Oakland City Hall Rally for Iranian Immigrant Unjustly Fired by the City

Stop the Attacks on Labor and Immigrant Rights
No Unfair Labor Practices - No Discrimination

50 people rallied at Oakland City Hall today to protest discrimination and unfair labor practices by the City. In the anti-immigrant climate caused by the U.S. Government’s War on Terrorism, an, 11-year Oakland City employee, trade unionist, local activist and KPFA Radio producer was singled out and wrongfully terminated in December 2002. His belated reinstatement in September of 2003 did not include back pay. Especially worrisome is the possibility that he may still face termination.

After music and a few speeches, the rally marched into City Hall and into the council chambers during the start of their session. Once inside, protesters chanted, “Fully reinstate” and “stop the attacks on immigrants!”

He was singled out as the only engineer in his department whose Civil Engineering license status was checked. Management had not checked licenses prior to his case. He simply forgot to pay his license renewal fees on time, and for this he was terminated. Since then California’s Board for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors renewed his license and made it retroactive.

Supporters called on the City to reinstated him with full back pay and no retaliation in order to set a precedent that the City of Oakland will not be able to unfairly fire employees.

Action or more information:

To voice your opposition to the City’s unfair practices and urge the City to settle his case fairly, please contact Mayor Jerry Brown at 510-238-3141, (e-mail) officeofthemayor [at] oaklandnet.com or (fax) 510-238-4731. There is also a petition online at http://www.petitiononline.com/aghamir/petition.html