Protests Over Livelihoods of Telecommunications Retirees in 10 Provinces: 'Instead of a Working Man, a Military Man is Sitting'

Protests over livelihoods continued with gatherings of a number of retirees from the Telecommunications Company of Iran in at least 10 provinces on Monday, December 11. According to reports received by Voice of America and published on social media, the protests of retirees and pensioners of the Telecommunications Company, held weekly under the title 'Protest Mondays', took place this Monday in at least the provinces of Tehran, West Azerbaijan, East Azerbaijan, Ardabil, Sistan and Baluchestan, Isfahan, Khuzestan, Kermanshah, Kerman, and Kurdistan. Protesters in Ardabil raised a new slogan emphasizing the military's interference in economic and industrial affairs and the dominance of the Revolutionary Guards over Iran's economy, chanting: 'Instead of a working man, a military man is sitting.' In Urmia, protesting retirees reiterated that 'we will not sit quietly until we receive our rights.' In Tabriz, retirees protested their livelihood situation with slogans such as 'Retiree, shout out, demand your rights,' 'We have seen no justice, only heard lies,' and 'The retiree's ship is stuck today.' In Zahedan, the capital of Sistan and Baluchestan province, retirees called for domestic media attention to their protests, chanting: 'Domestic media, reflect our voices.' In Sanandaj, protesters shouted 'Retiree, shout out, demand your rights.' In Isfahan, retirees emphasized: 'Our rights can only be obtained on the streets.' In Ahvaz, retirees criticized the legislative and executive branches' policies, chanting: 'Neither the parliament nor the government care about the people.' Similarly, protesters in Kermanshah shouted: 'We have heard so many lies, we will not vote anymore.' The weekly protests of telecommunications retirees in recent months have been in response to unmet demands, including the implementation of Regulation 89/24 and benefits such as supplementary insurance. Regulation 89/24, enacted in 2010, concerns the responsibilities that can be delegated and how services are purchased from the private sector, stating that 'until the obstacles to delegation are removed,' the provision of services to the workforce remains the responsibility of the executive body, i.e., the government. However, 13 years after the approval of this regulation, and given the continuous protests of these retirees, it seems that neither the 'obstacles to delegation' have been removed nor has the executive body fulfilled its responsibilities towards the protesters. The dire livelihood situation of various professions is driving people to the streets, with occupational and livelihood gatherings occurring several days a week in cities across Iran. Meanwhile, economist Reza Qorashi previously told Voice of America that the livelihood situation of the Iranian people will worsen based on the Islamic Republic's budget bill.