In a recent statement, Maryam Rajavi, the leader of the Iranian Resistance, has called on all of Iran’s workers and young people to support the ongoing strikes by oil and petrochemical industries employees.
These workers have been on strike since June 19, demanding an increase in wages and the reduction in working days to 20 per month, but more employees have joined them now.
The Centralized South Pars Combined Cycle Power Plant (or Farab Bidkhoon Power Plant) contract workers began their strike on Saturday, calling for the implementation of the Twenty-Ten Plan. They left the plant together and said that they wouldn’t respond until the company met their demands.
Soon after, they were joined by the Bushehr Petrochemical Spherical Tanks welders, who handed their tools in at the warehouse and emptied their accounts. Then, Khark region oil terminal company oil operatives also joined the strike, refusing to receive or dock crude oil ships. Finally, that day, SPD17B gas platform workers went on strike too.
The striking workers said: “We, the oil workers in refineries, petrochemicals, and power plants, are protesting against low wages, declining purchasing power, and not delivering on promises made to us. Therefore, as we had previously warned, we will restart our national strikes and pursue our demands by gathering in front of our working places. Our strike is a warning and will last for a week, and we will join the ranks of our colleagues (the permanent workers) who have announced their protest on June 30, 2021.”
On Sunday, June 20, contract workers from the following companies joined the strikes:
- Rhyton Company
- Qeshm Island Sina Refining Company
- Khark Region Offshore Oil Company
- Khark Region Oil Terminals Company
- Phase 14 of Asaluyeh,
- Lidoma in Phase 13 of Asaluyeh
- AJC Company in Phase 2 of the Abadan refinery
- Tehran Oil Refinery
- Gachsaran Petrochemical Company
- Jahan-Pars Company power plant
- Behbahan Bid-Boland Refinery
Mrs. Rajavi, who is the President of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), saluted the strikers, saying that poverty, inflation, and unemployment will only continue to grow under the mullahs’ anti-labour and inhumane regime
She said: “The continuation of protests, uprisings, and strikes of different strata shows the Iranian people’s resolve to overthrow the clerical regime and establish freedom and justice in our captive homeland.”
On a related note, the Iranian people protested the regime on Friday, June 18, by boycotting the presidential elections, highlighting that the mullahs cannot solve the people’s problems.
