05.10.2005

Iranian workers are not alone in their struggle

Joint call by a number of left and working class organisations for a week of solidarity with Iranian workers, which the CPGB was pleased to sign

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 on 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 slogan, 'Iranian workers are not alone'". Coordinators of the campaign: The committee for solidarity with Iranian workers, Stockholm Abroad Committee of Communist Party of Iran Progressive exiled Iranian workers, Switzerland Workers Left Unity, Iran Union of Iranian Socialists, North America Iranian Left Unity, Washington, USA Iranian Revolutionary Socialist League 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) If you want to support this call, email kargar.iran@gmail.com