The month of March 2009 has seen numerous worldwide events and days of action in solidarity with Iranian workers. Members and activists of the Iranian Workers’ Solidarity Network and International Marxist Tendency have organized protests, pickets and events all over the world. Fightback, a group of Marxists in Canada, together with IWSN activists also organized a social event in downtown Toronto to commemorate 30 years of Iranian working class struggle.
The event happened on Saturday, 21st of March and it had several themes: a belated anniversary for Iranian Revolution of 1979; a celebration of Nowrooz, Iranian New Year: and of course, part of the worldwide days of action in solidarity with Iranian workers.
About 30 people attended this social event. They included Fightback supporters and sympathizers, and a number of Iranian communist activists from Worker-communist Party of Iran and different organizations. Fightback had installed a book stall, presenting works of Marx, Engels, Lenin, Trotsky and also some other publications from the International Marxist Tendency. This was one of the popular spots of the event and it caught the eye of many of those present.
The event officially started with a few words from Alex Grant, representing Fightback. Alex talked about the significance of the Iranian Revolution and how it was a genuine revolution headed by workers and was later hijacked by Islamists. He also talked about the current struggles of Iranian workers against the Islamic Republic which is a regime that is to be overthrown by Iranian workers themselves. After Alex, Babak Kasrayi, an activist of IWSN, said some quick words. Babak told the audience about how, after departing Iran, he encountered so-called “Lefts” in the West that were defending the Islamic Republic as a supposedly “Anti-imperialist” regime when in reality it is a vicious, horrendous anti-worker and misogynist regime. He also said that finding a group like IMT has been like a breath of fresh air and he is very proud that this international organization is organizing solidarity events with Iranian workers all over the world. After Babak, some of the guests who were present in the actual time of revolution talked about their memories of the time. It was then time for a feast of Iranian and Afghan food, prepared by one of the Afghanistan-born comrades of Fightback. A number of revolutionary songs, including the Internationalé in Farsi, English and French, were then sung by the comrades.
All in all, this social event happened in an aura of solidarity with Iranian workers and their continuous fight against the Islamic Republic. It proved once more that Iranian workers are not alone in their struggles and their revolutionary brothers and sisters support them all over the world, even in downtown Toronto. Not only that, Canadian workers are also inspired by the massive 1979 Revolution, learning from its lessons and alert not to repeat its mistakes in their own struggles against Capitalism.
Vancouver and District Labour Council Supports Iranian Workers
On Tuesday March 17th the Vancouver and District Labour council unanimously passed the following resolution.
Because the government of Iran as been increasing its repression of the labour movement, arresting union activists and imposing serious jail time and sometimes even death sentences on trade unionists; and
Because the trade union movement in Iran has been calling for international solidarity to assist them in their struggle for trade union rights; and
Because trade union rights are human rights.
The Vancouver and District Labour council will:
1 Condemn the repression and arrest of trade unionists in Iran, and call on the government of Iran to free trade union leaders and activists currently in jail;
2 Call on the Canadian Labour Congress to support the struggle of trade unionists in Iran for human rights and democracy.
CUPW Vancouver Supports IWSN
The Vancouver local of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers also passed a resolution in support of the Iranian labour movement and the Iranian Worker Solidarity Network.
Because the Iranian government has been cracking down on the labour movement imposing serious jail time and sometimes even death sentences on trade unionists,
And because there is an international solidarity campaign that was originated by trade unionists in Iran,
And because the labour movement is an international movement and our sisters and brothers in Iran need to know that they are not alone,
The Vancouver Local of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers will endorse and support the Iranian Workers’ Solidarity Network.
