Sherkate Vahed: Mr Mansour Osanlu – chairman of the executive committee of the Greater Teheran United Bus Company (Sherkade Vahed) was released this afternoon (August 9). In these celebrations we send our congratulations to all workers of Iran and the world, and especially to the workers of the Sherkate Vahed.
Radio Barabari: They had cut his tongue by imprisoning him and keeping him in solitary confinement for months. Do you think the regime can silence the voice of workers with such scams?
Sherkate Vahed: I think not. This is a not a solitary voice – it is enduring. This movement will continue. After us our friends, our loved ones, have to continue on this road. The workers movement, the syndicalist movement for trade unionism, is for a better world. We will continue to fight to the last person for a better world and a better life for all the workers. Because workers will achieve their demands through their unity. I cannot believe that they can suppress this movement. If they had been able to stop the demands for a free trade union previously, now the possibility of creating free and independent trade unions exist. We ask all workers to expand this movement by creating their own free organisations and be relentless in pursuing their own occupational and trade union issues.
Radio Barabari: It seems that after the clashes in the trade union office and the arrests, 70 – 80 people still remain laid off. What will happen to these workers?
Sherkate Vahed: This action by the Labour Office of Teheran Province and the Labour Ministry is illegal. We too belong to those who have lost their jobs. For seven months we have born the economic hardship and crisis arising from the illness of our wives and children, the costs of rental accommodations and so on. We are determined to resist until they receive a convincing response to our demands .We will support this movement. We have stepped into this task and we will pursue it to the end. Despite the hardships our families are behind us. The hardships will not force us to bow to the force of the employers and the agents of capital to suppress this movement through such pin-prick attacks.
Radio Barabari: We wish you and all the workers success in your struggles
Sherkate Vahed: I too wish you and your colleagues all success. We celebrate this great festivity in the home of Mr Ossanlu. We share the celebrations with you, all dear ones and all the workers. Workers everywhere, whether this side or the other side of the borders, have struggles in common. We kiss the hands of all workers of the world especially Iranian workers.