Campaign to Support Workers Fund Iran

Charity Number SC 037159

The idea to set up an Iranian workers fund has been discussed for a number of years, however, over the last few months the unprecedented escalation in workers struggles to save their jobs against privatisation, or against non payment of wages and the subsequent attacks by security forces and agents of the Iranian Government, have forced us to act urgently. About half of Iran’s workers are currently employed with either temporary or “blank” contracts, depriving them of any rights .

Workers Fund Iran was set up in December 2005 and aims to reduce and relieve poverty amongst Iranian workers (both employed and unemployed) who are victims of the economic policies of the Iranian regime including  privatisation.  It aims to put at the center of its activities the need to rebuild international working class solidarity, directly with the workers of Iran, in contrast to the funds set up by the US administration to support those Iranian  NGOs who follow US policy in the region (including Regime change from above) and its Neo Liberal economic agenda. 

Workers Fund Iran hopes to play its part in alleviating poverty amongst wage earners whose salaries have not been paid, through no fault of their own, as well as workers who have lost their jobs as a result of factory closures, privatisation, bankruptcy of the factory owner, or facing discrimination because of their trade union activities.  The Fund will also aim to provide support for child labourers, workers who have to work 2-3 consecutive shifts in order to support their families and women who work long hours with little pay in sweatshops exempt from any Labour Legislation.

The Fund will strive to maintain and strengthen international solidarity with Iranian workers. Funds sent to Iran will be distributed amongst the most needy working class families who face destitution because of current economic policies. We hope the funds will stop families sending their children to the streets as beggars or peddlers and selling their body parts, which is now a common practice in Iran

Members of the Fund have spoken to a number of non government organisations, labour activists and academics in Iran and obtained their commitment to identify the most needy sections of wage earners.  With their help we already have a list of all factories, mines, work places where salaries have not been paid for months. For obvious reasons the name of the Fund's supporters in Iran remains confidential to members and directors of the Fund.

The supporters of the Fund will also campaign amongst activists of  anti capitalist movement as well as  trade unions and labour organisations to raise the issue of Iranian workers and break the shameful silence of the leaders of the official labour movement.

The Fund is strictly independent of any political organisation/group inside or outside Iran and its members represent an array of different tendencies within the Iranian Labour movement . We  will not take funds from or give funds to any national government authority (including the governments of US, UK, Iran, Iraq...)  or any political organisation or entity.

Our campaign has already won an impressive list of sponsors: individuals prominent in the left and working class movement, national and local trade union and labour activists, including Cliff Slaughter, Professor Meszaros, Terry Brotherstone, Liz Leicester , Hillary Horrocks, Simon Pirani, Christine Cooper, Anton Mactonian “.  

Local trade unionists and community organisations should do all they can to support this fund as an integral part of  solidarity with Iranian workers and as an integral part the anti war movement. We invite everybody who stands for the defence of Iranian workers and their right to struggle for a decent wage, against the clerical dictatorial regime in Iran and against US military intervention in the region to support this effort. The oil strike by Iranian workers played a crucial role in the overthrow of the Shah’s regime in 1979. It is no surprise that at a time of  crisis both the unpopular clerical regime in Iran and the rainbow of royalists and republicans supported by the US administration and international capital are determined to weaken the Iranian working class. Iranian workers have made a plea for your support, please act now.

Please submit resolutions in support of the fund to your local T.U Branch, join us in supporting the fund.

Make Cheques Payable to : Workers Fund Iran

Fund address:

Nationwide  Treasurer Trust Fund

290 Byres Road,Lanarkshire

G12 BAW- UK

Account Details: Workers Fund Iran
Nationwide  Treasurer Trust Fund
BIC - Bank International Code MIDLGB22
Branch Number 070093
Account Number 33333334
REF 0912 / 703 596614
290 Byres Road
Lanarkshire
G12 BAW- UK

Website :    http://www.workersfund.org

Email : workersfund_iran@yahoo.com