From: Dismissed and Unemployed Workers Union

To: International Trade Unions Confederation


May 2, 2007


With greetings

Dear friends and colleagues,


We congratulate the First May, International Workers’ Day to all of our
colleagues.

As you know it was the First of May yesterday. We Iranian workers as all
other workers around the world celebrated this day in different cities
of Iran. 300 workers, mostly members of our union took part in May Day
celebration in Sanandaj. The law enforcement and security forces
attacked the participants from the very beginning of the event. During
the attack Mr. Sheys Amani, the president of the union was injured on
his left knee and was taken to the hospital. Workers then started to
march towards the Azadi square in Sanandaj, while being beaten by
security forces using sticks and pepper sprays. During these attacks
dozens were wounded and some were arrested. Some family members of the
arrested workers who went to police station 12 in Sanandaj, to ask find
out about the whereabouts of their husbands and brothers were arrested
and the sister of Mr. Sedigh Karimi, a member of the board of directors
of the union was brutally assaulted. Today, May 2, 2007, Mr. Sheys Amani
was attacked and arrested while at the court with Mr. Karimi’s sister to
file a complaint against on of the security forces. The union was
informed that other members of the board of directors of the union were
chased and at risk of being assaulted by plain cloth security forces in
Sansndaj.

Those arrested yesterday are being held in undisclosed locations and
their family members have not been able to visit them. Following is a
list of names of the workers we know were arrested yesterday: Sheys
Amani, the president and Sedigh Karimi a member of the board of
directors of Dismissed and Unemployed Workers Union. Eghbal Latifi,
Yadollah Moradi, Najmedin Rajabi, Farogh Gavili, Anvar Mafakheri, Sedigh
Amjadi, Habibiollah Kalkani, Mahieddin Rajabi and Sedigh Sobhani. Those
are all dismissed and suspended workers of Sanandaj and members of the
union.

Friends

The Islamic Republic of Iran’s Government despite the acceptance of
conventions 87 and 98 of International Labor Organization, ILO,
repeatedly and violently blocked all establishments of independent
workers unions and does not allow the workers to organize any
independent celebrations on May Day.

Our union requested permission from the provincial authorities to
organize a May Day celebration which was denied the permission, so
workers gathered in front of the Labor Relations Office in Sanandaj to
stage a peaceful rally but were brutally stroke by the security forces.

We, members of the Dismissed and Unemployed Workers Union, appreciate
your continues support and expect all friends and colleagues to condemn
the raid on May Day celebrations in Sanandaj and call for immediate and
unconditional release of all arrested during the event.


Copy to:

Global Unions


Long live the May Day

Long live Labor Solidarity


Dismissed and Unemployed Workers Union

May 2, 2007
[email protected]