Exclusive: Drivers and Workers of Tehran's Bus Company Dissatisfied with Living Conditions

Recent reports from the Telegram channel of the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran's Bus Company indicate a growing dissatisfaction among the drivers and workers of the company regarding the outdated job classification plan, stagnant wages, restrictions on overtime payments, and lack of housing benefits. The job classification plan has not been revised since 2007, and the drivers and workers are demanding a review of this plan, emphasizing that its implementation would significantly increase their wages. For about four years, the drivers and workers have been calling for a revision of the job classification plan, during which they have held three protests in front of the municipality and the city council of Tehran and have sent numerous letters to the municipality, city council, governorate, Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare, and the Tehran Bus Company. Meanwhile, representatives of the drivers and workers have negotiated with officials from the municipality and the city council, resulting in a decision to pay 20% as an advance until the implementation of this plan; however, reports indicate that the company management and the municipality have not complied with this decision. Additionally, the second demand of the drivers and workers is access to housing benefits, especially since many of them have not been able to utilize these benefits so far. The most significant issue causing widespread dissatisfaction among the drivers and workers recently has been the cap imposed by the Tehran municipality on overtime payments. According to reports received by Voice of America, due to the increase in wages based on the Supreme Labor Council's decision, the Tehran municipality and the company management have set a ceiling for wage and overtime payments, which has resulted in drivers who worked throughout the Nowruz holidays, weekly breaks, and various ceremonies at the direction of their superiors not receiving their full overtime pay as mandated by the municipality. The municipality and company management claim that the amount of this overtime has caused the wages received by drivers and workers to exceed the ceiling they set. These reports indicate dissatisfaction and protests among the drivers and workers of the company. Alongside their demands for updating the job classification plan, increasing wages, lifting restrictions on overtime payments, and accessing housing benefits, the drivers and workers are also calling for the elimination of contracting companies that entered the company during the mayoralty of Alireza Zakani, under which newly hired drivers work under contracts. One driver working under one of these companies told Voice of America that drivers lack job security due to these contractors and are thus demanding the dismantling of these companies and direct employment contracts similar to those of older drivers with the company. He noted that contract drivers have repeatedly protested and gone on strike for their rights and demands. One of the demands of workers in various regions of Iran in recent years has been the elimination of contracting companies, which have caused widespread dissatisfaction among workers due to delayed wage payments. Protests by private sector drivers of Tehran's Bus Company; Roozbeh Boulaheri reports on the payment of housing allowances to municipal managers; Chamran: 'I am unaware,' the Syndicate of Workers of the Bus Company: We are angry. Continued reactions to the payment of housing allowances to municipal managers; Zakani: It was for managers who came from other cities. Strikes by drivers of 'Line 7 BRT System 4' in Tehran protesting delays in end-of-year bonuses. Private sector drivers of Tehran's Bus Company gathered.