Expansion of Protests by Telecommunications Workers in East Azerbaijan and Arghavan Gostar Workers in Ilam

Labor sources reported today, Sunday, September 25, the expansion of protests by contract workers of telecommunications in East Azerbaijan and workers of Arghavan Gostar petrochemical in Ilam. According to the government news agency ILNA, contract workers of telecommunications in East Azerbaijan gathered in front of the central telecommunications office of the province, demanding the fulfillment of promises made by the management of the telecommunications company. They announced that in response to recent protests, telecommunications officials threatened to terminate their contracts and employ outside personnel. Furthermore, the management of telecommunications has attempted to create division among them. The demands of these contract workers include the payment of arrears, differences, benefits, and insurance rights to the Social Security Organization, implementation of Articles 48 and 49 of the Labor Law, implementation of job classification plans, payment of base years, and proper correction and implementation of job titles and groups. They also demand the application of attraction and specialization rights in their pay slips and emphasize that they will continue their protests until these legal demands are met. Meanwhile, dismissed workers of Arghavan Gostar petrochemical in Ilam have also resumed their protests since Wednesday, September 21. According to a dismissed labor activist, during these protests, one worker was injured in the abdomen due to the intervention of law enforcement forces and was transferred to the hospital. He added that these workers, numbering about 300, have been laid off in two phases: 100 of them in early June under the pretext of project completion and 200 others at the end of August due to workshop closure. This dismissed worker stated that all protesting workers are locals from Chavar County and stressed that they demand to return to work and guarantee their job and livelihood security, continuing their protests until their employment situation is addressed. Dismissed workers of Arghavan Gostar petrochemical, with work experience of 5 to 10 years, are protesting the lack of follow-up by local and provincial officials to resolve their employment issues and are calling for serious action from them. The indifference to the demands of laid-off workers for their return to work comes at a time when four protesting workers have previously been summoned to the judicial and security institutions of the Islamic Republic following a complaint from the employer on charges of 'disturbance'. In the past, workers and other wage earners or labor and guild activists in various regions of Iran have faced security and judicial actions from the Islamic Republic. In this regard, one can refer to the threats or arrests of several nurses protesting the difficult working and living conditions in various cities, which have not prevented the continuation of their protests. Workers of Arghavan Gostar petrochemical in Ilam went on strike in solidarity with 100 laid-off workers. A dismissed worker from 'Arghavan Petrochemical' committed suicide; this was the fourth suicide attempt in Chavar, Ilam. The shadow of unemployment looms over the project workers of Arghavan Gostar petrochemical; ILNA reported the suicides of two individuals. Protests by workers of 'Darougar' and Arghavan Gostar petrochemical continue due to unemployment and delayed wages. Workers are on strike in two cities; the protests of retirees continue: 'Liar candidate, where are your promises?'