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           Shipping Stevedoring Port Services Hydrocarbons Diving  Jul-Aug 2008        |
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MUA solidarity with imprisoned Iranian unionists15 February 2006By MUA news -
Today marked a day of international protest against the repression of unions in Iran A delegation of maritime workers from Sydney, Port Kembla and Newcastle travelled to Canberra to protest outside the Iranian embassy today alongside members of the Iranian community and representatives of the Transport Workers' Union and construction and public sector unions. The protests were called by global union federations, the International Transport Workers' Federation and the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions. The Australian Council of Trade Unions had also called on affiliates and their members to take action. Sydney Branch Secretary Robert Coombs, addressing the small but vocal group gathering outside the Embassy in O'Malley, Canberra, called on the Australian Government to condemn Iran's acts of violence, intimidation and repression of workers and trade union rights. "The MUA and the ITF will be seeking out and monitoring Iranian ships trading with Australia," he said. Iranian authorities have seized and imprisoned up to 13000 workers after bus drivers called a strike in January to protest the incarceration of union leader Mansour Osanloo. Hundreds of workers and their families were arrested. Grant Loades, Newcastle Stevedores was among the MUA delegation who had driven four to five hours down to Canberra to attend the protest. "We were asked to support Iranian workers in an international show of solidarity and that's why we're here," he said. "If it can happen there it can also happen here." "We support Iranian unionist in their fight for conditions and condemn the government repression of unions," said MUA veteran Fred Krausert. "The Australian Government would like to do the same thing here if they could - put unionists in prison." The Maritime Union has also written to the Iranian Government to protest the arrests. Similar protests were held outside Iranian embassies in Canada, the United Kingdom, most European capitals, The Philippines and Malaysia.
For further information
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This page: http://mua.org.au/news/general/iranprotest.html Site proudly designed and engineered by Social Change Online |
© 2001 Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) |
