Next week’s global road transport week (15 to 21 October 2007) – in which trade unionists around the world demonstrate for safer work on the roads – will also focus support on persecuted Iranian bus drivers’ leader Mansour Osanloo.
Held under the slogan Organising Globally – Building Union Power, the week offers those working in road transport a global forum for raising the matters that concern them. In many areas this is the message that Fatigue Kills, in others it may be in favour of decent wages, for better rest facilities, or against delays and corruption at border crossings. This year all participants are also being asked to signal their support for Mansour Osanloo, President of the independent trade union the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company (Sherkat-e Vahed) – and target for the Iranian regime’s repeated attempts to crush it. After two years of beatings, arrests and intimidation by the Iranian police and security services he is currently being held in Evin prison (see www.itfglobal.org/press-area/index.cfm/pressdetail/1504). They will also be backing the union’s Vice-President, Ebrahim Madadi, also in detention, the union’s right to exist and the right of Iranian workers to belong to a trade union.
During the week activities will be held across the world (see Worldwide Update at www.itfglobal.org/campaigns/RoadActionWeek2007.cfm ), including workshops, border actions, rallies and education on health and safety and HIV/Aids. In Brussels the ITF’s European regional arm the ETF has called a truck drivers’ protest rally, which will be held at 10:30 in front of the European Parliament before moving off to demonstrate at the Iranian Embassy at 12:30. EU Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot will then receive an ETF delegation at 15:30. The main themes of the Brussels actions will be: for equal pay and conditions for all drivers in cross border operations; for decent rest facilities; and for the release of Mansour Osanloo. An ETF press release on this event is available on request from dawson_sam at itf.org.uk.
Mac Urata, Secretary of the ITF’s Road Transport Section, commented: “This major solidarity effort will once again be launched in a multitude of countries and with a huge variety of events. With the support of our their colleagues in the port sector, drivers, conductors, drivers’ assistants, logistics workers and others involved in road transport will be pushing for what they believe in and also showing what can be achieved by belonging to a trade union.”
In one week in the run up to the event the ITF has been asked for (and sent out) 20,000 ‘Free Osanloo’ badges that will be worn by bus drivers and others meeting the public face to face.
ENDS
Worldwide events. (See also www.itfglobal.org/campaigns/RoadActionWeek2007.cfm for updates)
Everybody's got to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer." - W. C. Fields http://www.iww.org/culture/official/preamble.shtml
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