The families of the arrested Vahed Bus Company of Tehran and Suburbs, and members and activists of the union not in prison, have issued a statement in which they announce that the bus drivers, other workers and office staff of the company will be going on strike on Friday 3 February.
The workers had gone on strike on Saturday 28 January demanding a number of basic economic demands, the right to organise as a trade union and the release of their leader, Mr Ossanlou. The Iranian regime's response was to attack their homes the night before the strike, abduct and even beat their wives and small children, and try to break the strike by bullying and frightening the activists.
On the day of the strike they drafted in hundreds of riot police, factory security, uniformed and plain clothes officers. Many drivers were beaten and intimidated into going back to work. Hundreds of arrests were made, including students from various universities in Tehran who had gone to the Area 6 Terminus to support the workers.
This time the workers are staying at home (Friday is the equivalent of Sunday in the Islamic Republic). Their demands have not changed. They still want:
- The release of Mr Ossanlou and other leaders,
- signing a collective contract,
- union recognition,
- better pay and conditions.
With over 500 of the Vahed workers still in Evin prison, where they are on hunger strike, and several members of their families also in custody, the solidarity and support of the international labour movement is crucial in bringing about the release of the Vahed workers and their families. We also urge all human rights activists, student activists, socialists, humanists and progressives to support the Vahed workers, their families, as well as all students and other activists who have been arrested because of the above basic demands.
The Vahed trade union has already brought about a big change within the Iranian workers' movement. With your support we can help them win all their demands and set an example for millions of other Iranian workers. A victory will have a profound effect on the balance of class forces in Iran and bring about a new era of representative and independent trade unions and workers' organisations.
Iranian Workers' Solidarity Network
2 February 2006