Iran: It's time to recognise independent trade unions

 

Over the years, LabourStart has run many campaigns in support of persecuted and imprisoned trade unionists in Iran - a country which does not tolerate free and independent unions.

This time, it's a bit different.

In spite of ongoing repression, Iranian workers continue to organise strikes and protests against bad employers, and sometimes they win.

Over the past few years, tens of thousands of contract workers on Iran's oil and gas projects have taken part in waves of wildcat strike action, coordinated by strike committees.

They are protesting against dangerous work in extreme heat, low wages, poor living conditions, unreasonable shift cycles, and unscrupulous labour brokers.

And here's what's different this time:

These workers have begun to win, and the government is taking notice.

Last month, for the first time, the Department of Labour met with a workers' representative, from IndustriALL's Iranian affiliate UMMI, to hear the workers' demands.

Now is the time to formalise this arrangement by recognising independent unions as legitimate workers' representatives, and building an industrial relations system in line with global standards and ILO Conventions.

IndustriALL has launched a campaign on LabourStart calling on the government of Iran to recognise independent unions.

Click here to show your support.

Eric Lee