In Defence of Marxism

The workers of the Vahed Bus Company in Tehran will be gathering in front of the company's Headquarters and will distribute International Workers' Day commemorative cards among the company's drivers.

According to a report received from Tehran, at 11:30am on May Day, International Workers' Day, the workers of the Vahed Bus Company and their families will celebrate Labour Day and protest against their insecure situation outside the company's main office. All drivers who have been sacked because of going on strike will be present and will be demanding reinstatement, the signing of a collective agreement, union recognition, better pay and conditions as well as the release of Mansour Ossanlou, their leader.

The workers had initially decided that this gathering should take place in front of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. During a meeting on Saturday 29 April, however, the Steering Committee of the union decided that they should assemble outside the Vahed Bus Company Headquarters. According to this report many workers from other industries and university students will also join the Vahed workers.

The Vahed Bus Company Trade Union has produced an International Workers' Day commemorative card. On May Day union activists will distribute the cards, which will be tied to packets of sweets, to drivers on the company's bus routes. The workers of the Vahed Bus Company had also intended to hold a May Day commemorative event in a hall in Tehran but the Information Ministry has prevented them from celebrating International Workers' Day in this way.

30 April 2006