The strike and sit-in will continue tomorrow, December 12th
Today, December 11th, teachers in more than 100 cities went on strike and sit-in, marking an unforgettable day in the united protests of teachers in all provinces. The strike, which was one of the largest nationwide teachers’ strikes, was called by the Coordinating Council of Cultural Associations, and was widely joined by teachers from various cities and provinces. In many cities, teachers in all schools went on strike. The strike is scheduled to continue tomorrow, December 12, and in addition, the next day, December 13, teachers will hold nationwide rallies.
In today’s strike, teachers stopped work, and staged sit ins in the shchools’ offices. Also those teachers who teach online and virtual in “Shad” project went on strike. Teachers’ rallies will be held in the next few days in Tehran in front of the Islamic parliament, and in the other cities and towns, in front of the educational ministry. Teachers have stated that if their demands are not met, they will go on a larger and longer strike in the coming weeks.
The immediate demands of teachers are including: raising the level of salaries above the 12 million/month which is the poverty line, free education for all the children, and its immediate implementation in these Covid19 days by allocating free internet and smartphones to all pupils and teachers, as well as quality education for young people and eliminating discrimination n education, free health service and the right to housing, closing security files against union activities, the immediate and unconditional release of imprisoned teachers, “full implementation of the ranking scheme (80% of the faculty for employed teachers) and equalization of salaries for retired teachers and solve the problems of temporary teachers, literacy movement instructors, preschool and tuition teachers and their employment, pay retirement bonuses, pay teachers’ tuition, return fired teachers, end to embezzlement and transparency about the funds that have been stolen from saving funds of the teachers and return of the stolen money to the funds.
The strike included the following cities: Tehran, Karaj, Bushehr, Lahijan, Saqez, Tabriz, Qeshm, Isfahan, Semirom, Bandar Anzali, Khomeini Shahr, Qom, Marivan, Ahvaz, Izeh, Karaj, Jolfa, Bagh Malek, Qorveh, Marivan, Shahrekord, Marvdasht, Yazd, Hamedan, Sarvabad, Islamabad-e-Gharb, Mallard, Kerman, Bafgh, Khorrambid, Saqez Zivieh and Kondolan, Qazvin, Kazerun, Jiroft, Eghlid, Mian Doroud, Baneh, Urmia, Aligudarz, Behbahan, Firoozabad, Abkenar, Sarchahan, Sarvabad, Kurdistan, Naeem Abad, Mehriz, Ney village in Marivan, Ganj Castle in Kerman, Ilam, Shahinshahr, Naeem Abad in Yazd, Piranshahr, Gachsaran, Javanrood, Qiro Karzin in Fars, Khorram Bid, Abarkooh, Bafgh Kerman , Kuchesfahan in Gilan, Farshband in Fars, Shiraz, Noorabad Mamasani, Gotvand Khuzestan, Omidieh, Abadan, Dashtestan, Jaizan, Charosa, Qorveh, Mehdi Shahr, Bijar, Kamyaran, Aqababa Buin Zahra village, Kermanshah, Safashahr Fars, Simorgh, Kia Mazandaran, Zarrin Dasht, Dehdasht, Kuhchanar Fars, Kahmareh Nodan Fars, Firoozabad Fars, Abadeh Fars, Bojnourd, Minab, Bandar Abbas, Sirik, Khorramabad, Doroud, Poldakhtar, Boroujerd, Selseleh and Delfan, Divandere, Alborz, Hadi Sh Her, Iranshahr, Sarvestan, Chenar Mountain …
Teachers called on the school children’s families to support and accompany them. The main demands of the teachers are the demands of all people in Iran. Teachers’ demands and struggles must be actively supported in every possible way.