Call to back worldwide protests over detained Iranian bus workers

International Transport Workers' Federation:

The ITF is urging transport workers across the world to support an international day of action demanding the release of over 1000 trade unionists imprisoned in Iran.

The action day, set for 15 February and called by Global Unions, will see unions rally against the continuing attacks against workers involved in the Sandikaye Kargarane Sherkate Vahed, the Syndicate of the Tehran Bus Company. A series of arrests was made following protests and strikes sparked by the detention of the union’s leader Mansour Osanloo on 22 December last year, reportedly charged with “illegal trade union activity” and “turbulence”. He remains in an infamous torture centre for political prisoners in Tehran. READ MORE

More than 1000 trade unionists are also still in custody, among them, a number of those arrested on 28 January during a day of strike action. The strikers were met with violence as security forces used tear gas and batons against them and threatened to shoot them. Police also raided syndicate members’ homes.

In a circular dated 8 February 2006, ITF General Secretary David Cockroft called on affiliates to stage their protests outside Iranian embassies on 15 February to help put an end to the flagrant anti-union attacks.

On 4 February, representatives of the ITF, the UK-based Trades Union Congress and British ITF affiliate the GMB joined members of the Iranian community in Britain in a protest rally at the Iranian embassy in London, UK. A rally, organised by the Canadian Labour Congress, was also held in Ottawa, Canada, on 2 February.

A protest letter on 6 January from the ITF to the Iranian government condemned the repression, while the ITF’s Urban Transport committee resolved to lobby for the release of Osanloo.

The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions has also issued three protest letters.