SOLIDARITY NEWS : IRAN AND THE PHILIPPINES:
Mansour Osanloo, the detained leader of the Tehran bus workers (see previous blogs on this site) was released from detention on December 19th. after a worldwide campaign of labour solidarity on his behalf. While labour organizations are pleased with his release they point out that he had to post even more bail, was beaten during the arrest and that many bus drivers in Tehran are still without jobs due to their union activities.
Meanwhile there is a new campaign in support of the Philippine workers at the Chong Won Fashion factory in Cavite Province. The Philippine Workers' Assistance Center has listed a number of ongoing violations of labour rights at this factory. Wal-Mart is a major buyer from this supplier, and the company has contracted with a U.S. monitoring agency, Verite, to do yet another third party investigation of Chong Won's actions. This would, very conveniently, not be completed until the end of the Holiday shopping season. The Labour Start online solidarity outfit is asking for emails to Wal-Mart demanding they cease stalling and "bring appropriate pressure on its supplier to reinstate the illegally fired workers, enter into good faith negotiations with the union for a first collective agreement, and cease all anti-union harassment and discrimination".
To join this campaign go to the Labour Start board at http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/solidarityforever/show_campaign.cgi?c=174 .
Molly