Fearful of strike and protests, Haft Tapeh bosses issue new contracts for protesting workers
On 10th January 2019, workers of Haft Tapeh sugar cane factory in Khuzestan, Iran, protested again over unpaid wages.
The workers who protested on 8th January were promised to get paid but the employers issued new contracts a day after to ensure that the workers don’t continue to protest and strike. The authorities are afraid that the strike will expand to other sectors and social protests.
Despite the new contracts, the workers held an assembly in front of the office of the board of directors and demanded payment of their unpaid wages.
Teachers in Iran: “The government betrays and the Islamic Majles (parliament) supports it”
On 10th January 2019, teachers in different cities in Iran held assemblies in front of the offices of the Ministry of Education and protested for their rights and demands.
Teachers in the cities of Ardebil, Tabriz, Yazd and Kermanshah protested against poverty and lack of access to free healthcare and free education.
The teachers also held banners demanding the release of jailed teachers.
Teachers in Kermanshah, who haven’t been paid for two months, chanted “The government betrays and the Islamic Majles (parliament) supports it” and raised their objections to widespread embezzlement.
On 9th January 2019, teachers in Isfahan held a similar protest. Even the heavy presence of armed forces didn’t stop the protesting teachers.
Municipality workers of Chavidbeh, Iran, continue to protest over unpaid wages
On 10th January 2019, workers of waste management and services of Chavidbeh municipality in Khuzestan province, Iran, protested again over unpaid wages.
The 40 workers haven’t been paid for 4 months and are owed 6 months of their benefits. They have protested several times in front of the municipality building but the authorities refuse to pay them.
The workers and their families struggle to make ends meet and to pay for their essential needs.
Unpaid retired workers in Iran say no to embezzlement and incompetence of the authorities
On 9th January 2019, retired workers of Kian Tyre company in Iran held an assembly demanding their outstanding pension money.
The retired workers gathered in front of the Ministry of Industry in Tehran and demanded their unpaid pension.
The retirees had also protested the previous week and Kian Tyre paid 170 billion Rial (4 million USD) to the Ministry of Industry to clear the debt but the retirees haven’t received any money.
After the assembly, the retired workers marched through the streets and blocked a road for a while. They chanted slogans against empty promises, embezzlement and incompetence of the authorities.
The retired workers decided to protest again on 12th January 2019 if they are not paid by then.
Gold mine workers in Iran hold assembly to protest against expulsions of workers
On 9th January 2019, workers of Aghdareh gold mine in Takab in West Azerbaijan province, Iran, held an assembly to protest against the expulsion of workers.
In the past two months, 320 workers have been expelled. The workers say that the employers justify the unfair and unjust expulsions by saying that this is seasonal work and they don’t renew contracts.
The workers demand an end to the unreasonable expulsions and the reinstatement of their colleagues.
Workers of National Iranian Oil Company protest against poverty and failure of the authorities
On 9th January 2019, workers of the National Iranian Oil Company held an assembly in front of the Islamic Majles (parliament) to protest against the empty promises of the authorities.
The workers, who have permanent contracts, object to low wages, low standard of living and failure of the authorities to fulfill their promises.
Many workers in Iran, despite getting paid and having permanent contracts, suffer from poverty.
Drivers of industrial machinery in Asaluyeh Industrial Complex in Iran protest over unpaid wages
On 8th January 2019, industrial machinery drivers of section 12 of the Asaluyeh Industrial Complex in Bushehr province, Iran, held an assembly to protest over unpaid wages.
The workers gathered in their workplace and protested as the employers keep ignoring their demands to get paid. Non-payment of wages pushes the workers and their families into harsher circumstances and poverty.
Workers of Haft Tapeh sugar cane factory in Iran strike over unpaid wages
On 8th January 2019, workers of Haft Tapeh sugar cane factory in Khuzestan, Iran, went on strike in objection to unpaid wages.
The workers who have not been paid for two months said that they would continue their strike if their wages are not paid in full by 12 January 2019.
The management promised to pay the wages so the workers went back to work.
Municipality workers in Dezful, Iran, hold assembly in the city to protest over unpaid wages
On 8th January 2019, municipality workers of Dezful in Khuzestan province, Iran, held an assembly in the city to protest over unpaid wages.
