Two More Iranian Unionists Arrested:

Two more members of the Board of Directors of the Syndicate of the Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company were arrested on Dec. 3rd and released pending a judicial hearing on Dec. 4th. The two activists, Seyed Davoud Razavi and Abdoireza Tarazi, were distributing union leaflets in Tehran's Khavaran Bus Terminal. These two activists are among 50 suspended workers who were fired over job actions last year.

Meanwhile various Iranian labour and social activists issued a joint release on Dec. 3rd demanding the release of Mansour Osanloo, the union President, who had been held in detention since Nov. 19th (see previous items on this blog 'Iran:Free Mansour Osanloo Now'-Nov. 24th and 'More on Mansour Osanloo'-Nov. 29th) . Mr. Osanloo has now been allowed one visit from his wife and another with his lawyers. The lawyers, however, have not been able to view the State's file on him.

As previously mentioned the 'Labour Start' site (http://www.labourstart.org -or see 'Other Interesting Links at the bottom of this page) have initiated a solidarity campaign for Mr. Osanloo. A general background on the situation of labour in Iran can be found at the site of the 'International Alliance in Support of Workers in Iran (http://www.workers-iran.org ), a labour solidarity group set up in 2000 by various Canadian unions.