On May 9, the people of Iran held at least 26 rallies, protests, and strikes in various cities, venting their anger over the government’s plundering and profiteering policies. Retirees staged their protests in at least 13 cities venting their anger over the officials’ ongoing indifference about their dilemmas.

Also, college-graduated teachers, municipal workers, Haft-Tappeh workers, landowners, hotel staff, students, electricity workers, and pharmacists staged other protests across the country.

Rally of Green-Certificate Graduates

Tehran province—according to a prior notice for a four-day rally, green-certificate college graduates from different cities gathered in front of the Parliament (Majlis) starting their rallies.

They protested officials, particularly the Education Ministry, for failing to recruit them despite their acceptable records.

Countrywide Protests of Retirees in 13 Cities

“Defying a wave of repressive measure by the Iranian regime, retirees and pensioners of the Social Security Organization took to the streets and held protest rallies across Iran,” reported the opposition People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) on Sunday, May 9.

Retirees and welfare recipients staged their protest rallies in the cities of Tehran, Borujerd, Karaj, Tabriz, Mashhad, Rasht, Khorramabad, Sanandaj, Isfahan, Kermanshah, Shiraz, Shush, and Marand. Enraged protesters severely slammed officials for their corrupt policies.

“Resign [CEO Mostafa] Salari,” “We will only get our rights on the streets,” and “Rise against tyranny and discrimination retirees,” the protesters chanted.

In recent months, retirees have been regularly organizing protests in various cities. However, officials have yet to meet the pensioners’ demands. The protesters complain that their meager pensions are not nearly enough to cover their most basic expenses and are often delayed for several months.

Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), hailed the protesters, who had taken to the streets for their inherent rights.

“I salute the retirees and pensioners, the students and teachers, and the workers who held protests in cities across Iran. I call on my compatriots and freedom-loving youths to support their just demands,” she tweeted.

Rally of Municipal Workers

Zanjan province—municipal workers held a rally in front of the Provincial Governorate protesting officials’ failure to pay their overdue salaries.

Despite these workers’ services amidst the coronavirus outbreak, officials avoid paying their wages, leading them and their families to tougher living conditions.

Haft-Tappeh Workers’ Victory

Khuzestan province—following years of protests, including longstanding strikes, sit-ins, rallies, and marches in Ahvaz, Shush and Haft-Tappeh cities, Haft-Tappeh Sugarcane Complex workers eventually forced the government to expel corrupt and oppressor CEO Omid Assad-Beigi.

For years, Assad-Beigi and his ilk were deprived workers of their essential rights. Under the pretext of privatization, the government ignored workers’ complaints and protests. However, workers’ resistance finally pushed back officials, compelling them to expel Assad-Beigi.

The story of Haft-Tappeh workers’ struggle for their inherent rights has never ended, but this is a significant win that proves Iranian officials only respond to firmness and power.

“Haft-Tappeh worker, celebrate your victory,” chanted retirees and pensioners in their rally in front of the Social Security Organization’s office in Karaj, Alborz province, showing their solidarity with Haft-Tappeh workers’ struggle.

Rally of Landowners

Tehran province—hundreds of landowners in the Pardis district held a rally in front of the Judiciary’s public relations center. They protested officials’ inactivity and indifference over the Pardis Omran company’s fraud and corruption.

Protesters also signed several letters demanding the judiciary remove obstacles made by the company.

Rally of Hotel Laleh Staff

Tehran province—for the second time in recent weeks, staff of Hotel Laleh held a rally in front of this Hotel.

They protested their employers’ failure to follow up their demands and their experience rights.

Rally of Students

Qom province—to protest in-person exams, high-school students once again rallied. Despite the coronavirus outbreak and triple-digit number of the death toll, the Education Ministry insists on in-person exams forcing students to express their anger.

Notably, since May 5, students have constantly staged numerous protests and rallies in different cities. On the same day, high-school students rallied in 15 cities across the country, according to the NCRI.

Rally of Steel Industry Retirees

Tehran province—retirees and pension recipients of Foulad [Steel] industry held a rally in front of the Foulad Retirees’ Fund.

They protested officials’ failure to adjust their pensions based on the skyrocketing inflation rate, which has contributed to enormous dilemmas for retirees and their families.

Rally of Electricity Workers

Tehran province—staff and workers affiliated with the Distributing Electricity company held a rally in front of the Majlis. They protested officials for low salaries and flagrant discrimination despite their services.

“We receive one-third of official workers’ salaries,” they had written on a banner.

Pharmacists’ Rallies in Five Provinces

To protest the increasing rate of the establishment of pharmacies and the government’s failure to adopt and apply appropriate rulings, pharmacists staged protests and rallies in the provinces of Tehran, Yazd, Mazandaran, Zanjan, and Isfahan.

They blamed the state-backed pharmacists’ association for issuing uncountable permissions, which are contradicting with basic norms and directives. “You endanger people’s lives by issuing permissions for the establishment of pharmacists without technical experts,” protesters had written on a banner.

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