The workers who work in “green spaces” gathered in Rudband Sq in the city of Dezful to protest over several months of unpaid wages and being pushed into poverty as a result.
The workers and their families struggle to make ends meet.
Workers of three companies in Qeshm, Iran, hold joined assembly to protest over unpaid wages
On 8th January 2019, workers of PetroPay, Petro Makers (PetroSazan) and Rahgozaran Construction held a joined assembly in Qeshm, an island in the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf to protest against non-payment of their wages.
The workers gathered in front of the factory and chanted slogans against the company and the politicians who support them.
Railway engineering workers in Lorestan province, Iran, go on strike over unpaid wages
On 7th January 2019, Railway engineering workers of Dorud city in Lorestan province, Iran, went on strike and held an assembly to protest against non-payment of their wages.
The workers gathered in front of the provincial governor’s office in Lorestan and said that not being paid their wages has pushed them and their families into poverty.
The contracting company that employs 1000s of workers in the railways industry has delayed the payment of wages of many workers in different parts of Iran. The workers say that not paying the wages is “blatant embezzlement” by the company.
280,000 workers have lost their job in the manufacturing industry in Iran over the last year
Mr Arash Mohebi, an official representative of the manufacturing industry in Iran, said that this year alone over 280,000 workers in this industry have lost their job.
It has also recently been reported that between 3000 and 4000 workers in different scrap yards are going to lose their job which will result in the loss of livelihood of 15000 people who depend on the workers.
The dimensions of the job losses in the manufacturing and car industry in Iran is tragic and more families are being pushed into poverty very rapidly. More protests against poverty, for jobs or unemployment benefits are also are being discussed amongst the unemployed workers and members of the public.
Hospital staff in Karaj refuse to let go of patients and their work
On 3rd January 2019, staff of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Karaj in Tehran province, Iran, held an assembly in front of the Organisation of Privatisation to protest over unpaid wages and nonrenewal of their contracts.
The staff who have held many protests managed to get 4 months of the 12 months of outstanding wages.
The protesters announced their solidarity with the steelworkers, sugar cane workers, HEPCO and Agh Dareh workers.
No one takes any responsibility for the staff and the patients as the hospital has been sold to a private owner. The new owner tries to close the hospital but the staff refuse to let go of the patients and their work.
Dairy product workers in Tehran protest over outstanding wages
On 2nd January 2019, workers of Varna Dairy company in Varmin in Tehran province, Iran, held an assembly to protest over unpaid wages.
The workers gathered in front of the judiciary’s building in Varamin and demanded payment of their wages that are overdue for a year. The workers have been told that “the company has financial issues.”
Non-payment of wages of workers in Iran is widespread and affects the lives of many workers and their families.
“We don’t want parasitic capitalist rule” retirees chant in front of Iranian parliament
On 1st January 2019, a large group of retirees protested in front of the Iranian Majles (parliament) in Tehran.
The retiress chanted: “The capitalist government doesn’t comprehend”, “We don’t want parasitic capitalist rule”, “We are all united to eradicate discrimination” and other slogans against poverty, inequality, oppression and systematic embezzlement and theft in the system.
“We don’t want the government of oppression, imprisonment and flogging” was another slogan. The retirees have been passionately fighting and organising against persecution, floggings and the imprisonment of workers and rights activists.
The police tried to arrest a youth at the protest but the retirees stood up to the police and chanted “Police! Go catch the thieves”.
The retirees also called for unity of different parts of society. “The only way to freedom, unity, unity.”
At the same time, retirees in the city of Mashhad in Khorasan province also had a protest.
Teachers and retired teachers in Iran campaign for adequate insurance in opposition to a government proposal
Teachers and retired teachers in Iran have started a campaign for “adequate insurance” as the government has proposed “supplementary insurance” (these are healthcare insurance contributions paid by the employer).
By 1st January 2019, over 10,300 teachers and retired teachers had signed the petition that calls for “adequate insurance”.
The teachers and retired teachers reject the government’s proposal and continue to insist on the demands they have been fighting for over the past few years: adequate insurance and free healthcare for all.
Teacher in Iran goes on hunger strike to protest against “arrest and ransom”
On 28th December 2018, Hamid Rahmati, a teacher in Isfahan was arrested for “disruption of public order” as he had attended an assembly of teachers and retired teachers on 27 December 2018 in Isfahan.
