Workers on Strike at Bandar Imam Petrochemical Complex

HRANA News Agency – Seven days have passed since 1500 workers of Bandar Imam Petrochemical Complex in Khuzestan Province began their strike. Free Trade Union of Iranian Workers has reported that security agents have arrested 3 workers and taken them to the Intelligence Agency located at the port city of Bandar Imam Khomeini.

According to reports issued by various labor organizations, three workers, Mansour Abbasi, Mohammad Bagher Bagheri and Jasem Bedrani were summoned by agents and then arrested. Two of the detainees are labor activists and representatives of the striking workers.

In March 2011, the workers of Bandar Imam Petrochemical Complex were also on strike which ended after an agreement was reached between the workers, the management of this company and government officials. According to the signed agreement, Bandar Imam Petrochemical Complex was given 3 months to dissolve contracting firms in order to offer a uniform corporate employment contract to all of its workers. Unofficial resources have reported that the terms of this agreement has not yet been fulfilled.

It has been reported that the Chief Operating Director of Bandar Imam Petrochemical Complex has threatened 1500 striking workers during a speech in front of the managers of contracting firms. Bandar Imam Petrochemical Complex is a government-owned corporation in Khuzestan Province.