A source in Iran, who asked not to be named for security reasons, explained that workers have been struggling for years since the government took over their steel factory. They said they are currently focusing on receiving at least part of their unpaid salaries. The source explained that without this money, they cannot provide and protect their family which has many of those on strike worried.
They said: “All our efforts are for the safety and security of our families.
“When we do not get any salary, it means our families will not have any safety and security either.
“We are struggling for our job and our right and salary.”
Since the start of the rallies, over dozens of people have been arrested with even more being taken in for interrogation.
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In November alone, 31 people were arrested and another 30 being summoned and interrogated.
During the third week of November, 12 teachers were arrested and 30 others were interrogated during a nation-wide teachers’ strike that took place that week.
On November 15, the Teacher’s Trade Organisation’s Coordination Council published a statement saying: “Activists were summoned to the Intelligence Agency, Revolutionary Guards Corps Intelligence Department, Protection Agencies and Security Police in almost all the provinces that participated in the strikes.
“At least 30 activists, including Eskandar Lofti, a member of the Iran Teachers’ Coordination Council, were summoned and interrogated, while more than 50 threatening messages were received by activists.”
Then, on November 18, at least 19 labour activists were arrested in Shush.
During demonstrations the day before, one worker claimed that security forces became violent with around 12 officers attacking him and breaking his hand.
The source in Iran explained they were not worried about their own safety when it came to their activism.
They said: “Our main concern is our job security. We are not afraid to continue our protest and strike.
“Many of us have been arrested, imprisoned and tortured in recent years but we have continued and will continue without any fear and worry.”
The unrest in Iran started as lorry drivers striking over the increasingly high cost of parts.
Since the lorry drivers announced their strike, teachers have also joined in, saying that their wages are not sufficient enough to survive as costs continue to rise under the crumbling Iranian economy.
Then last month, workers at the Haft Tappeh Sugar Cane Industrial Complex in the city of Shush and the Ahvaz Steel Factory in southern Iran began a strike demanding their unpaid salaries, job security, better working conditions and the release of their imprisoned colleagues.
The source explained that these protests and strikes were years in the making.
They said: “Our factory is facing crisis after crisis since 2011, after they executed the owner of our company for embezzlement and the factory was confiscated and taken over by the Prosecutor’s General Office and judiciary officials.
“We struggled for five years and were able to push back the judiciary officials and bring back Ahvaz national steel company which is the biggest factory in the whole Middle East to production circuit line once again.
“In 2016, our company was handed over to the Iranian Bank Melli (National bank) but Bank Melli avoided doing anything and put the company with over 3500 workers on the production line and did not pay the workers’ salaries for months.
“This is why we have no options but to resort to striking.”
The source also explained that all of their demands were legal and were basic rights given to most other workers around the world.
They explained: “Our objectives are legal. We demand that the Ministry of Industry takes over direct management of the company again.
“We want raw material to be provided for the factory continuously.
“We are also demanding that the workers are paid their monthly salaries on regular basis, and most importantly we are seeking the right to have our labour syndicate.”