At the protest of 27 December some teachers and retired teachers were arrested.
On 28 December, Hamid Rahmati went to the office of the Education Ministry in Isfahan to object to the arrests but the police arrested him for “disruption of public order” and asked for 400,000,000 Rial (9500 USD) bail, which he and his supporters regard as “ransom”
Hamid Rahmati went on hunger strike on the 29th of December in objection to the “arrest and ransom”. A campaign has started for his release.
Steelworkers in Ahvaz are not intimidated by heavy presence of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
On 1st January 2019, a group of steelworkers of the National Steel Group of Ahvaz gathered in front of the office of the company’s director to demand the release of their colleagues.
Representatives of the board of directors attended the assembly and threatened the workers: “Such a gathering will result in the workers being detained for longer”. However, the workers and some of the families of the arrested steelworkers continued to protest and demanded the release of their colleagues.
The Independent Union of Workers in Iran reported that the company’s newly appointed head of security, who is a high-ranking cadet of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, attended the gathering and threatened the workers and the families with arrest if they didn’t end the protest. The workers were not intimidated by the security forces and continued to protest.
After a long strike and many protests, two of the production lines in the factory have reopened and there has been a significant presence of members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps since then. The workers are worried that their factory is going to be handed over to Khatam al-Anbiya Construction Headquarter which is an engineering firm controlled by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Municipality workers and their families in Iran protest unfair conditions and job security
On 1st January 2019, municipality workers and their families in Nishapur held assemblies to protest against their contracts being changed from permanent to temporary. The municipality workers had protested over job insecurity and unfair contracts previously.
The workers and the families held their assemblies in different parts of the city. The families gathered in front of the central municipality building and reflected on harsh working conditions, long working hours for years, lack of job security and the poverty they suffer.
The municipality workers gathered in front of their office and protested over the issues they face.
Recently, 300 of the municipality workers have had their contracts changed to temporary and the workers worry about their income as well as their job security.
Workers of car exhaust factory in Khorasan province strike over uncertainty in their workplace
On 1st January 2019, workers of Khorasan Car Exhaust factory in Khorasan province, Iran, went on strike to protest over uncertainty in their workplace and the future of the factory.
200 workers have already been sacked, production was severely reduced, 3 shifts were reduced to 1 and they were told that more workers will lose their jobs.
The employers have also used the desperate situation as an opportunity to impose lower wages on the remaining workers.
Governor of Qazvin promises protesting workers to reinstate their expelled colleagues
On 1st January 2019, workers of Kavosh (a company that manufactures pressure vessels) in Qazvin province, Iran, held an assembly to protest against the expulsion of their colleagues.
Representatives of the provincial governor held a meeting with the workers’ representatives in which they promised to follow up on the workers’ demand. The workers accepted to temporarily halt their protest and give the authorities time to fulfill their promises. The workers demand the reinstatement of their expelled colleagues.
Farmers and people in Iran fight back against special armed forces in “water share” protest
On 2nd January 2019, farmers of Isfahan province, Iran, held another assembly to demand their share of water. The 11th assembly of the farmers took place in the dried riverbed of Zayanderud river in Isfahan.
The protesters tried to go towards So-o-se-pol bridge and the provincial governor’s office but they were faced with a heavy presence of armed forces who fired shots in the air and used tear gas against the protesters.
There were clashes between the farmers and the armed forces on the northern side of Khju bridge. The protest continued despite the aggression of the armed forces and more members of the public joined in.
It was estimated that there were over 2000 farmers and members of the public with a significant number of women taking part in the protest. A woman made a speech in which she talked about the imposition of misery on their lives and pointed out the level of desperation and suicide among young people as a result. She added: “The wives of farmers work as servants in the city.”
After the assembly and clashes with the armed forces, the farmers and the people marched towards the provincial governor’s office and chanted slogans against the heads of the regime and their lies and excuses: “Rouhani is a liar, where is the water of our Zayanderud (river)”, “Our enemy is right here, it’s a lie that it’s in the USA”, “We stand, we fight, we don’t accept abjection”, “People are vigilant and don’t buy empty promises”. The protesters also shamed the state media in the protest.
The special armed forces stopped the march and more clashes took place. The farmers responded to the special armed forces’ baton attack by throwing stones which they collected from the river bed.
