Obama, Powers, and the Teheran Bus Drivers Strike

I wish Samantha Powers at Senate Foreign Affairs were telling Senator Obama to join Senator Santorum and express the solidarity of the People of Illinois with their struggle. It's our struggle too,

In a letter dated, January 6, 2006, Santorum requested from the U.S. Secretary of State to intervene on behalf of the arrested Tehran's Bus drivers and the repressed Iranian People.

Slamming the Islamic regime for the persistent human rights abuses and the brutal attack of the strikers, the Pennsylvanian Senator stated in part of his letter: "I ask that you and other senior leaders of the US Government make a concerted effort to reach out to groups of individuals, such as unions and students, to let them know the People of America stand with them in their fight for greater freedoms and liberties".

And here's Hoffa's letter expressing the Teamster's Solidarity,

Dear President Ahmadinejad:

On behalf of the 1.4 million men and women of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, I write to denounce the arrest of fourteen members of the Union of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company (Sandikaye Kargarane Sherkate Vahed Autobus Raniehn Tehran Va Hoomeh).

A recent union meeting was disrupted by plainclothes members of the Ansar Hezbollah who badly beat up many union members. Your government took no action against the aggressors.

On December 22, agents from the Office of the Prosecutor arrested and detained at least fourteen members of the union. These arrests clearly violate international labor standards regarding freedom of association and freedom of expression. They also contradict your campaign pledges to encourage justice and assist working people in your country.

We call upon your government to immediately release the union leaders and members and negotiate in good faith with the Union of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, whose members have not had a wage increase in over four years. The Union has a forty year history of supporting its members and efficient urban transport in Tehran; they fully deserve respect from all governmental authorities in Iran.

Sincerely,
James P. Hoffa
General President