Support from Domestic and Foreign Labor Organizations for Truck Drivers' Strike

As nearly 180 individuals were arrested in connection with the truck drivers' strike in various regions of Iran, the International Transport Workers' Federation, the American and Canadian Transport Union, and several labor and professional organizations in Iran criticized the government's response to the strike. Based on videos circulated on social media, the truck drivers' strike continued on Wednesday in areas such as Hamadan, Isfahan, Zarinshehr, Ilam, and Kongavareh in Kermanshah province, while judicial and law enforcement officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran continued their threats of severe action against those arrested and those who, according to them, obstructed the passage of trucks. Meanwhile, the International Transport Workers' Federation expressed its concern over the Islamic Republic's reaction to the truck drivers' labor protests. This labor federation also declared its 'deep concern' regarding reports of 'the large number of drivers arrested.' Noel Cord, head of the land transport section of the International Transport Workers' Federation, expressed serious concern over the threats from judicial officials and stated that this federation and its member unions express their solidarity with the truck drivers in their struggle to defend their labor rights. The truck drivers have put forth demands including wage increases, provision of spare parts and tires, recognition of the hazardous nature of their job, access to early retirement, construction of rest areas on highways, and free elections to select representatives for the truck drivers in labor organizations. Additionally, the American and Canadian Transport Union, with over 1.4 million members, expressed its 'concern for the conditions of truck drivers' in Iran in a letter to the Iranian Interests Section in that country. This union criticized the Iranian government's refusal to recognize truck drivers' right to form labor unions. The American Transport Union, referring to the occurrence of truck drivers' strikes 'in over 290 cities and 31 provinces of Iran,' expressed its solidarity with them and urged the Iranian government to fulfill the truck drivers' labor demands and recognize their international rights regarding assembly, freedom of expression, and organization. Previously, the August strike of truck drivers had received support from the General Confederation of Labor, major labor unions in Italy, and the Front Against Economic Austerity in that country. Support from several labor organizations for the truck drivers' strike was noted in a statement highlighting the new round of strikes 'in many cities across the country,' stating: 'Despite the government's promises to fulfill their demands during previous strikes that began a year ago, in practice, 'only a slight increase in freight rates occurred, which, given the severe depreciation of the national currency and the significant rise in the cost of living, as well as the multiple increases in the prices of tires and spare parts, has not improved their livelihoods, and their main demands remain unmet.' The Syndicate of Workers of the Tehran Bus Company, the Syndicate of Workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company, the Retirees' Alliance, a group of Iranian teachers' union activists, and the Coordination Committee to Help Establish Labor Organizations also pointed out that police, security, and judicial actions against the truck drivers' strike have intensified, with many of them arrested and imprisoned, and even high-ranking judicial officials threatening drivers with the death penalty. These organizations emphasized that 'striking, protesting, and gathering are the legitimate rights of workers and laborers to claim their rights,' and declared their support for the truck drivers' strike. They also called for the realization of the truck drivers' labor demands and condemned the police, security, and judicial actions against the truck drivers and their strike. At the end of their statement, the Syndicate of Workers of the Tehran Bus Company, the Syndicate of Workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company, the Retirees' Alliance, a group of Iranian teachers' union activists, and the Coordination Committee to Help Establish Labor Organizations called for the immediate and unconditional release of those arrested and the cessation of prosecution and threats against them by the judiciary.