When the armed forced tried to arrest some of the protesters, the farmers and the people charged at them and repeatedly chanted “Rapscallion” and freed the restrained. However, the special armed forces managed to arrest some protesters.
Thousands of farmers lack water for their land as the authorities have diverted their water source to the private gardens of the heads of the Islamic regime and some industries and projects that are owned by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The authorities also do not pay the farmers any compensation for their share of the water.
Angry farmers in Isfahan province, Iran, take their “water share” protest to the city
On 29th December 2018, farmers of Varzaneh and Khvorasgan in Isfahan province, Iran, took their protest to the city of Varzaneh.
The farmers who have been protesting for 8 days for their “share of water” came to the streets of the city and chanted “We stand, we fight, we claim our right”.
Thousands of farmers lack water for their land as the authorities have diverted their water source to the private gardens of the heads of the Islamic regime and some industries and projects that are owned by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The authorities also do not pay the farmers any compensation for their “share of water”.
Many farmers have lost their source of income and are left with nothing. The angry farmers have been protesting for the last 8 days.
The farmers have been calling on the people for support and solidarity in their protests, blaming the government for the misery. “Shame, shame government”, “Long live farmers, down with oppressors”, and “We stand, we fight, we claim our share of the water” are some of the slogans the farmers chant.
Iran: teachers and retired teachers in Isfahan protest despite aggression of special armed forces
On 27th December 2018, teachers and retired teachers in Isfahan and Urmia held assemblies in front of the buildings of the Provincial Ministry of Education to pursue their demands, including free education for all, an end to poverty, an increase in wages to above the poverty line, an end to injustice, and the release of jailed teachers.
In Isfahan, special armed forces attacked the protesters and used pepper-spray against them but the teachers and the retirees stood their ground and continued to chant their slogans.
The armed forces also attacked anyone who used a mobile phone but some managed to share clips and pictures of the protest. One of the protesters who was attacked by the armed forces for using a mobile phone was freed by the teachers who came to his aid. One of the protesters told a reporter: “There is nothing positive in Iran. People’s problem is poverty.”The protest in Urmia went ahead as planned.
Nurses in Iran protest against the rules that “aggressively exploit” them and put public at risk
On 26th December 2018, a large group of nurses held an assembly in front of the Iranian Majles (parliament) in Tehran to protest their working conditions, employment issues and risks to the public’s health.
According to reports, the health system is short of 200,000 nurses and currently only 331,000 are working. The nurses said that the authorities try to implement new rules and impose new contracts to “ aggressively exploit” them.
It has been reported that the number of employed nurses has been reduced by 10% as a result of the new rules and contracts.
Whilst the population is growing and the numbers of elderly and those in need of medical treatment have risen, the authorities are cutting down on nurses. Essential services such as CCU, Accident and Emergency, and ICU are short of nurses and the lives of patients are at risk.
In the protest, the nurses demanded that more nurses be employed, raising of healthcare standards in hospitals, an end to compulsory overtime work, an increase in the wages of nurses to above the poverty line, and an end to discrimination.
More protests in Iran as Mahabad municipality refuses to pay workers’ wages
On 26th December 2018, municipality workers of Mahabad in West Azerbaijan Province, Iran, held their second assembly to protest over unpaid wages.
The workers who haven’t been paid for 4 months and are owed 14 months of their overtime hours demand immediate payment of their wages.
Non-payment of wages of municipality workers in Iran has sparked many protests in different cities. The workers struggle to make ends meet and to pay for their basic needs.
Workers in Iran protest to prevent imposition of “slave-like” conditions and more expulsions
On 25th December 2018, workers of the crop industry and animal husbandry in the city of Mogan, Ardabil province, Iran, held an assembly to protest the transfer of their workplace to the private sector.
Over 500 workers attended the assembly and raised concerns about the future of the corporation and their jobs. Given the experience of workers in other industries, the workers know that a takeover of their workplace by the private sector means the imposition of “slave-like” working conditions and further expulsions of workers.
The city’s governor attended the assembly and promised the workers to fulfil their demands.
The corporation used to have 5000 employees but in the past 10 years 3000 workers were sacked.
Iran: “security cases” against 15 sugar cane workers’ representatives are dropped
On 25th December 2018, Ms Farzaneh Zilaie, solicitor of the Haft Tapeh sugar cane workers, reported that the cases of 15 of the arrested workers’ representatives who were later released on bail, have been dismissed by the court.
