File spoon-archives/marxism-news.archive/marxism-news_1997/97-04-09.200, message 21


Date: Mon, 10 Mar 1997 07:53:52 +0100
Subject: Cockroach Extra


COCKROACH! EXTRA!  (IRAN)

A EZINE FOR POOR AND WORKING CLASS PEOPLE.

WE HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE BUT OUR CHAINS.

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This is sent by request of:-
THE COMMITTEE FOR THE DEFENCE AND SUPPORT OF THE IRANIAN OILWORKERS

IRANIAN OIL WORKERS KILLED
 In the February International Trade Unionist Bulletin we reported the
decision of the International Trade Union Solidarity Campaign (ITUSC)
International Workers' Conference to support the struggle of the Iranian oil
workers. The ITUSC sent messages of support to the workers in struggle, via
our sister organisation, the Committee for the Defence and Support of
Iranian Oil Workers. We also sent letters of protest to the Iranian Embassy
in Britain and the oil ministry.

 On 16 February 1997, a huge oil workers rally took place in front of the
oil ministry in Tehran, Iran, and the Islamic militias attacked the crowd
and inflicted beatings. Hundreds were arrested. After several days, most of
those detained were released, but some are still in prison.

On 19 February, oil workers of the Shiraz refinery marched to the city and
demanded the unconditional release of their comrades and acceptance of all
their demands by the government of Iran, including the right to organise and
the right to collective bargaining.

On 2 March, we received news from reliable sources in Iran that at least
two of the demonstrators have since died of the injuries inflicted upon
them indetention. We know that one of them was Gholam Barzwgar. Oil workers
informed us that at least two others have died whilst being tortured,
namely Hashem Kamely and another worker whose name is not yet known to us.

A few days ago, oil workers from Iran informed us that a new wave of
arrests had begun, and that more than 50 oil workers, including some of
their leaders, were taken to unknown prisons. Since when their families have
received no contact from them, therefore, their current situation is
unclear. Our sources also told us that all the refineries are surrounded by
Islamic militia guards; the refineries are under siege. Even whilst this
report is being prepared, we have learned from Iran that oil workers from
the Abadan Oil Refinery have been arrested and are
currently being transferred to Tehran gaols.

In its response to the letter from the ITUSC, containing the resolution
condemning the Iranian regime, the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran,
been a "recent protest by workers of the oil refinery in Tehran", that the
protest concerned "London acknowledged that there has their low wages" and
that "workers at the Tehran Refinery protested at their low wages,
demanding that the oil ministry take steps to solve their pay and welfare
problems".

The ITUSC rejects these points:-

* First, the protest is not 'recent'; in fact the protests go back to the
period just after the Revolution in 1978-79 and had intensified especially
after the Gulf War;

* Second, it was not only the workers of the refinery in Tehran who
'protested' but workers of many other refineries, namely Shiraz, Tabriz and
Isfahan, were equally involved in this dispute. In the period up to the
demonstration, workers of the oil pipelines, Iranian national gas and
Tehran distribution centre were also involved. Pretending that the
'protest' had quite a narrow base, namely Tehran refinery, the Islamic
government is as
usual lying.

* Third, low wages and welfare conditions are important issues in this
dispute, but they are not the principal ones. The main dispute was over the
right to organise and to form independent, workers' organisations. On 5 and
6 February, all oil refineries and the other industries mentioned above
elected representatives who went to Tehran to form their national
organisation, which was dissolved by the Iranian government on 7
February.It forced the representatives to return to their cities. The
demand for the right to collective bargaining was the second, crucial
demand which obviously presupposes a form of organisation among workers.
This has been totally rejected by the government. (There were other demands
as well).

The Embassy's letter states further that there had been negotiations, and
that the problem is solved. The truth is that there have been no
negotiations concerning the basic demands of the workers. The regime has
told the workers that collective bargaining and forming independent
organisations is out of the question. And the protest, contrary to the
Embassy's statement, was and is not ended.

The letter ends by claiming that the workers and the oil ministry "had
reached an agreement after which the workers returned to their work". By
'agreement' they mean that the government has dissolved the founding
meeting of 7 February, sent back the workers to their cities, and after the
mass rally outside the oil ministry, have injured, imprisoned, tortured and
- while torturing- killed workers. That is not an agreement at all! And
after all, if there is an agreement why are the oil refineries under a
state of siege?

Finally, it is a triumph for the workers that the wall of silence imposed
by the Islamic Republic has been broken, mainly through their struggle, but
also through international support and solidarity. They still need
international solidarity to free their comrades and leaders, and to achieve
their just demands, especially the rights to organise and collective
bargaining.

Please act urgently to secure the immediate and unconditional release of
the arrested Iranian oil workers. Let the Committee for the Defence and
Support of the Iranian Oil Workers have your solidarity messages to be
passed on, published and broadcast on radio stations which will reach the
Iranian oil workers. Put pressure on the Iranian Embassies in your country
and the oil ministry in Iran and send a copy of your letters/faxes to:-
Iranian Refugee Workers' Association,
PO Box 3646,
London.
SW11 5YT
Britain
Tel/Fax 0044 (0) 1372 817 778
e-mail: itusc-AT-gn.apc.org

Communist Party of Iran,
C.D.R.T.,
PO Box 70445,
107 25 Stockholm,
Sweden.
Fax: (46) 08 86 80 54
Fax: 0044 (0) 181 248 2658

Iranian Workers' Left Unity,
PO Box 22634,
1100 DC Amsterdam,
The Netherlands.
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