INTERNATIONAL LABOUR IRAN:

GLOBAL LABOUR CONDEMNS IMPRISONMENT OF IRANIAN WORKERS:

The following item is originally from the International Transport Worker Federation. It came to Molly's attention via the Justice For Iranian Workers site. Molly has mentioned the cases of these Iranian unionists several times before on this blog.

IWIWIWIWIW

Dear Friends,

The ITF has released the following press statement today.

ITF deplores continuing imprisonment of Shahabi, Osanloo and Madadi

29 October 2010

1. Commenting on the continuing imprisonment of members of the Vahed Syndicate, ITF Inland Transport Secretary Mac Urata said: “The injustice continues. There had been some hopes that the union’s treasurer, Reza Shahabi, might be released today, but they look like they will come to nothing - just like the regime’s empty promises to release Mansour Osanloo. We invite the Iranian government to prove us wrong and show that they can still do the decent thing and release these innocent workers.”

He continued: “We are reliably informed that Reza Shahabi is being heavily interrogated, despite reported health issues, and being denied legal advice and contact with his deeply worried family. His family have paid 60 million Toman (USD 60,000) in bail, but his release is still nowhere in sight.”

Reza Shahabi was arrested on 12 June this year without any charges being specified by the authorities. In August the ITF’s 42nd Congress in Mexico City unanimously adopted an emergency resolution to demand his and Mansour Osanloo and Ebrahim Madadi’s immediate release.

2. In the recent weeks, some transport unions including the Belgian BTB and the Dutch FNV Bondgenoten have given the status of honorary membership to Osanloo and other detained leaders of the union.

3. During the ITF's Respect and Safety Action Week, 6 - 12 October, 100 members of the Belgian ACV Transcom protested in front of the Iranian Embassy in Brussels to demand freedom for Mansoor Osanloo and other imprisoned Iranian trade unionists. So did the Japanese JRU union delegation in Tokyo but their request to meet with the envoy and to submit a letter were refused. Bus members of the union will write postcards to the President of Iran on this matter. Earlier, on 17 September, Norwegian Transport Workers Union, Fagforbundet and two other unions demonstrated outside the Iranian Embassy in Oslo, prior to the UN's General Assembly in New York where the Iranian President was scheduled to attend.

Send us your reports and plans for actions - Mac
www.justiceforiranianworkers.org

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR-IRAN:

JAILED UNIONIST NEEDS URGENT MEDICAL TREATMENT:

The following appeal for the jailed Iranian trade unionist Mansour Ossanlu is from the UK branch of Amnesty International. It came to Molly's attention via the online labour solidarity site Labour Start. Molly has blogged about the case of Mr. Ossanlu previously.

ILILILILILILIL

Iran: Jailed trade unionist needs urgent medical treatment:
Prisoner of conscience Mansour Ossanlu's health is deteriorating. A year ago he was transferred to Reja’i Shahr prison, west of Tehran, where he was placed among prisoners who have been convicted of crimes such as murder, rather than among political prisoners.

He has been denied permission to leave the prison for treatment for pre-existing medical problems, and new ones gained through the denial of access to treatment. He was denied treatment by the case judge, despite a referral by the prison doctor following his fourth medical examination.

Despite the recommendation by the Coroner, and Medical Examiner, at the end of last year that Mansour be treated outside the prison, the authorities continue to refuse to allow him to leave for treatment.

Mansour Ossanlu is leader of the Union of Workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company (Sherkat-e Vahed), was arrested on 10 July 2007.

Background information

Mansour Ossanlu was previously detained for eight months, from December 2005 to August 2006, and again for a month from November to December 2006 in connection with his trade union activities. He had reportedly been sentenced to five years' imprisonment in May 2007, but was believed to be free on bail at the time of his arrest.In October 2007, upon learning that Ossanlu was at risk of losing his eyesight unless he was given urgent medical treatment that was being denied him by the prison authorities, Amnesty International and the Global Unions mounted an urgent appeal which resulted in his transfer to hospital. Though his eyesight has been saved, he continues to be denied urgently needed medical treatment.
ILILILILILILIL

THE LETTER:

Please go to THIS LINK to send the following protest letter to the Iranian authorities.

ILILILILILILIL

I understand that the Coroner, or Medical Examiner attached to Raja’i Shahr Prison in Karaj has directed, both this year and last, that prison officials grant Mansour Ossanlu medical leave in order to receive appropriate treatment. I understand that prison officials, have disregarded this directive and denied him leave. I respectfully remind you that every prisoner has the right to adequate medical attention and that you are responsible for prisoners’ wellbeing.

I am very concerned that Ossanlu appears to be held solely on account of his peaceful trade union activities, in which case he should be released immediately and unconditionally. I remind you of the obligations of Iran under ICCPR Article 22 (1) and ILO conventions 87 and 98, which provide for the right to form and join trade unions.

As a priority, I urge the authorities to ensure that he is given immediate and regular access to his lawyers, and his family as well as adequate and appropriate medical care.

