Iran in Crisis
Aman Kafa (UCU member, Worker-Communist Party of Iran - Hekmatist [official line]) gives an up-to-date report and analysis of events from Iran.
Three years ago, there were mass protests across more than eighty cities in Iran. Now the recent presidential election has exposed more clearly than ever the hollowness of the regime. Iran's new president is the "hanging judge" responsible in the 1980s for the execution of tens of thousands, and more recently as the head of judiciary granting impunity to the officials who had killed hundreds of protesters during last year's mass demonstrations.
However, he visibly lacks the support of the overwhelming majority. For the first time since the formation of the Islamic Republic in 1979, millions refused to participate in this farce, exposing the claim of the ruling clique that by participating in the election "the people demonstrate their trust in the legitimacy of the Islamic Republic". Openly challenging the regime and its supreme leader, they didn't just passively abstain, but actively defied tight security control at the "open tribunes" by confronting the ruling apparatus, denouncing the exercise as a "circus of elections" and challenging the corruption and economic hardship imposed upon them. This was not merely an expression of distrust in the politicians, but proof that no improvement in their daily lives can be achieved by "reformists", "hardliners", or any other factions of the ruling Islamic Republic.
This was only the beginning of a new wave of popular protest. In defiance of an official ban on workers' organisations, over 100,000 workers in the oil, gas, petrochemical and related industries have been on strike now for over three weeks. Workers are demanding improved pay and conditions, automatic increase of wages with inflation, a standard 20-day working month, adequate health and safety measures, and on-time payment of all due wages. Workers have also been demanding the abolition of the sub-contracting system, the division of workers into separate employment contracts, the poor provisions of canteens and living quarters, the lack of health and safety standards, and the long shifts of up to 14 hours away from their families in remote sites in temperatures of up to 50°C.
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Over 100,000 workers in 115 sections, across 19 cities in Iran have been on strike since June 19. We stand in solidarity with the oil, gas and petrochemical workers and their demands for
· Improved pay, on time, and immediate payment of all due wages;
· Adherence and full compliance with health and safety standards at all sites;
· Working time on the basis of 20 days of work and 10 days of rest. (Many workers are employed in sites far from their families in the South of Iran, or on offshore platforms, in temperatures of 50°C);
· Abolition of the system of sub-contractors, and division of workers into “agency”, “contractor”, “official” or “unofficial” categories, in precarious employment or without contracts, to regular employment on standard contracts;
· Recognition of the right of workers to their own independent association and abolition of all “special economic zone” legislation banning the workers’ right to strike and organise.
We demand the Islamic Republic abide by and immediately implement the internationally recognised workers’ rights in Iran.