Congress backs Campaign for Jailed Iranian Trade Unionists
5 Mar 2008
Congress today (March 5) backed international calls for a Global Day of Action on Thursday March 6 in support of Iranian trade unionists branded 'threats to national security' and jailed by the authorities.
The campaign focuses in particular on the case of Mansour Osanloo, leader of the Tehran bus workers' Union who has been jailed for five years, for union activities. Mansour Osanloo's only crime is that he believes Tehran's bus drivers deserve a fair days' pay, for a fair day's work.
The campaign is supported by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), the International Transport Federation (ITF), the TUC in Britain and Amnesty International. Mr Osanloo and other jailed trade unionists are considered 'prisoners of conscience' by Amnesty.
Mr Osanloo has been jailed repeatedly since 2005 and is currently being held in Evin Prison, Tehran. There are worries about his health resulting from mistreatment, including the fear that he may lose sight in one of his eyes, due to a previous beating.
The March 6 Day of Action take place just two weeks before the Iranian New Year and the holding of parliamentary elections. The international campaign is demanding that the Iranian authorities end its persecution of trade unionists.
The campaign urges people to get involved by:
- Signing the online petition and sending a message to the Iranian Government www.freeosanloo.org
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