As we have previously proclaimed, not only do we not recognize these governmental and ideological organizations (Labour House and Islamic Labour Councils) as representatives of the Iranian workes community, but we also believe these kinds of organizations must be abolished because of their obvious aggression against the interests of workers in Iran. The heads of these organizations must be put on trial especially because of their recent violent assaults, their hooliganism with maces, destruction, and looting of the Founding. Committee of the Sherkat-e Vahed Union. (Sherkat-e Vahed is a public transport). Bearing this in mind, we condemn the negotiations between the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Labour House and Islamic Labour Councils, and furthermore the negotiations lack credibility. In addition to this, the recognition of these kinds of anti-worker organizations not only is contrary to the International Labour Office conventions, but they are accomplices in their crimes. Therefore, we call on all worker-organizations. and progressive parties around the world to protest against the ILO due to this kind of collaboration.
Negotiations between the International Labour Organization and Labour House
and Islamic Labour Councils are deficient in credibility
According to the Iranian Labour News Agency (ILNA), on May 31, 2005, some agents of Labour House and Islamic Labour Councils participated in the 93rd International Labour. Conference in Geneva ‘on behalf of the Iranian workers community’.
As we have previously proclaimed, not only do we not recognize these governmental and ideological organizations (Labour House and Islamic Labour Councils) as representatives of the Iranian workes community, but we also believe these kinds of organizations must be abolished because of their obvious aggression against the interests of workers in Iran. The heads of these organizations must be put on trial especially because of their recent violent assaults, their hooliganism with maces, destruction, and looting of the Founding. Committee of the Sherkat-e Vahed Union. (Sherkat-e Vahed is a public transport). Bearing this in mind, we condemn the negotiations between the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Labour House and Islamic Labour Councils, and furthermore the negotiations lack credibility. In addition to this, the recognition of these kinds of anti-worker organizations not only is contrary to the International Labour Office conventions, but they are accomplices in their crimes. Therefore, we call on all worker-organizations. and progressive parties around the world to protest against the ILO due to this kind of collaboration.
Coordinating Committee to Form Workers Organization
June 1, 2005
Condemning arrest and assault of worker-activists
On May 5th, 2005, a worker-activist, who is a colleague of “Committee in Pursuit of Free Labour Organisations” by the name of Sadegh Amiri was arrested at his work by three people who introduced themselves as intelligence agents. They took him to an unknown place. Additionally, according to other news that we have received, on May 9th, the Skerkat-e Vahed ( bus workers) syndicate office was attacked and broken into. Manssor Osanloo, one of the syndicate activists, was seriously beaten up and injured, and then transferred to a hospital. Previously, on April 30, 2005, three worker-activists in Bukan: Esmaeel Khodkam (arrested on May 1st, 2004), Masoud Rahmani and Jalil Vasi were arrested and assaulted. They were released the next morning at 3:00 due to protests and persuasion of the baker-workers at Saqez and Bukan. Furthermore, Parviz Salarvand, a worker in Iran Khodro (car factory) was arrested on April 12th 2005, . He is still in Evin prison and efforts of his co-workers and his family for his release have not provided any results. We condemn the assaults and arrests of the worker-activists. We demand the immediate and unconditional release of all these people as well as the end of repeated and obvious human rights violations for all those politically or economically active.
Coordinating Committee to Form Workers Organization
May 10, 2005
Mr. Guy Rider
General Secretary
ICFTU
5 Boulevard Du Roi Albert II, Bte 1
1210 Brussels
Belgium
Date: 06/05/2005
Dear Mr. Guy Ryder,
Kindly appreciating you and the ICFTU for supporting the rights of Iranian working class, as I informed you in my letter dating 26th of October 2004 concerning the letter of understanding between the ILO and the authorities of the Islamic Republic Of Iran, Iranian workers do not recognize Islamic Labour Councils (ILCs) as free workers’ organizations and do not believe that the ILCs can be converted into free organizations defending workers’ rights. There, I wrote that recognition of the ILCs by the ILO does not interrupt our struggle to form free workers’ organizations. Due to the hard conditions and repeated threats by the governmental authorities, we, the workers of Iran, know that we have to form and maintain our organization with our own power and then have the Iranian government and capital owners to recognize it. To do this, we, a number of workers, have formed a committee named the “ Coordinating Committee to Form workers’ Organization” who, up to now, has been supported
by thousands of workers whose names and occupations are attached.
Dear Mr. Guy Ryder,
To form its free and true organizations, Iranian working class is confronted by alot of restrictions, and the collection of thousands of signatures in these conditions and in a short time can show any observer the potential of Iranian working class to form its true organizations. Nowadays, all the workers’ tendencies and activists who oppose the ILCs and the labour House are struggling to form their free organizations, whether it be councils or trade unions and syndicates or etc. We welcome these activities and have a unifying attitude towards them. We encourage other workers activists to struggle for workers organizations. In this globalization era, Iranian workers can only in this way defend their economic, political and human rights. Accordingly, we expect all the workers’ organizations of the world, especially ICFTU and its members, to support us.
Dear Mr. Guy Ryder,
Supporting the “ Coordinating Committee To Form Workers' Organization” by the ICFTU and its members is to serve the working class of Iran.
Yours Sincerely,
Mahmood Salehi
Spokesman Of Coordinating Committee To Form Workers’ Organization
