Iran: Workers’ Protests and Strikes, Expansion of the Scope of the Strikes by the Miners

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Published: Wednesday, 30 November -0001 01:00

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Expansion of the strike of the miners and the attack of the special guard on the gathering and sit-ins of the striking workers in Zarand Kerman, the entry of Haft Tappeh workers into the eighth day of the strike, the strike of the copper miners of Sungun, the strike and march of third-pillars forces working in the Petrochemical Special Economic Zone, including the Persian Gulf Holding, and the protest rally of Ahwaz green space workers.

Workers of South Pabdana, Cheshmehpudneh, Gale Tut, 12-14, Sarapardeh, Baboshkun and Ma'danjoo mines in Zarand, Kerman, have been protesting against low wages which is between 3 and 5 million Toman (equivalent of $US100.00 to $US167.00 per month), non-payment of working in the deep and dangerous tunnel fees, the right to earn for extreme hard work and physical damage caused by working in the mine, they have stopped production from working in the mine and are on strike. On Tuesday, the workers of these mines continued their strike and protest rally. In addition to equalizing wages and benefits, Timely payment of insurances and implementation of job classification plan in accordance with Kerman Coal Mines Company are other demands of workers. Labor sources in Kerman report that yesterday morning, Monday, October 4, during the continuation of the protest of the workers of the private sector coal mines in Kerman at the Dashtkhak-Zarand intersection, police attacked the gathering place with a water pressure and dispersed the demonstrators. Workers' representatives say, because of this attack, several people were injured, including a woman and a child (from the workers' families). The total number of workers in these mines is estimated at between 900 and 1,000. The workers say they have been protesting since the middle of last week, but when they did not receive a clear response from the authorities to follow up on their situation, they continued their rallies on the Dasht-e Khak at the T - Intersection, so that their demands might be addressed. Despite the peaceful protests and slogans chanted by the workers and the presence of women and children alongside the protesters; Yesterday morning, special forces officers used pressurized sprinkler water to disperse the protesters. Workers say a woman and a child were injured in the clash and taken to hospital. Despite this clash, the workers 'sit-in continues and the workers' representatives have taken their just demand to the Kerman governor's office to follow up on the demands. In recent years, however, securing the flow of claims (as in similar cases) has become a tactic used by the reactionary employers and city officials to control the just struggles of working class with their demands in mines. On the other hand, according to the reports published by the labor circles, on Tuesday, October 5, the workers of the contracting companies of the Sungun copper mine went on strike and protested. The striking workers are protesting low wages and poor working and living conditions and are demanding higher wages. The 500-strong and determined demonstrators are members of the contracting companies Ajin, Neda, Mobin, Noavaran and Saturn, with 15 to 20 years of experience. These workers are working with quarterly contracts and despite the extreme difficult working conditions in the mine, they receive wages from 5 million to 7 million Toman (equivalent to $US167.00 to $US234.00 per month).