The TUI Transport, Ports, Fishery, and Communications of WFTU condemns the imperialist war against Iran and demands the repatriation of all sailors whose lives are in danger in the Persian Gulf

The Trade Unions International Transport, Ports, Fishery and Communications of the World Federation of Trade Unions unreservedly condemns the intolerable imperialist military aggression of the United States and Israel in Iran.

In addition to the thousands of civilian casualties it is causing in Iran, this new imperialist rush forward, in violation of international law and the sovereignty of states, is destabilizing and inflaming the entire region, while serving as a pretext for a new destructive invasion of Lebanon.

Trade unionists, our TUI has stood in solidarity with the movement of workers, retirees, youth, and women in Iran against the economic crisis, corruption, authoritarianism, and brutal repression by the Iranian government. But we absolutely reject the hypocrisy of imperialist governments that claim to want to “liberate” Iran through war : the future of Iran belongs to the Iranian people, not to the imperialist powers hungry for profit!

That is why the TUI TPFC demands an immediate ceasefire without annexation in the Middle East, respect for the sovereignty of peoples, and the withdrawal of all ground troops and warships of the major imperialist powers from the region.

In this context of barbaric war, the TUI TPFC denounces the fact that tens of thousands of seafarers are trapped on their merchant ships in the Persian Gulf, while missiles and war drones strike civilians in the Strait of Hormuz.

While shipowners refuse to declare the region a “war zone” and refuse to repatriate and stop sending cargo ships to the area, our aƯiliated seafaring comrades have informed us that several ships have already been targeted by gunfire in the region, leaving colleagues dead or seriously injured!

Regardless of their nationality or flag:
the lives of seafarers are worth more than the profits of shipowners!

The WFTU Transport Union demands:

– The immediate classification of the Persian Gulf as a “war zone,”
– A halt to all merchant shipping in the area,
– The immediate repatriation of all seafarers on ships stationed in the area,
– Full payment by shipowners of the wages of seafarers whose work has been halted because of the war,
– Legal and medical support for all seafarers who are victims of the imperialist war!

In this fight for the safety of seafarers, the TUI Transport of WFTU announces its support and solidarity with Greek seafarers on the occasion of their 24-hour national strike, led by the PAME class union of Greece, for the immediate repatriation of all seafarers trapped in the Persian Gulf!

Faced with the greed of shipowners and flag states, we know that seafarers can only count on on their united power to ensure their safety. That is why the TUI Transport of WFTU supports the Greek seafarers’ strike and calls on all its aƯiliates around the world to support them!