Iranian Workers Continue the Protests

The economic problems facing industries and services across Iran targets the working class with its harshest effects. Iranian workers, meanwhile, are facing the woes in different shapes and forms. Workers protests are ongoing in the face of the economic peril and the ongoing sanctions. The following are some of these worker protests in the past couple of months.

On August 12, a group of temporary pre-school teachers held a protest gathering by the parliamentary buildings protesting their lay offs and demanded their return back to work. A group of protesters were contracting teachers.

On August 11, Rural Low Capacity Regions workers with Torbat Heidarieh Telecommunications, held a gathering by the Telecommunications headquarter buildings protesting the tender to outsource their work to contracting companies. The workers are complaining that they are being let go with 20 years of service and their work being transferred to contracting firms.

Hamedan, Kerman, Yazd, Kangavar and Behabad Rural Communication workers held a protest gathering by the parliament demanding the implementation of article 86 in the budget law requiring Social Security Administration to cover rural communication workers with unemployment benefits. The workers have been paying their share of dues.

400 Zanjan Zinc and Copper National Company workers held a protest rally with their families attending following the closure of the factory. The closure followed protests on environment hazards of the factory in Zanjan by the local population. The workers were promised transfer to Kerman following the closure; a promise which did not materialize. The workers held an earlier rally on August 21.

110 Panahsaz contracting company workers active in phase 14 of South Pars gas development region held a protest gathering on September 1, closing down the main gates of the region. The workers were protesting four months delay in their back wage payments.

30 Rasht Loshan Cement factory workers held a gathering by Gilan Province Governors offices protesting the management plans to close down the factory.

68 drivers with Hamedan Telecommunications held a gathering by the central offices protesting not receiving any increases in their wages. The workers were asking raise on par with other workers.

Wrestling Federation employees held a protest gathering by the federation offices demanding their past due wages and benefits.

Iran Labor Report