Day of action: justice for Iranian workers - 26 June

Everyone is watching what's going on in Iran, and trade unionists have a special concern. We'd already called a Global Solidarity Action Day for justice for Iranian workers before the Presidential election, and the day has special urgency now.

Iranian workers continue to face tough times. They often wait for months to receive wages, are made 'redundant' when they complain, and are beaten up and arrested when they protest. Only puppet unions are allowed by the Iranian government. Independent unions are brutally repressed, their leaders flung in jail and their protests broken up.

May Day demonstrations this year were attacked with tear gas, beatings and arrests. Many are still detained by the police, and there's a special Amnesty International urgent action for them. Trade unionists like Farzad Kamangar (teachers), Ali Nejati (sugar workers), Mansour Osanloo, Ebrahim Madadi (bus workers) and Mahmoud Salehi (bakers) are regularly arrested and harassed.

This repression is an unacceptable denial of fundamental human rights. Iran refuses to sign the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions on the freedom to join unions and negotiate with employers.

Unions around the world, together with Amnesty International, demand justice for our brothers and sisters in Iran. On Friday 26 June, we are protesting worldwide for:

• the release of all imprisoned trade unionists
• recognition of all independent workers' organisations in Iran
• ratification of ILO Conventions on freedom of association and right to collective bargaining
• the reinstatement of unfairly dismissed workers.

For more information about the global solidarity action day on Friday 26 June 2009, please visit www.justiceforiranianworkers.org

Owen Tudor