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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
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