian author Amir Taheri is based in Europe.
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PostPosted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 2:48 pm    Post subject: Teamsters Call for Release of Imprisoned Iranian Union Leade Reply with quote

Teamsters Call for Release of Imprisoned Iranian Union Leader

July 18, 2007
USNewswire
PR Newswire

http://orange.advfn.com/news_Teamsters-Call-for-Release-of-Imprisoned-Iranian-Union-Leader_21491883.html

WASHINGTON -- The Teamsters Union deplores the arrest and imprisonment of an Iranian union leader kidnapped last week in Tehran. The union demands his immediate and unconditional release.

Mansour Osanloo, president of the Vahed Bus Workers' Union in Tehran, was abducted July 10 from a street by several men. Witnesses say he was beaten and bundled into a gray car. Iranian authorities initially denied knowledge of his whereabouts, but later admitted he is incarcerated in Tehran's Evin Prison.

Teamster General President Jim Hoffa said he is extremely concerned about Osanloo's safety.

"The Teamsters Union abhors the latest attack on Mansour Osanloo and demands his release from prison," Hoffa said. "His assault and kidnapping are a deliberate violation of his union rights and an attempt to intimidate union supporters in Iran. We are joining unions around the world in protesting this violation of human and union rights."

Osanloo has been arrested three times before for union activity. He was arrested in November. The next month, union supporters were arrested during a union meeting. Iranian police later arrested hundreds more workers as they demonstrated in protest.

In February 2006, Teamsters demonstrated in Washington to demand the release of the imprisoned Iranian bus drivers as part of a worldwide protest.

Some of the trade union prisoners were freed, following strikes and pressure from international worker and human rights organizations. Released workers reported they have been denied the right to return to their jobs, and more have been arrested.

Iran is a member of the International Labor Organization and therefore is legally obligated to comply with the principles of freedom of association. That includes the right to form and join unions, the right to bargain collectively and the right to strike.

Iran's own constitution permits "the formation of parties, societies, political or professional associations." Iranian law recognizes the right to strike.

The Teamsters are urging their members to demand Osanloo's release by signing a petition and letter to Iranian President Mohammed Ahmadjinejad. The International Transport Workers' Federation Web site provides a URL for that purpose: http://www.itfglobal.org/solidarity/osanloo2.cfm.

Founded in 1903, the Teamsters Union represents more than 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States and Canada.

DATASOURCE: International Brotherhood of Teamsters


CONTACT: Leslie Miller of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters,

+1-202-624-6911,


Web site: http://www.teamster.org/

http://www.itfglobal.org/solidarity/osanloo2.cfm
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