Protesting Workers Gather in Front of Khamenei's Representative Office in Ahvaz

Videos circulating on social media indicate that workers from the National Industrial Steel Group of Iran held a rally and gathering in Ahvaz on Monday, the 24th day of their strike. According to reports, the protesting workers gathered on December 3rd in front of government centers and the office of Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Mousavi Jazaeri, the representative of the Supreme Leader in Khuzestan province, chanting slogans. They have taken their protests outside the National Industrial Steel Group of Iran for the past 18 days, and alongside their protest slogans, they criticized Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, chanting: 'The lying key maker, where is your key to management?' Other slogans included: 'Neither the ruler nor the government cares about the nation,' 'Our country is a thieves' den, a model in the world,' 'You have made Islam a ladder and the people miserable,' and 'Our enemy is right here, they lie that it’s America,' as reported by the Telegram channel of the Free Workers Union of Iran. They are demanding the payment of overdue wages and the resumption of production in this large industrial complex. Previously, government officials had stated that workers' wages would be paid by Friday, December 9th, but according to videos released on social media, including on the Telegram channel of the Free Workers Union of Iran, Morteza Akbarian, one of the representatives of the National Industrial Steel Group workers, indicated in a speech to his colleagues that the statements of government officials regarding the payment of two months of the three months of overdue wages for four thousand workers in this complex are false, and there is no news of resuming production in this unit. He emphasized the continuation of protests by the National Industrial Steel Group workers until all overdue wages are paid and production is resumed. The ILNA news agency also reported on Sunday, quoting workers, that 'two months of overdue wages have only been paid to about 120 of the under-diploma workers.' In this context, Karim Yavari, the representative of the Minister of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare for troubled units in Khuzestan province, who had promised the payment of overdue wages by last Friday, stated on Sunday, December 11th, to ILNA that 'two thousand workers of this industrial unit will receive their two months' wages in the next two days (Tuesday, December 13th).' The non-payment of overdue wages by employers has become one of the major problems for workers in Iran in recent years, leading to protests and strikes by workers in various regions of Iran. Recently, workers from the second phase of the Abadan refinery protested over four months of unpaid wages, workers from the Ahvaz urban railway project protested over 18 months of unpaid wages, and workers from the Takestan wire industries factory protested over six months of unpaid wages. Similar protests have also occurred, including municipal service contractor workers in the port city of Imam Khomeini protesting over three months of unpaid wages, Hamidiyeh municipality workers protesting over seven months of unpaid wages, and employees of the Imam Khomeini specialized hospital in Karaj protesting over one year of unpaid wages. Reports indicate the end of the strike by Haft Tappeh sugarcane workers after 28 days. The Tasnim news agency reported on Sunday that two months of overdue wages for the workers have been paid, insurance issues have been resolved, a new CEO has been introduced, and the job classification plan has been implemented. However, the ownership status of the Haft Tappeh sugarcane company, which has been the main demand of the workers, remains unclear. They have demanded the return of ownership from the private sector to the workers under the management of a workers' council (self-management) or the government. Additionally, Ismail Bakshi, the imprisoned representative of Haft Tappeh sugarcane workers, has not been released after more than two weeks of his detention, despite workers' demands for his freedom. In this regard, reports from social media indicate that over 20 Haft Tappeh sugarcane workers have been summoned simultaneously with the end of the strike at this company. Meanwhile, the Haft Tappeh sugarcane workers' union announced that Mohammad Omidvar and his wife, Shahin Pishahang, two labor activists from this agricultural-industrial unit, were summoned and interrogated by the Shush Intelligence Department on Friday in connection with the strike and protests of Haft Tappeh sugarcane workers. So far, Iranian security officials have remained silent regarding these reports. In this context, according to the Haft Tappeh sugarcane workers' union, over 80 unions and labor organizations worldwide have sent a letter to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, supporting the demands of Iranian teachers and workers and criticizing what they termed their suppression. These unions and organizations also demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Ismail Bakshi, labor activist, Sepideh Gholian, civil activist, and Ali Najati, a board member of the Haft Tappeh sugarcane workers' union. Ms. Gholian was arrested alongside Ismail Bakshi and Mr. Najati last Friday. Over 80 unions and labor organizations in their letter to the Supreme Leader pointed out that Iran, as a member of the International Labour Organization, has shown that it does not adhere to its commitments to the organization's agreements, especially the right of workers to form independent organizations. In recent years, labor unions and human rights organizations worldwide have repeatedly criticized the security and judicial actions of the Islamic Republic against workers and teachers.