11 Jul 2007 -
Free Mansour Osanloo

00:45 GMT (6 March 2008)

* Protest in Kiev and Wellington
* Australian Foreign Minister statement

View photos from the Action Day >>

Canada
Prior to the Action Day, Teamsters Canada built support to the Free Osanloo Campaign by lobbying their parliamentarians who raised the case in the Parliament. (Email report by Phil Benson)

Great Britain
In Scotland, the Aberdeen City Council confirmed to the local Branch of T&G Section of Unite its unanimous support to Mansour Osanloo.(Email report by Tommy Campbell)

Ukraine
On 5 March, the Ukrainian Train Drivers' Union initiated a picket in front of the Iranian Embassy and the building of the Council of Ministers in Kiev. A letter signed by all members of the ITF Coordinating Committee of Ukrainian affiliates was not accepted by the Iranian officials. (Email report by Mikhail Lyakhov)

New Zealand
On 6 March, approximately 40 unionists from RMTU, MUNZ NDU and Unite took part in a protest rally outside the Iranian Embassy in Wellington, New Zealand. A functionary came down and received the letter signed by the affiliates but would not allow photos to be taken.
(Email report by Wayne Butson)

Australia
Stephen Smith, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Austraila has issued the following statement titled "the Arrest of Mansour Ossanloo". (Email report by Dean Summers)

***
      
The Australian Government, through our Embassy in Tehran, has protested the arrest and detention of Mansour Ossanloo, the head of a bus driver's union in Iran.
      
Mr Ossanloo was arrested on charges of “acting against national security” and “issuing propaganda against the system”.
      
The Australian Government is fully committed to the core international labour standards enshrined in the International Labour Organisation's 1998 Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.
      
The Declaration includes the freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining.
      
The Australian Government will continue to call upon the Iranian Government to respect and uphold human rights.