To: Worker Unions and Labor Organizations of the World

Condemn the Islamic Republic of Iran for Attacking the Workers of Parris Factory in Sanandaj!

Support the Struggle of Parris Workers!

Dear friends;

On August 19^th workers of Parris Factory of Sanandaj started their protests in opposition to the new measures that was introduced by company management against their job security and which would impose enslaving and extremely difficult working and employment conditions upon them. Workers protested the shortening of contract periods and the new condition for being employed that requires two million Toumans (approximately 2500 US $) security deposit and two cosigners.

Employer of the company with the support of the government and security forces and in order to defeat workers’ resistance categorizes them according to their firmness in their struggle. As a consequence of that one year long contracts of some of the workers have been changed into three month contracts, some others’ contracts into one month and one year contract of workers’ representative Mr. Behzad Sohrabi has been cancelled and he has been laid off.

Workers of Parris factory together with their families and with the support of other citizens gathered in front of the factory, set tents and spend a number of full days there and insisted to gain back their rights. On the morning of Saturday, August 26^th management of the company in full cooperation with government sent hundreds of police forces to the place where the protests were held. Security forces attacked the peaceful picket line of workers with use of sticks and tear gas. A number of workers and members of their families were injured and tens of them were arrested and were put in custody.

On the way to prison workers could get off the buses and escape custody. Two persons naming Akou Kordnasap (reporter) and Ebrahim Vakili (a worker at Shinbaf Textile Company) were also arrested who later were released on 5 million Touman bails. Today, Monday, August 28^th, once again workers gathered for protest in front of Sanandaj Employment Directorship. The employer declared that four other workers naming Mahvash Vakili, Tayyeb Chatani, Saman Nazakati, and Habib Khodarahmi were laid off. Moreover, the employer stated that none of the workers demands would be met. The protests and strike of these workers still continue.

Dear worker friends;

The Islamic Republic has imposed enslaving working conditions on workers on the one hand, and oppresses and attacks any protests for improvement of working conditions with atrocity on the other hand. Temporary work contracts, lack of job security together with prohibition of organization and unionization have caused intolerable working conditions for workers in Iran.

Support the struggle of Parris workers! Condemn the Islamic Republic for the attacks against them! Demand freeing of arrested workers and support their struggle against enslaving working conditions!

With solidarity,

Khalil Keyvan

Secretary of Abroad Organization of Worker-communist Party of Iran

August 28^th, 2006