Statement from 15 Labor Organizations: The 'Revolutionary Movement of the People of Iran' Remains 'Alive and Dynamic'

Fifteen labor and professional organizations in Iran, on the eve of International Workers' Day and Teacher's Day, issued a joint statement declaring that the 'Revolutionary Movement of the People of Iran' remains 'alive and dynamic' and that the Islamic Republic is 'neither worthy of survival' nor 'capable of continuing to exist.' The statement, released on Sunday, April 29, emphasizes that despite the 'bloody repression' of nationwide protests in recent months, society—including 'teachers, workers, filmmakers, artists, civil and political activists, and both the young and old'—has stood against the Islamic Republic, and the 'Revolutionary Movement of the People of Iran' continues to be the target of transformative protests. These organizations have called on all workers, teachers, students, women, and the general public in Iran to join local organizations and councils to shape the future based on 'will, unity, and solidarity' and to continue their struggle for a transition away from the Islamic Republic. The signatory organizations have demanded 'unconditional freedom for all political prisoners and freedom of belief, thought, expression, press, and parties' and have also emphasized the 'dismantling of repressive organs,' 'normalization of foreign relations' with countries around the world, 'abolition of the death penalty,' and 'immediate declaration of complete equality of rights for women with men,' as well as the declaration of 'privatization of religion' and 'ending environmental destruction.' The statement also references attacks with suspicious gases in schools in Iran. The Coordinating Council of Cultural Teachers' Organizations of Iran, the Council for Organizing Protests of Contract Oil Workers, the Council for Organizing Protests of Informal Oil Workers, the Union of Retirees, the Workers' Council of Retirees of the Social Security Organization, the Independent Voice of Workers of the National Steel Group of Iran, the Syndicate of Workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company, the Association of Electrical and Metal Workers of Kermanshah, the Committee for Following Up on the Establishment of Labor Organizations in Iran, the Voice of Women of Iran, the Council of Retirees of Iran, the Committee for Coordinating Assistance in Establishing Labor Organizations, the Center for Defending Workers' Rights, the Syndicate of Painters of Alborz Province, and the Free Workers' Union of Iran have all signed this statement. The 'Islamic Republic Fears Workers' Unity' The Syndicate of Workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company also criticized the continued imprisonment of three well-known members of this syndicate—Reza Shahabi, Davood Razavi, and Hassan Saidi—in a statement on the occasion of May 1, International Workers' Day. The statement notes that 'a number of rights-seeking members of the syndicate' and other labor activists were 'summoned by security forces via phone' on Saturday. This labor organization emphasized that in Iran, workers 'are not allowed to hold national ceremonies and celebrations' on International Workers' Day and, in addition, 'are suppressed, threatened, and arrested on the streets and during visits.' According to the statement, the Islamic Republic holds International Workers' Day 'with its own affiliates in controlled locations' and pretends to be 'pro-worker,' while in essence and practice, it opposes any gatherings, marches, or demonstrations by workers and is 'afraid of workers' unity.' The Syndicate of Workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company further condemned the wage resolution of the Supreme Labor Council as an 'open declaration of war against workers and wage earners and working-class families,' adding that 'any wage below 25 million tomans per month for a four-member working-class family in 2023 means imposing poverty and deprivation.' 'Establishing adequate and effective social insurance, especially health insurance and unemployment insurance for unemployed and job-seeking workers, dissolving contracting and intermediary companies, signing labor contracts through official and collective agreements, stopping the repression of independent labor and professional organizations, and ensuring workers' rights to freedom of expression and belief, organization and party, strike and protest' are among the demands of this labor organization on the occasion of International Workers' Day. The syndicate expressed its support for the protests and strikes of contract and project workers in various industries. In another section of its statement, it called for 'unconditional freedom for imprisoned workers and labor and professional activists, all political and ideological prisoners, and those arrested during nationwide protests, and punishment of those responsible for the killings of the people.' 'Prohibiting child labor under the age of sixteen and ensuring the livelihood and education of working children, equality between women and men and other genders in all areas, immediate repeal of discriminatory and misogynistic laws, and any form of oppression and discrimination, including sexual and gender-based, ideological, racial, national, and religious discrimination in the workplace and society' are also among the demands of the Syndicate of Workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company. The organization also called for an end to 'discrimination and oppression against migrant workers, free education at all levels for all residents of Iran regardless of their residency status or citizenship, the right to education in their mother tongue, rectifying the rights of retired workers and teachers and aligning their rights with those of active workers based on the real inflation rate and cost of living basket, and oversight by elected and independent representatives of retirees over the funds and public assets of retirees.' The syndicate also condemned chemical attacks in schools, particularly the poisoning of schoolgirls, held the government 'directly accountable for this disaster,' and called for 'immediate cessation of these crimes and the establishment of an independent international fact-finding committee.' The Iranian Writers' Association also emphasized in a separate statement that the Islamic Republic has taken 'no positive steps' in 44 years to 'achieve the legitimate demands of workers' and has prevented their organization and independence with 'deceptive methods.' The statement highlighted the 'increasing inflation and rising prices' and 'bankruptcies of factories and the closure of many industrial and professional units' throughout the life of the current Iranian government, adding that the Islamic Republic has closed off the path to addressing labor issues with 'increased censorship' and has 'criminalized' labor strikes and protests, threatening, torturing, and imprisoning labor activists. This writers' organization has demanded the unconditional freedom of all labor activists, including Keyvan Mohtadi, a member of the Iranian Writers' Association, and other political and ideological prisoners.