According to the solicitor, the workers who were accused of public order offences and national security are no longer under investigation and the security cases against them have been dropped. The court has decided that the sugar cane workers’ protest was a peaceful assembly.
Sugar cane workers and members of the public who have been protesting against the arrests and the oppression, regard the decision of the court as a victory over the authorities who are under pressure.
Ali Nejati, Esmaeil Bakhshi, Moslem Arman, Seyed Hasam Fazeli, Mohamad Khanifar and Sepideh Gholyian, who were also arrested at the time, are still being investigated and their cases of ‘acts against national security’ are open.
The Haft Tapeh sugar cane workers, their families as well as their supporters demand the dismissal of all of the ‘security’ cases against the workers and the right to organisation, assembly and protest.
Teachers in Iran condemn travel ban, flogging and 10.5 years prison sentence for Mohammad Habibi
On 26th December 2018, the Court of Appeal of the Islamic Republic of Iran confirmed the sentence of Mohammad Habibi of the Teachers’ Association: 10.5 years imprisonment, 74 lashes and a 2-year ban on leaving the country.
The Committee to Defend Mohammad Habibi that has been campaigning for his release issued a statement in which it says: “Mohammad Habibi and other jailed teachers are in custody for the dear ideals of freedom and justice. They demand a decent life for all and free, quality, and fair education for all children. Mohammad Habibi is imprisoned because through his educative work and his efforts, the interests of the gangs of power and wealth have been compromised. Today, the judiciary showed that it defends the oppressors and silences the voice of justice. So we must be united and become the voice of Mohammad Habibi to tell the oppressors that we are not afraid of you and together we fight for our ideal of freedom and equality.”
The statement also refers to the protests in different parts of Iran in support of Mohammad Habibi’s release and in objection to the inhumane treatment of the dissenters. It calls on everyone to continue the protests.
The Cooperating Council of Teachers’ Association has also strongly condemned the sentencing of Mohammad Habibi and stressed the determination of teachers in Iran to fight for their rights.
Iran: truck drivers’ “warning strike” hits 34 cities on its 5th day
On 27th December 2018, the ‘warning strike’ of truck drivers in Iran reached41 cities .
On the 6th day of the ‘warning strike’, the drivers and truckers continued to share clips and information about the strike and their demands as well as issues that the vast majority of people suffer such as poverty, corruption, embezzlement, lack of social security and insurance, lack of free education and healthcare.
The ‘warning strike’ of truck drivers will go on until 31 December 2018. The workers demand an end to embezzlement and the mafia in the transport system, secure and safe roads, affordable auto parts, a pay rise, and an end to discrimination and inequalities.
Iran, Azerbaijan, Moghan city: sale of agro-industrial company to billionaire sparks protests
On 24th December 2014, workers of Moghan Agro-industrial and Animal Husbandry Company held an assembly to protest the sale of their workplace to a private owner and to object to the working conditions as well as to express their worries about their future.
On 21st December 2018, it was announced that Moghan Agro-industrial and Animal Husbandry Company had been sold to the Shirin Asal Food Industrial Group which is owned by a billionaire and is run privately.
After several months of discussions over the sale of Moghan Agro-industrial and Animal Husbandry Company, the authorities finally came to an agreement to sell the company to Shirin Asal.
The owner of Shirin Asal Food Industrial Group is Mr Younes Jaele who is known for mobilising special armed forces against the workers of his company.
The sale of Moghan Agro-industrial and Animal Husbandry Company to the private sector and to an individual such as Mr Jaele worries the workers who have already lost a lot.
Over the past years, the state-run company dismissed 10,000 workers to make it attractive to private investors. The remaining 5,000 workers are already under lots of pressure and carry out the job that used to be done by 15,000 workers. Given the reputation of the new owner, the workers protest to prevent more poverty, more dismissals, and even worse “slave-like” working conditions.
The authorities worry that Moghan’s workers could create unrest and draw attention to their situation just as the workers of Haft Tapeh and Ahvaz have done. The workers are already aware that they must involve their families and mobilise society the same way the workers in Khuzestan province have done.
Campaign to Free jailed workers in Iran (Free Them Now)
Shahla.daneshfar2@gmail.com
www.free-them-now.com
January 13, 2019