News

UNI joined the World Wide day of Action (August 9) demanding the release from prison of Mansoor Osanloo, President of the Tehran Bus Workers Union and Mahmoud Salehi, a founding member of the Saqez Bakery Workers Association.



Both men have been repeatedly detained by the Iranian authorities in recent years. This time Mansour Osanloo was abducted from his home by plain-clothes security forces on 10 July. Mahmoud Salehi was picked up on 9 April 2007. Reports have been received that both men are under severe physical and psychological pressure. There are real concerns for the health of Mahmoud Salehi who requires dialysis treatment denied to him in prison.



Philip Bowyer UNI Deputy General Secretary joined a delegation of the GUFs and ITUC to protest to the Iranian Embassy in Geneva, Switzerland. The delegation demanded the immediate release of he two men who we are convinced are being imprisoned for their trade union activities. The charges against them if any are very unclear at present. The delegation urged the ambassador to convey to his government the concerns of trade unions world wide and to demand that they be allowed access to lawyers and to urgent and adequate medical treatment.



The International Transport Federation which has been leading the campaign for the trade unionists release report that demonstrations and delegations to Iranian missions took place in more than 30 countries yesterday



News has been received that the Iranian authorities are intensifying their crackdown on trade union activities. A further 5 members of the Executive Board of the bus drivers union yesterday.