Sit in and demonstrations by Chit-e-Rey workers !

Today the 19th of June, workers from Chit-e-Rey
textile factory, near Tehran held the manager of this
privatised company, hostage for 3 hours in protest
at non payment of their wages . Hours later it
appeared
that their long struggle for unpaid wages has finally
succeeded.
Over the last few years workers from this factory have
participated in a number of struggles for their basic
rights. In recent months the factory was transferred
from Bonyad Mostazafin ( an Islamic foundation) to the
private sector. Neither the foundation, nor
Chit-e-Rey's new owners,  nor the Tehran Stock
Exchange that conducted the sale, would give any
information on how the textile plant was sold. But the
workers who participated in demonstrations last week
in front of the Iranian Majles ( Islamic Parliament)
were adamant that the factory debts equal to nearly
$10m, was sold for 20m rials ($2,500) to three private
investors whose only intention was to declare
bankruptcy and sell its 16 hectares of land.
Production stopped last December and the workers wages
were not paid. The 3700 workers who were employed in 3
shifts of this factory  blocked the main Tehran- Karaj
road on a number of occasions to protest against
Bonyad Mostazafin. On Monday these workers attacked
their new owner-manager and smashed furniture and
hurled computers out of windows when their new boss
arrived for the first time in two weeks, but
empty-handed.
After years of corruption and mismanagement Bonyad
Mostazafin, The Foundation for the Oppressed and
War-Wounded, probably the largest Bonyad, employed
63,000 people and owns 400 companies but claims that
only 85 of these are profit making outfits and has
embarked on large scale privatisation. The
privatisation policy is mainly aimed at benefiting
supporters of the regime in the bazaar and in
commerce, reducing further the production sector .
On the 19th of June, Chit-e-Rey workers finally
appeared to succeed in obtaining their unpaid wages
totalling 160,000,000 tomans and a reversal of the
privatisation policy. This is a major victory for
textile workers in Iran who deprived of independent
workers organistaions, the right to strike or to
protest have waged brave consistent fights over the
last few months. This victory will encourage many
workers, facing similar conditions. Workers' Left
Unity Iran  reminds international supporters of
Iranian workers that solidarity with Iranian workers
is urgently required to help workers get their unpaid
wages , to obtain the right set up their  independent
organisations.

Co-ordinating Committee - Workers Left Unity Iran
19 June 2001
http://www.etehadchap.com
email: [log in to unmask]
fax 004631 139897 - 00448701257959

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email:[log in to unmask]
http://www.etehadchap.com

Fax 004631 139897  00448701257959

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