Support from French and Swiss Unions for Protest Against the Islamic Republic in Front of the International Labour Organization

Saeed Taghavi, head of the Iran-Sweden Labor Union Platform, told Voice of America that on Friday, June 9, a gathering will be held in support of imprisoned labor activists and teachers in front of the International Labour Organization in Geneva, Switzerland, organized by a number of Iranian refugees and eight labor unions from France and Switzerland. The French Democratic Confederation of Labour, the General Confederation of Labour, the Federation of Trade Unions, the Solidarity Trade Union, the National Union of Independent Trade Unions, the CGT Union of Switzerland, and the Geneva Public Services Union have announced that their representatives will protest not only in support of imprisoned workers and teachers but also against the Islamic Republic's repression policy in Iran. This call was issued after a number of Iranian refugees issued a statement for such a gathering this Friday. The French and Swiss labor unions stated that they will protest the increase in executions, the killing of nearly 600 protesters, the detention of over 22,000 people, including many labor activists and teachers, and even two French union activists, as well as the continued repression of women opposing mandatory hijab. They emphasized that they will also protest the presence of a 30-member delegation from the Islamic Republic of Iran at the annual meeting of the International Labour Organization, seven of whom have been 'appointed by the regime to represent workers.' The call also criticized the Islamic Republic for its refusal to sign several International Labour Organization conventions, including those regarding the freedom to form labor unions, support for union rights, and collective bargaining. These French and Swiss labor unions pointed out that Iran's actions contradict the standards and decisions of this organization, which is unacceptable. They added that Iran has 'signed two conventions related to the right to organize, freedom of union membership, and meeting with members of labor unions from other countries, but it represses hundreds who act within the framework of these conventions.' Meanwhile, Danish labor unions issued a statement supporting the June 9 gathering and the struggle of Iranian workers for fundamental labor rights, including the freedom to organize and the right to collective bargaining. They emphasized that there is no International Labour Organization convention that has not been 'systematically' violated by the Islamic Republic and criticized the organization for not taking action against the Iranian government. These unions, including the Union of Government and Municipal Employees, the National Union of Child Social Workers, the Union of Social Workers, the Union of Road and Building Workers and Environmental Workers, and the 'Women, Life, Freedom' Committee in Denmark, stated that Iranian workers should be able to send their real representatives to the annual meeting of the International Labour Organization, especially since 'this organization has accepted a government-affiliated group from Iran that plays a role in the repression and violation of the fundamental rights of Iranian workers.' Saeed Taghavi believes that 'these supports and demands have now intensified the importance of the organizing process for workers, teachers, and civil movements in Iran.' He noted actions such as a joint letter from over eight labor and professional organizations to the International Labour Organization, stating that 'organizing and establishing a democratic federation in Iran will make the process of influencing this organization and isolating and weakening the Islamic Republic in this international body much easier.' He added that the 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement has now become a central slogan internationally, but participants in the annual meeting of the International Labour Organization 'still do not have accurate information about how the regime violates the most fundamental union and human rights of people, especially women.' He further stated that they are also unaware of the 'repression of women with the club of hijab, both in society and in the workplace, and therefore attracting the support of participants in the meeting, especially women, is of special importance.' The Iran-Sweden Labor Union Platform also supported the call for the gathering this Friday. On the other hand, the Iranian Workers' Rights Defenders Association wrote in a letter to the International Confederation of Trade Unions, which will participate in the annual meeting of the International Labour Organization, that the Iranian wage-earning community asks independent labor organizations worldwide to continue their broad and powerful international support for labor struggles in Iran. This labor organization added that there is a need for a united campaign to advance economic and political struggles in Iran to somewhat regain the lost rights of Iranian workers and laborers through broad participation of labor-social organizations. In its letter, the Workers' Rights Defenders Association also called on the International Confederation of Trade Unions and labor unions worldwide to demand the 'revocation of the credentials of the so-called Iranian labor delegation' to participate in the annual meeting of this organization, similar to complaint number 2807 in 2010 regarding the presence of Iranian labor representatives in the International Labour Organization. This labor organization emphasized that 'the establishment and operation of an international investigative committee regarding the situation of prisons in Iran is essential and urgent, as the deplorable conditions in prisons, widespread arrests, increasing baseless sentences, and widespread executions are escalating every day.'