Launch of

Iranian Workers' Solidarity Network

1- In view of the new methods of workers' struggles and the readiness of the objective conditions for the creation of independent workers' organisations in Iran, the necessity for solidarity between the activists of the workers' movement internationally and Iran has become more tangible than before.

2- Under the present conditions the setting up of a broad-based united action committee outside Iran, made up of exiled individuals and forces who sympathise with the working class, is on the order of the day. It is necessary that the forces and individuals who have not collaborated with the monarchist and Islamic capitalist regimes of Iran, and want to help the struggles of the Iranian working class and create international solidarity and contacts, take united steps towards this.

3- Some of the activities of the vanguard of the Iranian working class have now been concentrated in the Workers' Independent Association of Iran (WIAI). Therefore the activities of the exiled allies of the Iranian working class at the present time begin and take steps with introducing the WIAI and publicising it. For this reason the Iranian Workers' Solidarity Network (IWSN) is the united action committee made up of the allies of the Iranian working class.

4- The activities of the IWSN are mainly centred on setting up links and being active in the labour movement of Europe and North and South America. The bulletin of IWSN will be called Amal-e Kargari (Workers' Action) and will be published regularly in English (and eventually in other European languages). This bulletin will have the following sections: translations of WIAI's statements, translations of interviews by the spokesman of the WIAI and reports on solidarity activities.

5- The branches of the IWSN in various countries will be formed independently and start their activity under that name (and that of the relevant country). The tasks of the branches of the IWSN include the translation of WIAI statements into the local language and establishing contacts and being active in the labour movement and among the progressive forces of that country with the aim of building solidarity with the workers of Iran. Regular general meetings of IWSN will co-ordinate activities of the branches.

6- IWSN is independent of all groups and organisations of the opposition, both in exile and in Iran, and decisions on its activities are made collectively at the network's meetings.

A group of Iranian labour movement activists in exile

15 May 2001