Today, July 12th, workers at Arak Aluminum Company (IRALCO) resumed their strike and protest in accordance with a prior ultimatum. Fearing the protests might spill into the streets, security forces were present at the scene, but despite their presence, the protest and gathering took place within the factory premises.
As previously reported, around 400 workers at this factory have been protesting for more than two weeks. During the protest on July 8th, the workers issued an ultimatum, stating that if their demands were not met, they would escalate their actions. Following this warning, the workers went on strike today.
The workers are protesting the suspension of production bonus payments and the rice ration provided to employees, the failure to implement the job classification plan, and the dismissal of several of their colleagues. Additionally, the food vouchers for contract drivers—who work at the factory using their personal pickup trucks and vans—have also been cut off.
Due to the continuous protests over the past two weeks, the atmosphere at the factory is tense.
The factory employs about 4,000 workers. The main shareholder of the company is a man named Mohsen Mohammadi, who also owns several other companies. Apart from the 170 transportation workers who are employed through a contractor, all other staff are directly contracted by the factory.
The IRALCO workers’ protests have resonated in neighbouring factories facing similar issues. Currently, workers at Arak Machine Manufacturing Company—with a workforce of 4,000—are also on strike.