Activist Prevented from Attending French Unions’ Gathering

Davoud Razavi, a member of the steering committee of Vahed Bus Workers Syndicate was prevented from exiting the country on May 25 en route to Paris at the invitation of five French unions. Not being able to attend a meeting set for May 26 by the French unions, CFDT, CGT, FSU, Solidaires, UNSA, Razavi sent a letter instead to the gathering. Fariborz Raisdana, an economist also denied flight to France, also sent a message instead. Ali Nejati of Haft Tapeh Workers Syndicate who was able to attend the gathering, gave a speech describing the uphill battle faced by workers in Iran.

The text of the Razavi’s letter read at the gathering reads as follows:

I hold a moment of silence for the workers who put their lives on the line in depths of Soma Mine in Turkey to earn their livelihood and sacrificed their lives in order to earn the living for their families. Warmest salutes to you who have invited me as a worker and a labor activist in Iran to your gathering. I thank you. Unfortunately, the officials and the authorities in Iran look even at a simple travel by a workers in security terms. While you freely can protest and celebrate May Day, in our country, Iran, I myself was witness that even distributing sweets amongst the workers was not tolerated and they treated us and our colleagues in such a way that even the one who was supposed to put us in jail came up in protest! Here, we do not have the right to form independent labor organizations and unions and in span of the last ten years that I along with my colleagues have been active in this sphere have not ever been free of security pressures from the government and the state in Iran. As you have been informed, although I was not barred from traveling outside the country, security measures were put into work and before my boarding the plane, they prevented me from traveling to France and they denied me the chance to be with you in your gathering. Furthermore, taking my passport away, they summoned me to the security and judicial centers. While, in the last ten years, not only I but unionist and labor activists in general have time and again been taken to prison and have long sentences issued for them and as you know currently Reza Shahabi of Vahed Bus Workers Syndicate has been in prison for the past five years for his union and labor activities while having serious physical conditions. Shahrokh Zamani, Mohammad Jarrahi, Jafar Azimzadeh, Behnam Ebrahimzadeh and other workers are in prison solely because of their setting up independent labor organizations which is their inalienable right. Even there are those workers who have lost their jobs because of defending their basic rights, so that the voices of workers is silenced. Dear friends, in the past ten years, what we have been witnessing is that these coercive measures have not only stopped workers efforts but has brought about even more workers into the ranks and today the workers in Iran have reached the consciousness that their liberation is only through union and solidarity against the owners of power and capital. For sure the day will come that in this country, organized and independent unions and syndicates shall be formed. Therefore, the needed power and incentive for this does exist although suppression and the security atmosphere and job insecurity have slowed down this process. Although the manufactured organizations such as the Labor House, Islamic Labor Councils and more recently different trade associations in place of independent labor organizations and unions have caused dispersian and discouragement amongst workers in their efforts in organizing, they have never shaken the determination of the labor rights activists and advocates for rights and interests of the workers. And despite employing all means of coercion, the workers, steadfastly and decisively have stayed put and have not ceased their efforts to achieve the real demands and interests of workers and will continue in this path.

Greetings and salutes to you workers which our physical distance has not been able to diminish your solidarity and unity with us. Dear friends, I am happy that I am living in an era in which the unity and solidarity among the workers knows no boundaries and limits. Workers wherever they are and are subjected to oppression and injustice by owners of profits and capital in the world, workers in other parts of the world with unity and unanimity raise their voices across the globe. We have even seen and are witness to workers from distant locations in the world, who through writing letters and taking different actions have urged the authorities in our country to recognize the workers rights to form labor organizations and called for freedom for the imprisoned workers. The effect of these actions is not hidden to anyone. Today you are more fortunate than us because you are united in united labor federations. Your unity and organization is an inspiration and source of hope to workers in other countries in the world. The news of strikes, demonstrations, solidarity and unity of European workers, who through syndicates and unions stage massive protests are broadcasted regularly on Iranian TV and radio. Unfortunately, in our own country no right to organize independent union and workers organizations exist and the right to strike is not recognized. The state has devastated the workers community by supporting anti-labor entities such as Labor House and Islamic Labor Councils which do not have any standing with the workers. It is high time to ask you, through your means and the right to protest in your countries to convey the voice of Iranian workers to International Labour Organization to refrain from accepting the spurious workers representatives who portray themselves as our representatives and recognizing their fake identity, invite the true representatives of Iranian workers for the participation in annual sessions in Geneva instead. We hope that they hear the true voice of the Iranian workers. In fact, I have to say that the Labor House and its subsidiaries such as Islamic Labor Councils have been more active in suppressing Iranian workers than the security agents and have surpassed the intelligence and security apparatus in silencing workers. In ending, I thank you once again for your efforts, cooperation and partnership in inviting me and express my gratitude for the importance and significance of this invitation. Although, due to severe duress put upon labor activists, I was not able to be with you, at this moment that I am writing this text to you, I truly feel I am with you and next to you. I wish success and steadfastness for all of you endeared labor advocates without borders.

Iran Labor Report
Davoud Razavi, Labor Activist
May 26, 2014