On Saturday 11 June 2005, ICTUR hosted its annual Administrative Council discussions in Geneva, Switzerland. Jamshid Ettehadieh, ICTUR correspondent on Iran, called for the Council to adopt a statement welcoming the establishment of the Tehran Public Bus Transportation Company syndicate in Iran as the first large and over ground trade union launched since the 1980s. The Council adopted the statement unanimously.

Resolution on Iran adopted by the the 21st Session of the Administrative Council of the International Centre for Trade Union Rights, Geneva, 11 June 2005

The 21st Session of the Administrative Council of the International Centre for Trade Union Rights notes with interest the recent encouraging developments as regards the establishment of independent trade unions by Iranian workers.

The Council is particularly encouraged to receive the report that after many months of difficulties, on 3 June, a General Meeting of members of Tehran Public Bus Transportation Company syndicate was held in Tehran to ratify a constitution, to elect an executive board, and to officially launch the legal and open activities of the trade union.

The Council is advised that this is the first time since the early 1980's that it has been possible to launch a trade union in Iran.

The Council is concerned that the Iranian authorities continue to harass, intimidate and oppress workers attempting to establish independent trade unions. The authorities continue to exploit article 6 of the national labour law and, in defiance of international law which protects freedom of association, recognise only the Islamic Labour Councils, the tripartite bodies operating on an ideological and confessional basis, as the legal organisations to represent workers.

The Council commits itself to support the efforts of Iranian workers to establish free and independent trade unions in accordance with the principles in ILO Conventions 87 and 98.