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During the recent years, struggle
of our country’s workers and toilers for their rights has experienced many ups
and downs. This struggle which some of its demands include, the right for
establishing a union and restoration of union rights; increases in wages based
on the factual rate of inflation; signing of joint contracts; preventing
privatization and workers’ dismissals; abandoning of temporary-contracts and
release of detained workers and union activists; continues. An important point,
which is a reflection of growth in workers’ class consciousness, is their
emphasis on recognition of the workers’ union-rights and their right for
restoration and establishment of independent syndicates. Theses days, with all
their short-comings and difficulties, the independent unions and organizations
continue their presence as an inseparable component; and in the entirety of the
existing labor-union movement, their role and position is indisputable.
In the present conditions and
with the start of Hassan Rouhani government’s activities and the government’s
new Labor Minister, who speaks of “new plans”, while we must wait for
application of particular policy concerning labor-union movement; more than
ever, importance of strengthening the role of independent unions and the need
for collaboration, cooperation, and united action within the workers’ existing
labor-union movement is being felt. Within the existing and combatant labor
unions’ structure, workers must engage in a united resistance and struggle with
the policies dictated by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. With
a careful look at the political changes and labor-related activities in the
recent months, we will notice the urgency with which the demand for restoration
of union rights and presence and involvement of the workers’ legitimate
representatives in problems and activities relating to them is being presented
and pursued. As an example, since the plans for “Reform of the Labor Law” and “Reform
of the Social Security Law”, in the context of the economic deregulation plan
based on the World Bank’s prescriptions, is in the government’s plan; and these
reforms devastate and wipe out workers’ benefits and rights, the demand for
participation of workers’ elected (not appointed) representatives in the
administrative and executive boards of the Social Security Organization has
turned into a collective workers’ demand. Therefore, in order for such
legitimate demands, demands based on the International Charter for Trade Union
Rights, which is ratified by the World Federation of Trade Unions, turn from
demand to action, labor unions, the legitimate and independent labor
organizations and general united action within the labor-union movement is
urgently needed.
The Grand Labor Council’s recent
enactment regarding the fringe benefit rights, such as housing, provisions, and
house-hold rights, and denial of this act to the trades’ workers, once again
show the importance of having independent unions, unions formed on appropriate
class basis. Recent years’ experiences validate this reality as well.
Labor-union movement is the most extensive and common segment of the workers’
movement; which generally includes economical, trade and welfare struggles of
the workers. Of course, it by no means diminishes the need for political-class
struggles and their class orientation. Concerning connection and contact with
large masses of urban and rural workers, labor union movement is the most
extensive organized association of the workers and toilers. This movement incorporates
all workers, regardless of their ideological, religious and philosophical
differences. All blue and white workers are organized in unions to defend their
social, political and economical rights. The union movement relies on the
largest masses of workers and defends the most general workers’ rights. It is
exactly these particular factors that provide the unions the most extensive
opportunities for organizing all workers. Therefore, contrary to the reactionaries’
and different Islamic Republic ruling circles’ policies for creating divisions
on the basis of ideology, religion and philosophy, and creating Islamic
associations, Islamic labor councils and alike, which in a most violent manner
have, and will ravage workers’ union rights; the labor-union movement encompass’
all workers, and on the basis of their class and trade interests, they are in
concert and united. Based on what was mentioned, and considering the
significance and nature of the labor-union movement, at this critical juncture
and point of time that our country is in, unity and joint action for defending
the interests and rights of the workers and toilers is an indisputable
necessity.
In forging united action within the existing labor-union
movement, the differences among different worker groupings can never be an
invincible obstacle. Struggle for joint objectives, requires joint action in
the most extensive form. Establishing unity within the ranks of the labor-union
movement requires a sustained effort, and an emphasis on class motives is of
paramount importance. Experiences such as joint declarations and statements of
the Metal and Mechanical Workers’ Syndicate, the Board for Reconstitution of
the Tehran Painting and Decorating Syndicate and the Haft-Tapeh Sugarcane
Workers’ Syndicate on the occasion of the May Day, and the correct presentation
of the workers’ demands in these statements; and also, their joint letter to
the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the Iranian delegation at this
organization, are examples of the existing capabilities and opportunities for
reliance in forging united action within the workers’ ranks. With patience and
an organized effort for restoration of the union rights, we must persist on
these successful experiences; and united, defend the workers’ interests.
