The Second Independent Workers Syndicate in Iran in More Than Two Decades!
Haft Tapeh Sugar Cane Company Workers Syndicate elected its first Executive Board!
Send Solidarity Greetings to Haft Tapeh Workers Syndicate!
Click here for full background information since 2007:
Haft Tapeh Sugar Cane workers formally formed their labour union called Haft Tapeh Sugar Cane Company Workers Syndicate (Sandikaa-ye Kargaran-e Sherkat-e Neyshekar-e Haft Tapeh) on October 22, 2008. Haft Tapeh workers original syndicate was established back in 1973, but the Iranian government had crushed and banned all free and independent labour organizations in Iran from early 1980s. After the formation of the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company this is the second genuine workers union that has been formed through workers direct involvement and election of the executive board. Both elections took place without the permission of the Ministry of Labour. The Iranian government are in favour of state-sponsored Islamic labour council as opposed to autonomous workers organizations.
The Haft Tapeh sugar cane Company (full name: Haft Tapeh Sugar Cane Plantation and Industry Company) is an industrial complex, with about 5000 workforce, in city of Shoush in Southern Khouzestan province in Iran. For the past year and half to two years, Haft Tapeh workers have been engaged in numerous strikes, job actions and protests for non-payment of wages and a list of other demands (see the link below). Throughout this time, workers have been trying to form their union despite serious government barriers, arrests, intimidation and prosecution of workers leaders. In July 2008, Haft Tapeh workers formed a committee to re-launch their organization which was banned since 19080s. Following numerous efforts. They were able to organize an election during which workers voted in favour of the Syndicates constitution and elected their executive board members. The following statement was posted on the Haft Tapeh Workers Syndicate website: (http://7tapeh.blogfa.com/post-38.aspx):
This morning, as the workers were preparing themselves for the elections, they were confronted by a notice which banned them from taking part in the elections and made the elections conditional on getting the Labour Office's permission.
The elections began at 8am and continued until noon. Next to every ballot box four observers from the plantation and the factory sections were present and, after the ballot boxes were transferred to another place, the votes were counted by the observers.
It should be mentioned that even though there was little time for voting (around four hours), as well as the obstacles that had been created and the [general] atmosphere at the factory, over 1000 workers took part in the vote.
During the voting the security forces were present but no specific clashes took place.
At these elections the following Steering Committee members were elected:
1- Fereydoon Nikoofard, 919 votes. 2- Nejat Dahli, 667. 3- Ali Nejati, 578. 4- Rahim Bes-hagh, 540. 5- Jalil Ahmadi, 398. 6- Ali Sharifi, 394. 7- Reza Rakhshan, 352. 8- Mohammad Heydarimehr, 302 . 9- Ghorban Alipoor, 284.
Through the consistent and active work of the workers the elections were conducted with complete order and fairness.
A full report and the names of the alternate members will be announced soon.
The Founding Committee of the Haft Tapeh Sugar Cane Workers' Trade Union
Please send your solidarity greetings to Haft Tapeh workers newly formed union
Sample Letter:
To Haft Tapeh Sugar Cane Company Workers Syndicate
I (we) am (are) writing this letter to congratulate you and all workers in Iran for your successful general election of your executive board members and other representatives for the first time in more than two decades. For your courageous efforts to form an independent labour organization despite all systemic barriers, we salute you and express our solidarity and support. We also send this message to the Iranian governments authorities to respect workers rights to organize, assemble and strike, put an end to persecution of labour activists and not to interfere in the affairs of independent workers organizations.
In solidarity,
Name
Organization
Send your solidarity greetings directly to Haft Tapeh Workers Syndicate ([email protected] / http://7tapeh.blogfa.com). CC to [email protected], especially for translation from English, French, German, Spanish, and Swedish.
For more information, contact [email protected] or [email protected]
International Alliance in Support of Workers in Iran (IASWI)
Background Information: www.workers-iran.org