News

NEWS

Amnesty Says Dozens of Journalists in Jail

http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-06-26-voa66.cfm



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ACTION DAY REPORT 



Photos

http://www.flickr.com/photos/justiceforiranianworkers/



Videos

Wellington (RMTU) * Canberra (MUA) * London (TUC) * London (ITF) * Copenhagen (Amnesty International) 

 

Reports

Hong Kong (05h37 BST, 26 June)

Trade unionists visited the Iranian Consulate and submitted their memorandum of protest today. (Email report by Chiu-wai Chan)http://www.flickr.com/photos/justiceforiranianworkers/sets/72157620442942135/



Indonesia (06h51 BST)

A demonstration of 100 union representatives from ITF unions and other Global Union affiliates in Indonesia was held in front of the Iranian Embassy in Jakarta today. The event was covered by electronic media and press. (Email report by Sonny Pattiselanno)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/justiceforiranianworkers/sets/72157620582853772/



Australia (07h52 BST)

Around 100 union members and supporters from the Australian Workers’ Union, the Australian Services Union, the Australian Education Union, the CFMEU, the Maritime Union of Australia and the Rail Tram and Bus Union have protested outside the Embassy in Canberra today. The union members had wanted to hand a letter to the Ambassador from the Australian Council of Trade Unions outlining the anger of union members at the treatment of unionists in Iran, however the Iranian Ambassador refused to meet the union delegation. The letter has been sent by fax to the Ambassador instead. (Email report by Andrew Casey)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/justiceforiranianworkers/sets/72157620582842964/



India – Mumbai (08h28 BST)

The National Union of Seafarers of India, Maritime Union of India, Transport and Dock Workers Union, Aviation Industry Employees Guild and Western Railway Employees Union has had a very effective meeting with the Consulate General of the Iranian Consulate in Mumbai, who promised to look into the issue and has requested that the unions provide the names of those arrested and details of the prison in which they are being held. (Email report from Abdulgani Y. Serang)



Sweden (09h07 BST)

The President of TCO, the Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees, Sture Nordh has today sent a protest letter to the Iranian Ambassador in Stockholm demanding that the Iranian Government respect fundamental trade union rights and underlining the importance of releasing the imprisoned trade unionists.  The letter also called for a halt to the ongoing repression of the Iranian people and for democratic development in Iran including respect for freedom of association for both workers and employers. (Email report by Lars Bengtsson)



India – New Delhi (09h58 BST)

In a great show of solidarity, workers from ITF-affiliated unions in India have held demonstrations in New Delhi, Mumbai and  Lucknow. In Delhi over 500 AIRF railway workers demonstrated at the Jantar Mantar, as police had issued prohibitory orders in the area surrounding the Iranian embassy. The demonstration was addressed by representatives of the AIRF, NRMU and ITF. A delegation was later escorted to the Iranian Embassy where they were met by the Counsellor in the Embassy who accepted the memorandum and promised to forward it to Tehran.  There are also reports of a demonstration by the NRMU at Lucknow station in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. There is a sizeable Shia community in this city. (Email report by Sangam Tripathy)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/justiceforiranianworkers/sets/72157620639175088/



Thailand (09h51 BST)

This morning ITF, ITUC, IUF and ICEM affilaites in Thailand joined together to organise a protest in front of the Iranian Embassy in Bangkok to show solidarity support to the Iranian workers and to protest against human and workers’ rights violations in Iran. The demonstrators, who were holding banners, posters and waving flags were met by a strong police presence outside the Embassy. Unlike previous protest activity, on this occasion, the Embassy refused to accept the unions’ joint protest letter. The unions will send the joint protest letter by fax and email to the Iranian Embassy in Bangkok and related authorities in Iran. (Email report by Su-angcana Tungworachet)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/justiceforiranianworkers/sets/72157620545770051/



Nepal (10h31 BST)

Nepal Yatayat Mazdoor Sangh (NETWON) has this morning submitted a protest letter to the Nepalese Foreign Secretary in solidarity with Iranian workers. The Foreign Secretary committed to send the letter to the Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran since there is no Iranian Embassy in Nepal. (Email report by Ajay Kumarrai)



Belgium – Antwerp (11h42 BST)

Today at midday BTB-ABVV unionists joined together to organise a protest in front of the BTB offices to show solidarity support to the Iranian workers and to protest against human and workers・rights violations in Iran. Participants were informed about the repression of Iranian trade unionists. The symbolic action ended with a minute’s silence as a tribute to imprisonned workers in Iran. (Email report by Frank Moreels)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/justiceforiranianworkers/sets/72157620452786373/



Spain (11h57 BST)

This morning representatives from UGT and CC.OO met in front of the Iranian Embassy to protest the imprisonment of trade unionists in Iran. The delegation was not permitted to enter the Embassy however a joint letter from the two national centres was handed over to an employee at the Embassy. (Email report by Sebastian Serena)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/justiceforiranianworkers/sets/72157620686882284/



Turkey (13h19 BST)

Turkish unions including Tekgida-Is, TÜMTIS and BIRLESIK METAL –IS took part in a protest at the Iranian Consulate of Istanbul, organised by TÜRK-IS (Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions) and DISK (Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey), to show solidarity and support to the workers and people of Iran. (Email report by Burcu Ayan)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/justiceforiranianworkers/sets/72157620452124767/



