Economic Protests in Kermanshah and Kurdistan; Retirees: The Government's Work is the Plunder of the People's Money

Economic protests in Iran continued on Tuesday, September 19, with a gathering of several retirees in the provinces of Kurdistan and Kermanshah. According to the slogans and placards of the protesting retirees, these demonstrators demanded 'the implementation of salary equalization with equivalent active employees based on 90 percent' and the provision of their livelihood and dignity. They emphasized that they will not rest until they receive their rights, and these protests, which are held weekly on Tuesdays, will continue. The protesting retirees, including educators, chanted slogans such as 'Free the imprisoned teacher' and 'Free Jaafar Ebrahimi.' Other slogans included 'The government's work is the plunder of the people's money', 'Promises are enough, our table is empty', 'Livelihood and dignity are our legitimate rights', 'We will not sit down until we receive our rights', and 'Incompetent officials, resign, resign.' One protester in front of the Kermanshah pension fund emphasized that the unfulfilled promises of officials lead to increased anger among claimants. Protests by retirees and beneficiaries of the Social Security Organization, the Telecommunications Company of Iran, as well as state and educational retirees, occur weekly on various days. Previously, the Free Workers Union of Iran requested in a letter to 'the international section of labor unions worldwide' to consider issues related to 'the widespread repression of workers, teachers, retirees, and all groups of working wage earners and independent organizations' as a 'continuation of the gross and blatant violation of workers' human rights in Iran.' Foad Kikhisravi, a board member of this union, told Voice of America: 'The depth of the violation of workers' rights and the repression of labor movement activists has taken on very catastrophic dimensions.'