URGENT ACTION: free trade unionists jailed in Iran after May Day protests

TUC/Amnesty International Action

Justice for Iranian Workers

June 2009

Against the background of post-election turmoil in Iran, and in the context of a Global Solidarity Action Day on Friday 26 June, the TUC is joining Amnesty International in calling for the release of four trade unionists and a journalist who remain in jail following mass arrests at two May Day rallies in Tehran.

Jafar Azimzadeh and Said Youzi have not been brought before a court. Kaveh Mozaffari, Gholamreza Khani and Mehdi Farahani Shandiz have had their bail set at amounts their families cannot afford but it is not known whether they have been charged.

Amnesty considers that they are prisoners of conscience and should be released immediately and without condition.

They join other imprisoned trade unionists Mansour Ossanlu and Ibrahim Medadi, of the Tehran Bus Workers' Union as well as teacher trade unionist Farzad Kamangar.

Take action today

The TUC urges British trade unionists to join Amnesty International's Urgent Action for these trade unionists. You can register your protest online at http://www.amnesty.org.uk/actions_details.asp?ActionID=613

Background information

Eight members of the Metal workers and Mechanics Union who were also arrested on 1 May have been released in recent days. The arrested trade unionists were all part of a larger group arrested in the course of the commemorations marking International Workers' Day on 1 May.

Iranian workers continue to face tough times. They often wait for months to receive wages, are made 'redundant' when they complain, and are beaten up and arrested when they protest.

Only puppet unions are allowed by the Iranian government. Independent unions are brutally repressed, their leaders flung in jail and their protests broken up.

May Day demonstrations this year were attacked with tear gas, beatings and arrests. Many are still detained by the police.

Trade unionists like Farzad Kamangar (teachers), Ali Nejati (sugar workers), Mansour Osanloo, Ebrahim Madadi (bus workers) and Mahmoud Salehi (bakers) are regularly arrested and harassed.

This repression is an unacceptable denial of fundamental human rights. Iran refuses to sign the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions on the freedom to join unions and negotiate with employers.

Unions around the world, together with Amnesty International, demand justice for our brothers and sisters in Iran. On Friday 26 June, we are protesting worldwide for:

• the release of all imprisoned trade unionists
• recognition of all independent workers' organisations in Iran
• ratification of ILO Conventions on freedom of association and right to collective bargaining
• the reinstatement of unfairly dismissed workers.

For more information about the global solidarity action day on Friday 26 June 2009, please visit www.justiceforiranianworkers.org