Great Britain (15h10 BST)

Representatives from the ITF, TUC, Amnesty International and UK affiliates participated in a protest rally between 12:30 and 13:30 opposite the Iranian Embassy in London. Activists displayed flags, campaign banners and posters with the messages “Free Osanloo” and “Justice for Iranian Workers”. Leaflets with information about the global campaign were also distributed. Demonstrators held placards bearing the names of those arrested at trade union demonstrations on May Day in Tehran who have still not been released. A delegation of unionists and human rights activists attempted to deliver 16,000 Amnesty International postcards calling on the Iranian Government to release the jailed Iranian prisoners, however the Embassy did not meet the delegation or receive the postcards. Participants at the rally signed a red flag in solidarity with workers in Iran.” (Report by Claire Clarke)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/justiceforiranianworkers/sets/72157620451279487/



Netherlands (12h17 BST)

Members of FNV Bondgenoten in the Netherlands organised solidarity activity in front of the “Proviniehuis” in Utrecht where members of the union’s parliament had a meeting on the Iran Action Day. (Email report by Hans Hupkes)



Italy (14h32 BST)

On 25 June, representatives of the ITUC, OECD-TUAC and national labour centres of the G8 countries expressed their deep concern over the situation in Iran at their meeting in Rome. Led by the Italian centres, CGIL,CISL and UIL, the union delegation visited the Iranian Embassy to hold a protest rally. Click here to see the video. (Email report by June Sorensen)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/justiceforiranianworkers/sets/72157620545783783/



Norway (15h43 BST)

The Norwegian Unions Fagforbundet, Norsk Transportarbeiderforbund and other ITF affiliates organised a successful demonstration today outside the Iranian Embassy in Oslo, bringing together 150 people. The Embassy refused to receive a protest letter from the Norwegian unions and so it was delivered to the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs who will send the letter to the Embassy. (Email report by Per Østvold)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/justiceforiranianworkers/sets/72157620593968952/



Belgium – Brussels (16h27 BST)

At 13:00 about 70 trade union and Amnesty International representatives came together in front of the Iranian Embassy in Brussels. They were representing a huge trade union coalition including the ITUC, EI, other Global Union Federations, and the ETF as the European Transport Workers’ Federation. On behalf of the Belgian unions the three trade union centres, FGTB, CSC and CBSLB were present as well as three ITF / ETF affiliates: BTB/UBOT, ACV Transcom and the CGSP. No representatives from the Embassy came out to meet with the participants and so the trade union leaders delivered their protest letter to the Embassy’s letter box. (Email report by Sabine Trier)http://www.flickr.com/photos/justiceforiranianworkers/sets/72157620452786373/



Denmark (19h09 BST)

The Danish Section of Amnesty International mobilised its activists and organised a demonstration in front of the Iranian embassy in Copenhagen. (Email report by incerly Yours John Nielsen)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/justiceforiranianworkers/sets/72157620464172039/



Canada – Ottawa (22h00 BST)

The demonstration at the Iranian embassy in Ottawa was attended by 100 people. Solidarity greetings were presented by representatives of Amnesty International, Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) and the National Teachers Federation (NTF). Paul Dewar, the federal New Democratic Party (NDP) Member of Parliament for the riding of Ottawa Centre also spoke. There were restrictions in front of the embassy so the demo was held across the street. There were a lot of flags and chanting and music. The campaign stickers were everywhere. (Email report by George Floresco)



Canada – Vancouver (22h50 BST)

On 25 June, the Vancouver & District Labour Council organised a rally in solidarity with the Iranian workers. (Email report by Annie Labaj)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/justiceforiranianworkers/sets/72157620607234784/



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Czech Republic (13h34 BST, 27 June)

On 25 June, the Czech Republic Section of Amnesty International held a demonstration in the front of the Iranian embassy in Prague to support the campaign. Several different groups such as “Students for Iran” and NGOs in Czech republic initiated this rally. More than 100 people took part. (Email report by Lenka Pitronova)



Canada – Toronto (15h47 BST)

From 6pm on 26 June in Toronto, the Students Labour Solidarity Group held a rally which the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) supported. Over 1,000 unionists, human right activists and the Iranian community people gathered at the Mal Lastman Square. Members of the Federal and provincial political parties, union and other organisations spoke to emphasize the importance of solidarity with the Iranian people and workers. Several groups of musicians made some vibrant performance during the event. (Email report by Mehdi Kouhestaninejad)



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Morocco (12h09 BST, 28 June)

UMT organised a meeting in Casablanca for local union representatives and activists on 26 June to highlight the message “Justice for Iranian Workers”. Awareness about the Action Day had initially been raised at a meeting of the Federation members on 20 June. (Email report by Said Saddik)



USA (19h52 BST)

Workers in Reno, Nevada organised their protest action in solidarity with the Iranian workers on 26 June.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/justiceforiranianworkers/sets/72157620648999236/



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Germany, South Africa, Tunisia

On the occasion of the worldwide action day, German union GDBA sent a protest letter calling on the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Germany to support the fight for justice and the implementation of globally recognized human rights in Iran. Unions in other countries, including SATAWU (South Africa) and Fédération Nationale des Chemins de Fer (Tunisia) have also sent their protest letters to the Iranian authorities.



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http://www.justiceforiranianworkers.org/



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