Northern TUC and Amnesty show solidarity for Iranian workers
Northern TUC and Amnesty show solidarity for Iranian workers
Despite the pouring rain, trade unionists from the region rallied together at Grey's Monument in Newcastle's city centre to show their support and solidarity for imprisoned Iranian workers and fellow trade unionists.
Trade unionists, Amnesty members and members of the general public joined the rally, dressed in black and held placards bearing the names and photographs of those arrested at trade union demonstrations on May Day last month in Tehran, who still have not been released.
May Day demonstrations this year were attacked with tear gas, beatings and arrests and leading independent trade unionists in Iran are regularly arrested and harassed. Unions around the worked, together with Amnesty International, demand justice and are protesting worldwide on 26th June 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
Kevin Rowan says, 'The world has seen the true face of the current Iranian regime in the way in which the demonstrations in Tehran and elsewhere have been brutally dealt with. While this is now in the public sphere what is less known is that trade unionists have for some time been systematically and regularly harassed, intimidated and arrested, just for speaking up for working people."
'The demonstration today highlights the continued need for Iran to respect workers' rights, adhere to international rights for workers to organise and to formerly ratify International Labour Organisation conventions. It can start this process by releasing all imprisoned trade unionists immediately.'
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