Sugar cane workers resume strike in Iran as employers fail to meet their demands
On 5th November 2018, sugar cane workers of Haft Tapeh in Khuzestan province in south Iran protested and went on strike in objection to three months delay in payment of their wages, lack of clarity on future of the corporation, and danger of loss of jobs.
The workers held an assembly in front of office of board of directors of the corporation and protested the issues they face, as the employers have failed to address any of them since the last strike in August.
The striking workers from different sectors of the corporation say that the 4500 workers are worried about future their jobs.
Metro workers in Tehran, Iran, protest delay in payment of wages and unsafe workplace
On 5th November 2018, workers of Line 6 of Tehran Metro in Iran held an assembly to protest 6 months delay in payment of their wages and insurance benefits.
The workers gathered in front of head office of their employer and protested the issues also raised other demands that includes increasing safety at the workplace.
In the past two months two workers lost their lives due to lack of safety standards in Tehran Metro so the workers demand urgent actions by the employers to make sure “safety of workers” is a priority.
Metro workers in Tehran, Iran, protest expulsion of colleagues and delayed wages
On 4th November 2018, workers of Tehran Metro held an assembly to protest expulsion of their colleagues and 6 months long delays in payment of their wages.
The protesting workers say that some of their colleagues who had protested the unfair treatments in June and August had their contracts suspended by the contractors and were dismissed later. The workers demand immediate return of their colleagues to work.
Fourth truck drivers’ strike rapidly expands in Iran
On 4th November 2018, the truck drivers’ strike in Iran has expanded to 55 cities in 23 provinces. The first demand of the striking drivers is the “immediate and unconditional release” of their 262 colleagues.
In the previous strike, the authorities arrested 262 workers which was received with worldwide condemnation and followed by calls from international labour organisations to free the workers and meet their demands.
The workers’ demands in their fourth strike are:
Immediate and unconditional release of their arrested colleagues, Wage increase for the drivers and retired drivers , Installation of well being facilities for drivers in terminals , Removing dealers and agents from terminals and freights, Clarity on situation of their insurance , Safety of roads , End to embezzlement by traffic police and officials, Right to organization, Increase of rate in accordance with inflation, Reduction of price of tyres and car parts as well as ability to purchase at government exchange rate
The striking truck drivers have attracted popular support in Iran as their objection to poverty, high prices, discrimination, widespread embezzlement and corruption reflects that of the vast majority of the society. The drivers have displayed banners of solidarity with other workers and teachers on their trucks and emphasised “solidarity as the key to success.”
Transport workers of refinery in Abadan, Iran, hold assembly to protest imposition of poverty
On 29th October 2018, transport workers of Abadan refinery in Iran held an assembly to protest the imposition of poverty. The workers protested their wages below the poverty line, pay-freeze and the non-payment of their salary and bonuses for one month.
In the assembly, the workers protested the “blatant embezzlement”, “bullying workers” by the employers and demanded an immediate pay rise.
More railway workers join the national strike in Iran
On 28th October 2018, railway workers from Shahrood, Semnan, Damghan, Zagros, Hormozgan, Lorestan and workers of diesel maintenance in Tehran joined the national strike of the railway workers in Iran.
The Railway Line Coordinating Council in Iran called for a strike between 27th October and 1st November 2018 as the authorities failed to fulfil their promises to pay unpaid wages and meet the demands of the workers which were outlined in the strike statement:
Full payment of unpaid wages – and announcement of the exact date for the payments, Payment of medical insurance , Abolishment of temporary contracts, Offer of permanent contracts, Right to organize, Right to assembly – whenever the workers need to raise any issues they have, Immediate stop to expulsion of workers,
Many workers in different industries in Iran face similar issues as the railway workers. Delay in payment of wages, non-payment of wages, mass expulsion of workers, lack of right to organise, lack of right of assembly and protest are some of the issues which the authorities don’t address. Workers in many industries have been forced to go on strike.
Railway workers in Iran go on strike for the third time this year
On 27th October 2018, railway workers in some provinces started their strike that the Coordinating Council of Workers’ Protests and workers of Railway Maintenance called for.
Railway workers in Hormozgan, Shahrood, Damghan, Semnan, Zagros and Lorestan started the strike and held assemblies in their workplaces. Also, workers of Diesel Engine Maintenance didn’t turn up for work.
The railway workers are on strike for the third time this year over unpaid wages and bonuses. The first strike happened between 20th July and 8th August, and the second strike between 25th and 27th August. The workers agreed to stop the strike as some of their demands were met and the authorities made promises to address the renaming issues. The failure of the authorities to fulfil their promises to workers triggered the current strike.
The striking workers have outlined their urgent demands of all railway workers in Iran:
Full payment of unpaid wages – and announcement of the exact date for the payments, Payment of medical insurance , Abolishment of temporary contracts, Offer of permanent contracts, Right to organize, Right to assembly – whenever the workers need to raise any issues they have, Immediate stop to expulsion of workers
Petrochemical workers resume their strike in Mahshahr in south Iran
On 20th October 2018, workers of Farabi Petrochemical in the Special Economic Zone in Mahshar resumed their strike after the failure of the authorities to meet the workers’ demands.
