Issue date: 27/1/2006
To Mr Guy Ryder, General Secretary of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) and all trade unions and labour organisations around the world
Respectfully, we would like to inform you that following the call for a strike from the Syndicate of Workers and Employees of Tehran and Suburbs Vahed Bus Company, yesterday, 26th January, six of our colleagues, Ebrahim Madadi, Saeed Torabian, Mansoor Hayat Gheibi, Abdolreza Tarazi, Davoud Razavi and Ali Zadeh Hossein, were summoned to court, and following very lengthy and heavy questioning, were sent to Evin Prison. Mr Mansoor Ossanlou, the head of the Syndicate's Executive Board, is still in solitary confinement in Evin. To date, five weeks since the start of our protest and strike, none of our demands has been met. On the other hand, there have been all sorts of restrictions, harassments, arrests and threats against our colleagues.
In the face of this situation, the workers and employees of Tehran and Suburbs Vahed Bus Company on 24th January decided to take a general strike action from Saturday 28th January and to hold protest assemblies. Our demands are the immediate release of Mansoor Ossanlou and our other detained colleagues, introduction of collectively negotiated contracts, and recognition of the Syndicate. We will begin our strike on Saturday 28th January, which we will continue until all our colleagues have been released. It is necessary to bring to your attention that unfortunately the country's officials intend to stop our strike at any cost. They have summoned more members of the Executive Board to court, and more of our colleagues risk being arrested at any moment. At the same time, it is reassuring that the workers and employees of Vahed Company are very resolved and united, and the warm support of the honourable people of Tehran is also a source of encouragement for us in the continuation of the struggle.
While expressing our deepest gratitude for your support so far, which has been very reassuring for the 17,000 workers and employees of Vahed Company and their families, we would like to request that by sending letters of protest to the Islamic Republic authorities you convince them to release our friends immediately, to end summoning and threatening the toiling workers of Vahed Company and to address the rest of our demands. We trust that you will respond urgently in this matter. Your co-operation and solidarity is deeply appreciated.
With regards and best wishes,
Syndicate of Workers and Employees of Tehran and Suburbs Vahed Bus Company
27/1/2006