The streets of Iran besieged by labor protests this weekend as the economy continues to decline and the national currency drops in value.
Abadan, Arvand Kenar
Meanwhile, municipal workers in Arvand Kenar gathered in front of the municipality building. They protested the several month delays in receiving their paychecks – a common cause of labor protests.
Ahvaz
On the same day in Ahvaz, health care workers protested outside the University of Medical Sciences. They demand the payment of their long-delayed wages.
On Saturday, villagers from Banan-e Bala held their second consecutive day of protests. They gathered in front of the government-created Khomrud coal mine because activity there caused the village wells to dry up.
Also, pre-school teachers in Ahvaz held a protest in front of the Education Department. Teachers demand their employment status be changes and promises made by members of parliament and the Ministry of Education two years ago be honored.
Arak
That same day, workers of the Heavy Equipment Production Company (HEPCO) protested the transfer of HEPCO subsidiary Hydro Atlas to the private sector. (Insanely, 1.7% of the shares were transferred without the knowledge of the shareholders.) HEPCO was one of the biggest construction manufacturers in Iran and the Middle East. But decades of mismanagement and plundering created a bankrupt industrial complex.
Zabol
In additions, on Saturday, workers from the Sistan Plain Irrigation Project held a protest outside the Agricultural Jihad building in Zabol over their wages, which have so far been delayed by eight months. They are demanding immediate payment of the eight wage packets, as well as the bonuses they are due for the previous Persian calendar year, which ended in March.
One worker said: “With this dreadful financial situation and such rampant inflation, unpaid salaries have left us facing exhausting economic difficulties. And we will continue our strike until all of our demands are met.”
Tehran
On Saturday, there was a rally of orphanage workers in Tehran. Workers protested their dire livelihood conditions, as well as their job status remaining in limbo. And the failure of the Tehran General Department of Welfare to address these problems. One protesting worker said: “More than 70% of female workers did not receive wages for more than six months. And that the relevant authorities haven’t heard their just demands.”
And finally, on Sunday, October 11, retirees protested outside the Tehran retirement center over financial policies that are increasing pressure on pensioners who need government payments to support their families.