The workers had halted their 40-day-long strike in September but returned to work after the employers, Shasta Holdings and Tapico, made promises to meet their demands. However, since then none of the issues have been solved and the authorities refuse to answer.
The workers are on very low wages and struggle with the poverty that is imposed on them.
Non-payment of wages for 6 months triggers strike in Gas Refinery in Khuzestan, Iran
On 24th October 2018, workers of Bilband Gas Refinery in Behnahan, Khuzestan province in Iran went on strike in objection to the non-payment of 6 months of their wages.
Workers and staff of the refinery had held assemblies and gone on strike in June but the authorities have failed to address the urgent issues the workers face.
The workers who already struggled to make ends meet as a result of high prices of goods, low wages and high inflation, can’t afford to pay for their day-to-day basic needs when the wages are delayed.
Dam workers hold assembly in workplace over non-payment of wages in Gachsaran, Iran
On 23rd October 2018, over 500 workers of the Chamshir Dam of Gachsaran in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, Iran held an assembly in their workplace and protested the non-payment of their wages for 10 months.
The workers have protested the issues several times but the authorities refuse to pay the delayed wages, that has put the workers under lots of financial pressure.
The workers struggle to pay for their very basic day-to-day needs on the low wages and for high prices of goods, as well as inflation. The non-payment of wages put the workers and their families in a very difficult position.
Threat of mass expulsion of workers sparks strike in special economic zone in the south of Iran
On 21st October 2018, contract workers of Pars Special Zone in Bushehr province in southern Iran went on strike in objection to threats of mass expulsion of workers.
The employers announced the abolishment of “rotation work” contracts which will mean for many of the workers that they have to either leave or agree to new and unacceptable conditions.
The workers who carry out work in remote locations such as on oil rigs, gas wells or on oil platforms in the sea for two weeks at a time and then take two weeks off to spend with their families, will have to either leave or move their families to the locations.
The “take it or leave it” deal that has been put in front of the workers demands from them to relocate their families to locations with no signs of civilisation, so in reality the workers are forced to leave their jobs.
Pars Special Zone that is known for its harsh conditions and lack of standards, is very similar to other economic special zones such as Asaluyeh which has for a long time been a battleground of workers and employers over workers’ rights, standard of life and working conditions.
Municipality workers in Ahvaz, Iran, go on strike over non-payment of wages and bonuses
On 23rd October 2018, Green Space municipality workers of Ahvaz, in southern Iran, went on strike over non-payment of their wages.
The workers have been facing the issue of non-payment of wages and delayed wages for several years, but the employers refuse to deal with the matter.
The workers are already in a difficult situation, owing to high prices of goods, inflation and wages below the poverty line, and the refusal of the employers and authorities to deal with the issue of non-payment of wages and bonuses has forced the workers to go on strike.
Workers and staff of Well Services Corporation hold assembly over delayed wages in Ahvaz, Iran
On 23rd October 2018, all the workers and staff of Well Services Corporation who work on drilling oil and gas wells in Ahvaz, southern Iran, held an assembly and protested over their unpaid wages.
The workers and staff held banners demanding the immediate payment of their wages and bonuses that remain unpaid for 7 months.
There have been many protests and strikes in Iran in objection to the delay in payment of wages which puts workers under extreme financial pressure.
Firefighters protest unpaid wages of all of the municipality staff of Shadegan, Iran
On 22nd October 2018, a group of firefighters protested over unpaid wages of more than 300 staff of Shadegan municipality in Khuzestan province in Iran.
The firefighters held their assembly in front of the office of the governor of Khuzestan and demanded the immediate payment of 9 months of delayed wages of the staff.
Non-payment of wages and delay in payments is a widespread issue in Iran that affects many people. Workers and staff in different industries and workplaces face this issue and struggle to make ends meet on a daily basis.
The issue has triggered many strikes and protests in Iran.
Petrochemical workers resume their strike in Mahshahr in south Iran
On 20th October 2018, workers of Farabi Petrochemical in the Special Economic Zone in Mahshar resumed their strike after the failure of the authorities to meet the workers’ demands.
The workers had halted their 40-day-long strike in September but returned to work after the employers, Shasta Holdings and Tapico, made promises to meet their demands. However, since then none of the issues have been solved and the authorities refuse to answer.
The workers are on very low wages and struggle with the poverty that is imposed on them.
Retired teachers in Iran call for an assembly to protest embezzlement of their funds
Retired teachers in Iran have called for an assembly in front of the office of the Teachers’ Pensions on 11th November 2018 in objection to the poverty that has been imposed on them as well as embezzlement of their pensions.
According to general director of the Teachers’ Pensions fund, Mr Mehdi Nikdel, the amount of the embezzled funds is 8 billion Iranian Rial which is about USD 200,000.
One of the demands of teachers and retired teachers in Iran is clarity on financial affairs of the agencies and the factories that are owned by the fund. Other demands of teachers and the retired teachers include the right to appoint the board of directors of the fund, return of the stolen money and the abolishment of the high salaries the current directors and managers receive.
Teachers and retired teachers have highlighted their objection to embezzlements and the high payouts to corrupt managers and directors in their previous protests.