Tenth Day of Strikes by Workers of National Industrial Steel Group of Iran and Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company

Workers of the National Industrial Steel Group of Iran in Ahvaz and workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company continued their strike in protest against the non-payment of their wage demands. Additionally, 250 staff members from Imam Khomeini Specialized Hospital in Karaj gathered in front of the Alborz Governorate. According to ILNA news agency, workers of the National Industrial Steel Group of Iran on Tuesday, September 5, protested against the non-payment of 'four months of wages and the lack of necessary raw materials to restart the activities of this complex,' marching and gathering in front of the Khuzestan Governorate. During their march, the workers chanted 'They won't pay our wages, death to America.' Previously, the Free Union of Workers of Iran reported that workers of this large industrial complex in Ahvaz on Sunday, September 4, demanded the 'exposure of the hidden hands' that, despite the return of ownership of this complex to the National Bank, 'continue to prevent the provision of raw materials and the activation of all production sectors of the company and the payment of workers' wages.' The protesting workers stated that if the governor and representatives of Khuzestan province in parliament do not attend the gathering and do not provide satisfactory answers to the questions and ambiguities regarding the governor's statements about the existence of hidden hands preventing the company's activities, they will move their protest to Tehran. Workers of the National Industrial Steel Group of Iran have repeatedly gone on strike and gathered in front of various government institutions, such as the Khuzestan Governorate, due to unfulfilled promises by officials regarding the payment of their wage arrears. ILNA noted that some workers from this complex have been arrested in recent months for participating in labor protests. Tenth Day of Strike at Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company The Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Workers' Syndicate reported on Tuesday that the strike by workers of this agricultural-industrial unit has entered its tenth day. According to the report, workers at Haft Tappeh are protesting the privatization of the company and the poor performance of its private employer, demanding that ownership of this unit be returned to the government. Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company was privatized in March 2016. The workers are also demanding the payment of their overdue wages and the prevention of the division of the company's lands and their transfer to newly established private companies. ILNA also quoted workers from Haft Tappeh stating, 'We have over two months of unpaid wage demands. Our financial situation has deteriorated to the point that everyone in the region knows. Shopkeepers in Shush have long stopped selling us goods on credit. No one rents us a house, and banks do not provide us with loans.' According to this report, Haft Tappeh workers also protested the non-payment of their insurance premiums and the classification of their job as hard and hazardous not being recognized in insurance lists. Gathering of Imam Khomeini Hospital Staff in Karaj 250 staff members from Imam Khomeini Specialized Hospital in Karaj gathered on Tuesday in front of the Alborz Governorate, continuing their labor protests and demanding the payment of their wage arrears (between five to ten months). According to ILNA, the staff of Imam Khomeini Hospital also called for the revival and sustainability of the hospital's operations and the presence of one or two representatives from the hospital's Islamic Labor Council in the future board of trustees of this medical center. They have previously held protests, including one on Sunday where hospital staff spread an empty tablecloth in front of the Cooperation Organization in protest against 'the chaotic situation that has harmed their livelihood.' In recent years, the non-payment of wages has become one of the major problems for workers and employees in various factories and companies across Iran. This situation has led to labor protests or strikes in these units. In this context, IRNA reported that a number of workers from Kayson Company, a contractor for the Ahvaz urban railway project, closed the workshop of this project for hours on Saturday, September 3, in protest against the non-payment of 16 months of wages. IRNA quoted one of the workers from this company stating that workers are facing financial difficulties, and many have sold their cars and household items to make ends meet, while many others are struggling to cover their daily living expenses.