Iranian sugarcane workers seek solidarity

From the Iranian Workers' Solidarity Network, http://iwsn.org.

According to reports received from Shush city (in southern Iran) on May 17, on the 13th day of their strike, Haft Tapeh Sugar Cane Company workers protested in front of the city's governor general's office.

During the protest march to the city centre, shopkeepers and others began joining the demonstration. The city's shopkeepers shut up their shops and supported the workers. According to eyewitnesses. 10,000 people took part in the demonstration — making it the biggest in Shush's history.

Police responded by attacking the demonstration, including children, with clubs and tear gas, injuring many. Intelligence ministry agents arrested two workers.

The workers are demanding the payment of two months' unpaid wages; an end to the gathering of legal dossiers and summoning workers to court; the sacking of the whole management committee of the company; and the sacking of the company's security chief — who has had a direct role in the spying on and beating of workers.

Please email protests against the attacks on these workers to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, < dr-A HREF=\"mailto:ahmadinejad@president.ir\">ahmadinejad@president.ir, or fax 98 216 480 665.

From GLW issue 753