Strike by Workers at Several South Pars Gas Refineries in the Eleventh Week of Protest Tuesdays

On October 24, employees of Iran's oil and gas industries went on strike in several refineries during the eleventh week of "Protest Tuesdays" and held widespread gatherings to demand their rights. According to the report from the Council for Organizing Oil Contract Workers' Protests, employees of the third-party contractors at refineries "7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12" in the South Pars gas complex went on strike. The report states that these workers "held extensive protest gatherings to pursue their unanswered demands." These protests continue despite "obstruction by security personnel, managers, and contractors." The protesters' demands include "the establishment of an organization and the right to assemble and protest, the complete elimination of contracting companies, the reinstatement of dismissed protesting workers, an end to security crackdowns on protesting workers, adherence to previous agreements regarding entitled leave and payment for camps, and the non-discriminatory implementation of a 14-day work, 14-day rest schedule." Based on "Article 10 of the Duties and Powers of the Ministry of Oil" passed by the Islamic Consultative Assembly in May 2012, the administrative-employment system and the status of salary and benefits for employees of operational and specialized units in the Ministry of Oil's subsidiary companies are not required to comply with the Civil Service Management Law and are prepared by the Ministry of Oil with the approval of the President's Management Development and Human Capital Deputy. The Council for Organizing Oil Contract Workers' Protests also reported that on Monday, official employees of the oil and gas industries "refused to issue work permits in operational areas of the refineries in protest." The council also quoted protesting third-party employees stating that "in coordination and unity, we have stopped work, and even in refineries where our gatherings have been prevented, work has completely ceased." In recent weeks, on Mondays, "employees from the southern oil-rich regions and oil platforms and all sectors working in the oil industry" have gone on strike, and on Tuesdays, "strikes at various refineries of the South Pars gas complex and protests by official colleagues" have been ongoing. The Council for Organizing Oil Contract Workers' Protests has announced that it supports and backs the protests and strikes of "all sectors working in the oil industry."