To: International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU)

Subject: Suppression of workers at Par-ris spin mill, Sanandaj

Workers of Par-ris spin mill started a strike on Aug. 19, 2006 [5-28-1385 Iranian calendar] in protest at the employer’s conditions with regard to extending their contracts.

According to the employer’s conditions, the workers would be profiled in 3 categories, and the contracts would be extended accordingly as follows:

1. Workers who had never objected to their toiling work conditions would get a one-year extension.
2. Workers who had in the past raised, and were still (on the date the extensions were being made) raising, some objection to their conditions, would get a 3-month extension.
3. Workers who were objecting to their work conditions on the date the extortions were being made, would get a 1-month extension.

Moreover, based on the employer’s conditions as well as the above profiling, one of the workers, by the name of Behzaad Sohraabi, had to be expelled for his activities with respect to labour issues.

Again, based on the employer’s conditions, all workers would be banned from any and all activities of rights-seeking nature. As a guarantee of this his condition, the employer demanded a 2.00 million Thoman collateral from each worker.

It was in protest at the above slave-labour conditions put forward by the employer, and his persistence on them, that Par-ris spin mill workers went on strike on Aug. 19, 2006.

The strike continued for two days inside the factory, and then the workers decided to carry on in front of the factory gate outside. The strike continued until Aug. 26, 2006 [6-4-1385 Iranian calendar], on which day the Special Guards attacked the workers and their families who had gathered in front of the factory, using batons and tear gas. A number of workers were injured during the attack. The hand of a woman was broken. Also, all workers’ belongings were destroyed. A number of workers were arrested. However, they managed to escape in the process of being transported to the police detention centers, fearing the wildly false accusations made against workers participating in such of protest actions. Two people, by the names of Eko Kordnasab (reporter) and Ebraahim Vakili (a worker with Shinbaaf factory who was there in solidarity with Par-ris workers), were taken into custody. They were released the day after.

Following the above-mentioned events, negotiations were held today, Aug. 30, 2006, [6-8-1385 Iranian calendar] between the workers, the employer, and the Labour Bureau of Sanandaj, as a result of which the employer withdrew his conditions. However, despite the workers’ demand and as a result of the agreement between the employer and the Labour Bureau, the sacked worker Behzaad Sohraabi was not allowed back to work.

In the wake of the crackdown of Aug. 26, 2006, Par-ris workers have been subjected to all kinds of pressures and threats. Behzaad Sohraabi has been expelled merely on the grounds of his labour rights activities. Expelling and persecution of labour activists is a practice that has continued for many years in Iran. Such workers are deprived of any social and/or job security.

We, the undersigned, strongly condemn the attack on Par-ris workers. Our request is that you, our dear friends and fellow workers in ICFTU, continue to remain on the side of the workers in Iran. Specifically, we request that you also condemn the attack on Par-ris workers, demand Behzaad Sohraabi’s return to work, and demand job and social security for labour activists in Iran.

Thank you very much.

Metal and Electrical Workers’ Trade Union in Kermanshah; A Group of Workers with Tehran Sherkat-e- Vahed (Tehran urban buss company); A Group of Workers with Nassaji Kordestan (Kurdistan Textiles); A Group of Workers with Alumin; A Group of Workers with Shinbaaf (textiles); A Group of Sacked Workers of Iran Khodro (automobile industries); Activists in charge of the labour web-site Showra; May 1st Committee of the City of Sanandaj; A Group of Workers with Niroo Rakhsh; A Group of Labour Activists of the City of Sanandaj.