Demonstrations at Iranian embassies and consulates in Bangkok, Canberra, London, New Delhi, Tokyo and Wellington, among others, are some of the protests that have now been scheduled for an action day on Iran on June 26th. Four global union organisations representing over 170 million workers have called the worldwide action day to demand justice for Iranian workers.
The ITUC (International Trade Union Confederation), EI (Education International), ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation), IUF (International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Associations) have formed a coalition for the event, which is the latest move in an ongoing campaign to secure justice and trade union rights inside Iran. Amnesty International has backed this campaign.
Confirmed activities so far include (see www.justiceforiranianworkers.org for more details):
- Rallies at Iranian diplomatic missions are planned in Belgium, France and The Netherlands.
- In Australia, Unions and community organisations will rally outside the Iranian embassy in Canberra at midday on June 26. Events are also planned in Sydney and Melbourne.
- In India, the All India Railwaymen's Federation will organise rallies, marches, and demonstrations.
- In Indonesia unions will rally in Jakarta and conduct a prayer meeting in the port of Tanjung Priok.
- In Japan unions will hold a mass meeting on 24 June to adopt a motion in support of the campaign. This will be taken to the Iranian Embassy in Tokyo on 26.
- In Wellington, New Zealand, unions plan to bring “a brass band, lots of signs, drums and a street play depicting locked-up Iranian trade unionists” to the Embassy.
- In Nigeria a rally will be held at Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos.
- In Thailand trade unionists will demonstrate at the Iranian Embassy as well as visiting the ILO (International Labour Organization) office to raise the issue of the violation of workers' rights in Iran.
- In London, United Kingdom, a demonstration will be held at the Iranian Embassy, 16 Prince’s Gate, London SW7 1PTF from 12:30 to 13:30.
For more details please contact
- ITF. Press officer Sam Dawson. Tel: +44 (0)20 7940 9260. Email: Dawson_sam@itf.org.uk
- ITUC. Press Officer Mathieu Debroux. Tel: +32(0)2 22 40 204. Email: mathieu.debroux@ituc-csi.org
- EI. Nancy Knickerbocker. Tel: +32 (0)2 22 40 611. Email: Nancy.knickerbocker@ei-ie.org
- IUF. Peter Rossman. Email: iuf@iuf.org