Australian unions join Iranian protests

29 June 2009

Australian unions have protested in front of the Iranian embassy in Canberra today as part of a coordinated global demonstration over the country's recent election count and human rights record.

In a letter to Iranian Ambassador Mahmoud Movahhedi, AWU national secretary Paul Howes expresses concern over the "persecution and harassment of trade union activists in Iran".

"The AWU supports today's global protests by union members in many countries demanding justice for Iranian workers," Howes says.

In his letter, Howes calls on the Iranian government to respect basic labour rights under the ILO, and says the "so-called Islamic Labour Councils and Workers' Houses are a mockery of workers representation - they are used largely to police the religious habits of working people in their workplaces and their homes."

Original article: Workplace Express – www.workplaceexpress.com.au