The Iranian workers are not alone!
A joint call by a number of Left and Worker organisations for
A week of Solidarity with Iranian workers

October 3-9, 2005

We, the signatories of this leaflet announce in a loud and clear voice that the Iranian workers and toilers are not alone in their struggle against the constant attacks of the capitalist regime of the Islamic Republic in Iran, a government that is depriving workers of their most basic rights.

Our aim is to support and defend workers, who are insulted, threatened and killed by the repressive capitalist order in power in Iran. We are calling on you to support the following demands of Iranian workers:

1-Recognition of the workers’ right to strike, to set up their own independent workers organisations, the right to free speech, the right to assembly…

2-An end to all intimidation and attacks on workers, including physical attacks, imprisonment, torture and execution of workers and toilers in the Kurdish areas

3-Unconditional release of all political prisoners

In the week of solidarity with Iranian Workers we will be active on an international scale in every city and town, to organise demonstrations, pickets in front of Iranian embassies, consulates... We will organise meetings in the language of the host country to raise the issues concerning Iranian workers, we will collect funds to support workers’ hardship funds, we will try and speak in local and national radio and television stations and we will address the trade union movement in the host nation to call for practical solidarity with Iranian workers.

Fellow workers comrades!

Sign this petition; join us in an International Campaign to defend Iranian workers.

Let us transform the first week of October into a week of solidarity with Iranian workers.

Let us make sure that progressive forces throughout the world hear the voice of Iranian workers, in every factory, in every workplace, let us raise the slogans 'Iranian workers are not alone'.

Coordinators of the Campaign:

The committee for solidarity with Iranian workers- Stockholm,
Abroad Committee of Communist Party of Iran,
P rogressive exiled Iranian workers –Switzerland,
W orkers Left Unity- Iran,
Union of Iranian Socialists - North America,
Iranian Left Unity- Washington – USA,
Iranian Revolutionary Socialist League (IRSL),
Committee for a Marxist International (Marxist.com),
Iranian Workers' Solidarity Network,
Socialist Solidarity with Iranian Workers- Paris,
Foreign Committee of the Organisation of Revolutionary Iranian Workers (Workers Path)

Please send you messages of support and solidarity to:  kargar.iran@gmail.com
14/09/05


Updated signatures (21 September).

Trade unionists and other political activists:
Spain:
-Jesús Díaz de Durana, full time UGT official, Álava, Spain
-Xaquín García Sinde, Miembro de la Comisión Ejecutiva Nacional de Galicia de
-Lluis Perarnau, Delegado Junta de Personal por UGT de la UAB de Bellaterra
-Miriam Municio, Secretaria General Sindicato de Estudiantes, Estado Español
-Bárbara Areal, miembro de la Presidencia de Izquierda Unida Madrid

Belgium:
-Erik De Bruyn, shop steward Socialist Public Services Union, City of Antwerp (ACOD)
-Miguel Rubio, former convenor of the Metal Workers Union of Diamant Boart (CMB-FGTB)

France:
-Hubert Prévaud, CGT Airbus, Toulouse.
-Jérôme Métellus, MJC, PCF, Paris 18e

Germany:
-Hans-Gerd Öfinger, editor of Der Funke, deputy chair, ver.di (German service sector and public sector union)
-Christoph Mürdter, editor of Der Funke, union activist (ver.di) and PDS member

Venenezuela:
-UNT: Union National de Trabajadores de Venenezuela– Orlando Chirino

Colombia:
-CUT: Trade Union Federation Colombia- Carlos Rodrigues Diaz

Britain:
-Jeremy Dear, General Secretary, National Union of Journalists.
-Phil Waker, NEC, Communication Workers Union
-Nigel Pearce, NEC Member, NUM
-Phil Willis, Amicus
-Peter Currall, Amicus
-Des Heemskerk, Amicus Media and Campaigns officer (personal capacity)
-Rob Sewell, Vice-Chair NUJ, Central London Branch
-Graham Wilson,TGWU steward, Edinburgh CLP
-Pam Woods, UNISON
-Rob Walsh, member of the Labour Representation Committee, Amicus and Ealing North CLP
-Lennart Berg (Association of University Teachers- personal Capacity)
-Terry Brotherstone (Association of University Teachers- personal Capacity)
-Hillary Horrocks (National Union of Journalists - personal Capacity)
-Liz Leicester - Camden Trades Council and Unison (personal capacity)
-Linda Jansson –Unison (personal capacity)

Sweden:
-SAC: Syndicalists (Sweden)
-Martin Oscarsson, Gothenburg, Shop Steward, Teachers'
union

Political parties, organisations and publications:
- Spain - El Militante
-Venezuela - El Topo Obrero / El Militante
-Socialist Appeal – Britain
-För Marxismen Arbetarrörelsen
-Arbetar makt
-Rättvisa Partiet socialisterna
-The Communist Party of Great Britain
-CPI (ML) - Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist)
-Fundación Federico Engels

Individuals:
-Chaudhry Manzoor Ahmad, Member of the parliament, President Pakistan Trade Union Defense Campaign
-Professor Moshe' Machover (LSE London)
-Jenny Eriksson -Annika Johansson -P-H Johansson – Linnea Åberg. – Per Kolli- Johan Elfving. – Linda Jan.
- Juha Hyttinen. - Maria Reeshman - Hedman. - Maria Högern. - Lina Fryklund. - Carolin Norgren - Johan Hallberg - Cliff Slaughter - Editorial Board of the journal Iran Bulletin- Middle East Forum. - Aksel Hagen (Oplande Norway lecturer)- Turid Tomasen (Lillehammer University lecturer)- Professor Bridget Fowler (Glasgow University) - Alexander John McBurney 'Workers Unity' Scottish Socialist party
Professor Istvan Meszaros- Donatella Meszaros