I also urge you to ensure that all jailed Iranian trade unionists, and those facing prosecution and imprisonment arising from legitimate trade union activities, are released, including Ossanlu’s colleague, Ebrahim Madadi, and teacher Farzad Kamangar.

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR-IRAN:

IRANIAN SUGAR WORKERS AWAIT VERDICT:

The case of five Iranian sugar worker activists, summoned to a kangaroo court for their legitimate union activities, was mentioned a few days ago here at Molly's Blog. Here's an update on the case from the IUF and a call for further solidarity.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Iran: Verdict against five union leaders of Haft Tapeh expected in next few days:
Posted to the IUF website 24-Feb-2009
Share this article.
To read more and help these brave workers click here.
The court hearing against the five union leaders of Haft Tapeh in the southern city of Shush concluded yesterday at 2.30pm local time. The Revolutionary Court said that the verdict will be issued in a few days. All five men are trailed for "propaganda against the government". During the hearing, the union's lawyer argued against this allegation citing that it is too vague and the court has not followed the proper legal procedure.




The verdict against Ali Nejati, Feridoun Nikoufard, Mohammed Heydari Mehr, Ghorban Alipour and Jalil Ahmadi were scheduled to be delivered on 17 February but was forced to be delayed after the defendants and the lawyer demanded the presence of the plaintiff who did not even bother to make his appearance before the judge that day. Nor was there any serious "evidence", they argued successfully.




After this session, another Executive Board member of the union, Rahim Beshag, was arrested on 22 February by the secret police and taken into the custody. His charges are not known. This is a part of the on-going attack by the authorities to crack-down the union activities at Haft Tapeh. Today, the Ministry of Labour pushed for an election of Islamic Labour Council at the factory. Much to their dissatisfaction, a small minority of the workers took part in the voting.




The IUF and the unions around the world have been supporting the Haft Tapeh workers union and this court case over the past few weeks. Upon hearing this brave news of the defendants challenging the Revolutionary Court procedure, they stepped-up their campaign by organising mass protest mails to the Iranian leadership. More than 8,000 people have accessed to the online protest sites set by the IUF and LabourStart in less than a week. Mailing lists by the ITF and Amnesty International were used to support the campaign.




In the past, the court has "issued" verdicts in other cases involving the leaders of independent workers' movement such as Mansour Osanloo but have often failed to produce anything in writing. In some cases, it has taken a few months for the verdict to be delivered.




IUF members stand ready to support our members in Iran and we will provide updated information as this case progresses.

IRAN:
URGENT MEDICAL ATTENTION NEEDED FOR JAILED IRANIAN TRADE UNION LEADER:
Molly has reported previously on the case of Mansour Osanloo, the jailed leader of the bus workers' union in Tehran, Iran. This political prisoner is now in a precarious state of health, and may lose his eyesight unless he received urgent medical attention, something the Iranian authorities are denying him. Amnesty International has launched an online campaign to demand that Mr. Osanloo receive medical attention. You can read more about this campaign and join it HERE.

The International Transport Workers' Federation who have spearheaded the international campaign in Osanloo's defense have produced a short film entitled 'Freedom Will Come'. You can view it online at YouTube HERE. A DVD of the film will also soon be available.

MORE ON MANSOUR OSANLOO:
In a previous report on this blog we mentioned the case of Mansour Osanloo, the President of the bus drivers' union in the greater Tehran area of Iran. The website 'Labour Start' (http://www.labourstart.org - see also our 'Other Interesting Links' section, now at the bottom of the blog rather than to the left) has an update on this case.
Osanloo is being held in the Evin prison where the authorities claim that they are "negotiating" with him. They claim that he is allowed only one visitor- his mother-, but when she attempted to visit him she was refused access. Family members cannot phone him either.
Since Labour Start initiated this campaign they have logged over 2,500 protests from around the world over this arrest. Go to LS's site to receive further updates and to see other labour related solidarity campaigns from around the world.
Molly

IRAN: FREE MANSOUR OSANLOO NOW !!!
Mansour Osanloo is the President of the Syndicate of the Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company. He was arrested on Sunday, Nov. 19th, when he and two other union members were on their way to the Labour Ministry in East Tehran. The plainclothes police who arrested him assaulted him and discharged a firearm before forcing him into a car. he was granted a hearing on Nov., 20th. Mr. Osanloo had previously served about 8 months in Tehran's Evin prison following an action by his union in 2005.
Other union activists in Iran have also been targeted. Mahmoud Saleli, former President of the Bakery Workers' Association of Saqez City has been sentenced to four years imprisonment. Jalal Hosseini, a board member of the Committee to Form Workers' Organizations was sentenced to 2 years of prison, as was Borhan Divargar, also of Saqez.
The theocracy of Iran is determined to prevent the spread of any independent organizations, especially unions who might threaten the financial empire that they have built up through control of the state.
There is now an international campaign to demand Mansour Osanloo's release. You can learn more about this case and participate by going to the 'Labour Start' website at http://www.labourstart.org . This site has also been added to the 'Other Interesting Sites' section of this blog's links. It's a site highly recommended for those who want to keep up with union news from across the world and participate in solidarity actions.