In recent weeks, there have been worrying developments indicating a renewed onslaught on trade union activists in Iran.

Reza Shahabi, an imprisoned bus driver and prominent trade union activist, remains imprisoned and without much needed access to medical treatment.  Meanwhile, Mahmoud Salehi has been snatched by the security forces from in front of a hospital at which he was receiving treatment only to resurface in prison. This is at a time when Ja’far Azimzadeh and Alireza Saghafi have been re-summoned to present themselves to the prison authorities, and Daud Razavi, another bus driver, will be arraigned before court in the next few days.  Hamid Sharghi (a member of the UMMI) has already appeared in court and sentenced to two years imprisonment. Read more

Geneva, 05 September 2017

Mr. Hassan Rouhani

President

Islamic Republic of Iran

Email:  media@rouhani.ir; mission.iran@ties.itu.int

Dear Mr. President Hassan Rouhani,

I am writing this letter to you as the General Secretary of IndustriALL Global Union, which represents more than fifty million workers in mining, energy and manufacturing sectors in more than 140 countries, including Iran, to urge you to immediately release the imprisoned union leaders and to ensure the full respect of fundamental labour rights in the country.

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Iran has witnessed the imposition of a wave of unprecedented restrictions on the legitimate trade union activities of workers syndicates since the beginning of this year. On 28 April, MaziarGilani-Nejad, a member of the Union of Metalworkers and Mechanics of Iran (UMMI), was summoned to appear beforethe Revolutionary Court. He was subsequently acquitted of the charges against him. Shahpour Ehsani-Rad, a member of the Free Trade Union of Iran, received a prison term along with a sentence of lashing. Bail providers for Ja’far Azimzadeh, of the Free Trade Union of Iran, and Mahmoud BeheshtiLangaroudi, of the Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association, have also been placed under pressure – through the threat of unilateral court seizure of the sums put up for bail – so as to force these trade unionists to return to prison. This has been aptly illustrated in the case of Reza Shahabi, a member of the Syndicate of Workers of the Tehran Bus Company, who has already been forced to return to jail despite being informed his sentence had in fact been completely served.

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Rt. Honourable Stefan Löfven

Prime Minister of Sweden,

We hereby warmly welcome you and your accompanying delegation to Iran. We hope that the bilateral relations between our two countries will develop further on the basis of peace;  mutual respect for  independence and sovereignty for  the supreme benefit of the working people of both countries; and with the aim of  achieving peace, stability as well as the  general prosperity of our  two peoples.   Read more

In my capacity as President of the Swedish union Industrial and Metal Workers’ Union (IF Metall), I am about to visit Iran in the next few days together with an official Swedish delegation led by the Swedish Prime Minister, Stefan Lofven. The delegation will also include representatives from the Swedish business community.

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The Union of Metalworkers and Mechanics of Iran (UMMI) sends its greetings on the occasion of New Year 2017 to all of the labour and trade union movement internationally and wishes them success in the struggle for peace, progress and trade union and democratic rights. Read more

In October, the Union of Metalworkers and Mechanics of Iran (UMMI) became the first affiliate from Iran to join IndustriALL. The affiliation is a significant step in a country where unions are persecuted and trade unionists imprisoned.  Read more

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The workers at the Bushehr Petrochemical Complex, South Pars, Asalouyeh, continued the 5^th day of their strike on the morning of the Friday December 9^th and with strong fury demanded a resolution to their pay issues. On the same day, the vice-manager of the site and the executive supervisor threatened to black list and dismiss the workers. The workers received the pink slips but said that they would sign the slips only after their pay and benefits are paid. Read more