May Day Statement of Organisation of Revolutionary Workers of Iran (Rahe Kargar).

international | worker & community struggles and protests | opinion/analysis

Wednesday April 30, 2008 12:33

by pat c - Organisation of Revolutionary Workers of Iran (Rahe Kargar)

This is the May Day statement from the Organisation of Revolutionary Workers of Iran (Rahe Kargar). More information is available from the links below and Rahe Kargar may be contacted at public@rahekargar.net

International solidarity is our global capital to confront global capitalism
*Neo-liberal globalisation is nothing more than the globalisation of unemployment, insecurity, poverty, hunger, a bleak future and constant fear for the majority in this world.
*Under the flag of democracy capitalists spread the dictatorship of free markets on our planet.
*The rich are getting fewer and richer while the poor are getting more numerous and poorer.

As a result of the general onslaught of capital on the basic rights of workers and the achievements of the working class and working people over the last two centuries, large capitalist countries are demoted to “third world” status and “third world” countries shrink into slave-owning ones.

It is not workers in the “south” that are depriving workers in the “north” of their future. Capital, with its greed for ever-bigger profits, moves to countries were slave-like conditions, complete absence of any workers rights and savage repression rules. Workers in the “north” can only radically safeguard their job security and their achievements by actively defending the workers of the “south” in their struggles for increase pay and rights, and for their ability to defend themselves against capital.

Capitalism’s attacks without borders have increasingly bound the workers and wage-earners across the world by the same fate. This assault cannot be halted by local resistance alone. A powerful and united global anti-capitalist and anti-neo-liberal movement is the fundamental precondition for an effective resistance to the warmongering imperialist projects for domination, and to counter the globalisation of poverty, unemployment, absence of rights, and insecurity. We need solidarity and unity!

Workers of all countries unite!

Iran

Iran is one of the richest and well endowed countries of the world, ranking fourth in oil exporting countries yet:

20% of the population are unemployed.
*Less than 14% of women are active in the labour market.
*87% of the unemployed are young.
*The official minimum wage is set at half the poverty line.
*50% of the population are below the poverty line.
*10 million people earn between 15-150 euros per month.
*Wages are unpaid for 3-9 months, some for as long as 2 years.
*Any association independent of the government and security organs is banned, as is the right to strike.
*There is no freedom of expression, assembly or the right to elect true representatives.
*Workers are denied the May Day holiday, or the right to organise any independent demonstration or to march on this day.
*Sexual apartheid operates in the work place and in the labour market.
*New laws have excluded 90% of workers from the Labour Code.
*Immigrant and refugee workers, especially Afghans, are treated as slaves.

Iranian workers need your support for their immediate demands:

§ Release of imprisoned workers and trade unionists.
§ The freedom to set up independent workers associations.
§ Recognition for true workers representatives.
§ The expulsion from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) of representatives chosen by the Islamic government and bosses.
§ Converting temporary work contracts into permanent employment.
§ Extending coverage of the Labour Code to all workers.
§ Increase in wages.
§ Equal pay, and equal right to work, for men and women, and for Iranian workers and immigrants.

Long live May Day, the day of international solidarity of the working class!

Organisation of Revolutionary Workers of Iran (Rahe Kargar)
public@rahekargar.net

http://www.rahekargar.net/

http://www.etehadchap.org/