Protests by Telecommunications Retirees in Iranian Cities: 'Even if it Rains Stones, We Will Come on Mondays'

Telecommunications retirees protested against their living conditions and unmet demands on Monday, November 20, gathering in front of telecommunications offices in at least seven cities across Iran, just like previous Mondays. In Zanjan, retirees carried protest placards and chanted slogans such as 'Healthcare costs are our legitimate right', 'Telecommunications, have some shame, keep your promises', and 'Incompetent manager, support support'. In Kermanshah, retirees shouted 'Even if it rains stones, we will come on Mondays'. In Rasht, protesters chanted slogans like 'Telecommunications Iran does not accept the law', 'What has happened to the profitable company?', 'Retiree, shout out, demand your rights', 'We will not rest until we get our rights', 'Implementing regulations is our legitimate right', and 'Supplementary insurance is our legitimate right'. In Ardabil, protesting retirees shouted slogans such as 'Enough promises, our table is empty', 'Telecommunications has perished, it has become captive to bullies', and 'Liars in power, where are your promises?'. Among the slogans from retirees in Shiraz on that Monday was 'Hosseini Hosseini, their slogan, lies and theft are their work'. In Isfahan, as in previous Mondays, telecommunications employees protested, chanting slogans like 'What has happened to the profitable company?', 'Incompetent minister, resign resign', and 'Incompetent manager, have some shame, leave telecommunications alone'. In Tehran, protesting retirees shouted slogans such as 'Implementing regulations is our legitimate right' and 'Retiree, shout out, demand your rights'. On Sunday, November 19, social security retirees in several cities also held protests demanding attention to their grievances. A group of social security retirees in Ahvaz protested against their dire living conditions and unmet demands in front of the social security organization, chanting slogans like 'Our pain is your pain, people join us', 'Raisi is incompetent, go back to your seminary', and 'Our enemy is right here, they lie that it's America'. Social security retirees in Arak also gathered in front of the social security office that day, chanting slogans such as 'Our rights can only be obtained on the streets'. The intensification of inflation and the constant increase in living costs, along with the failure to meet professional demands, have led workers, nurses, retirees, and other wage earners to hold protests almost every week in various cities across Iran. These protests have sometimes turned violent due to the intervention of government agencies and officials, resulting in the arrest of some protesters. Nonetheless, protests against the dire living conditions have expanded in recent years.