Striking truck drivers in 310 cities in Iran pledge to free their 254 arrested colleagues
The truck drivers strike in Iran has reached 310 cities within two weeks. The striking workers are determined to claim their legitimate demands and to end repression, injustice and inequality.
The Islamic regime that failed to meet demands of the truck drivers and end their poverty and unsafe and unfair working conditions has deployed its judiciary and armed forced to fight the striking workers. In the past two weeks at least 254 drivers have been arrested.
In response to the arrests the drivers have pledged to continue the strike until all of their colleagues are freed, and all of their demands are met.
Truck drivers are protesting high prices, unemployment, lack of job security, non-payment of salaries, lack of right to form associations and labour unions, and failure to comply with their promises. One of the protests by truck drivers is protesting the road insecurity and disregarding this job as a detrimental one.
Despite popular support for the strike, the striking workers are facing persecution and pressure by the authorities. The striking drivers do not deserve any of that, no one does. The drivers were left with no option but to go on strike after the authorities failed to meet any of the legitimate demands.
The authorities have deployed various means to break the strike but hopeful and determined drivers stand strong and united, and keep all workers and society informed about the strike and about the false information that the authorities distribute.
The striking workers have done all they can to get public’s support and they have it in Iran, but the truck drivers have entered a battle that goes beyond borders of Iran, as they put it, they fight “to end repression, inequality, and injustice”, a battle that concerns all humanity and workers everywhere.
-“ Free Them Now” expects all unions around the world specially all the transport unions to support the struggles and demands of the truck drivers in Iran.
-“Free Them Now” calls for condemning these arrests and the threat and repression of the worker’s protests in Iran and calling for immediate release of detained striking drivers.
Free Them Now (Campaign to Free Jailed Workers in Iran)
shahla.Daneshfar2@gmail.com
October 8,2018