On May 22 and 23, the people of Iran held at least 22 rallies, protests, and strikes in various cities, venting their anger over the government’s plundering and profiteering policies.

Water staff, dairy workers, diesel truckers, miners, metro staff, municipal workers, teachers, janitors, retirees, and oil engineers and employees staged these rallies and strikes. Meanwhile, to prevent regular retirees’ protests, security forces surrounded the Social Security Organization’s office in Karaj, Alborz province, showing their fear of any protest.

“Teachers, workers protest poor working conditions, unpaid wages in several cities,” reported the opposition People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK).

Rally of Water Staff

Khuzestan province—on Saturday, May 22, workers and employees of the Water and Sewage Organization in Izeh held a rally in front of the Labor office.

They protested officials’ failure to pay their salaries for months. They also expressed their frustration over their unstable working conditions.

Strike and Rally of Pazhan Dairy Workers

Protesting Officials’ Failure to Pay Salaries, Pazhan Employees Go to Strike

Tehran province—on Saturday, May 22, employees of Pazhan dairy company in Nasim-Shahr stopped working and launched a strike protesting officials’ failure to pay their overdue salaries.

They rallied in front of the local Governorate blaming officials for indifference and inaction toward their demands despite their constant rallies and gatherings. These workers had rallied last week but officials ignored their grievances.

Pazhen Workers Have not Received Their Salaries for Six Months

Isfahan province—on Saturday, May 22, workers of Pazhan dairy company in the Baharestan district staged a gathering in front of the local Governorate. They protested employers’ failure to pay their salaries for six months.

They also blamed officials for failing to address their dilemmas and dealing with their demands with indifference. “No official has yet to follow up our demands,” said a worker.

Two-Day Rally of Diesel Truckers

Razavi Khorasan province—on Saturday, May 22, drivers of diesel flotilla in Mashhad parked their vehicles beside the Qadir highway and held a rally. They protested officials’ failure to implement scheduled plans, resolving truckers’ livelihood difficulties, and ensure fuel supply, insurance, and low-price spares.

They also expressed their fury against plundering plans such as suspending truckers’ activities due to the lack of commuting permissions and licenses. Truckers blamed officials for failing to specify a place for discharging their cargoes.

On Sunday, May 23, diesel truckers in Mashhad continued their rally for the second day in a row. They protested the municipality’s oppressive measures, which ban them from their regular business.

Asimoun Miners’ Strike, Day Five

Kerman province—on Saturday, May 22, miners of the Asimoun Chromite mine went to the fifth day of their strike. Local reports declared that the miners’ consecutive strike and officials’ concerns about public backlash forced the government to give some concessions.

“Why do miners, who work underground, receive lower salaries around the world? Why is the lowest salary for the toughest job in the world? With ten years of experience, I receive 30 million rials [$130]. What can I do with $130? Should I pay the house rent? I cover my wife and children’s needs? Or I spend on transportation? What must I do with it? In such circumstances, workers cannot work and live. They have to protest due to these conditions,” said a worker.

Families of Asimoun miners as well as residents of the cities of Asimoun and No-dej rallied and marched supporting the miners’ strike.

Rally of Metro Staff

Operational Staff Rally

Tehran province—on Saturday, May 22, the operation staff of Tehran Metro-Line 5 staged a gathering in front of the main entrance gate below the Hafez Bridge.

Operation staff of Golshahr-Sadeghieh path protested officials for dismissing 60 personnel during the past month.

Employees Rally

Also on Sunday, May 23, around 200 employees of the Exploitation Company of Metro rallied in front of the City Council. They protested officials’ failure to meet their demands.

“Emending the job titles, which would empower employees to benefit the privileges of harmful and risky jobs, the implementation of especial right for recruitment, the establishment of labor assemblies, providing uniform, settling arrears from 2016 to 2020, paying delayed insurance rights, prioritizing Metro staff in vaccination process, and removing discrimination between remote and operational sections,” employees declared as their demands.

Rally of Municipal Workers

Sistan and Baluchestan province—on Saturday, May 22, municipal workers and sweepers in Chabahar held a rally in front of the local municipality. They protested officials’ failure to pay their overdue salaries.

“We have yet to receive our salaries for three months,” a protester said.

Locals Protest Municipality’s Non-Standard Policies in Four cities

Khuzestan province—on Saturday, May 22, residents of Izeh protested the municipality officials’ non-standard policies for the burial of wastes. According to local reports, the municipality buries waste beside the Rozeh al-Zahra cemetery.

“In this place, none of the ten principles for the waste burial are observed. The leak of liquid waste severely harms the environment and underground waters, in particular,” said a resident.

Rally of Non-Profit Schools Teachers

On Sunday, May 23, teachers of non-profit schools held several rallies in different cities protesting the Education Ministry’s failure to recruit them formally.

Tehran province—teachers held a rally in front of the Majlis calling on officials to follow up their demands. “We are doing the same job, which formal teachers do. However, we receive less than one-third of their salaries. We are deprived of all job privileges, and do not receive insurance rights completely,” a teacher said.

“Our salaries are currently lower than workers’ wages. Lawmakers should think about the condition of thousands of non-profit teachers. They should force the Education Ministry to recruit and organize us officially,” another protester said.

Most of these teachers have valuable education certificates like bachelor’s and even master’s degrees. They have several years of job experience. However, they work in the worst conditions.

Sistan and Baluchestan province—teachers staged their gathering in front of the local education department in Zabol. They demanded education officials recruit them formally. “Recruitment is our definite right,” protesters had written on a banner.

Kerman province—teachers staged their gathering in front of Rafsanjan’s local Governorate demanding their inherent rights. “Governor, answer, answer,” teachers chanted.

“We demand the Education Ministry recruit us unconditionally. Taking exams from teachers with several years of job experience is an insult,” teachers had written on a banner.

Kerman province—teachers also gathered in front of the local education department in Zarand. They once again declared their demands for being unconditionally recruited by the Education Ministry.

Rally of Janitors in Three Provinces

On Sunday, May 23, janitors of public schools staged several gatherings in various cities protesting officials for indifference toward their living dilemmas despite their constant protests.

Qazvin province—janitors once again rallied in front of the local education department protesting officials’ failure to meet their demands. In recent months, janitors staged several rallies and sit-ins in front of the government offices. However, officials’ indifference and inaction added insult to their injuries.

Lorestan province—janitors staged a gathering in front of the local education department in Khorramabad. They protested officials’ negligence toward their living problems.

“Thanks to the Education Ministry’s ‘prudence,’ janitors and service forces are ashamed to face their families,” protesters had written on a banner, blaming officials sarcastically.

Tehran province—janitors held a rally in front of the education department protesting officials’ failure to meet their demands. “Several-fold labor, unequal salaries,” protesters chanted.

They also called on education officials to fulfill the plan for giving special bonuses for janitors, as well as implementing the plan for ranking them.

Rally of Preschool Educators

Tehran province—on Sunday, May 23, a group of preschool educators and trainers once again held a rally in front of the Majlis. They protested officials for failing to resolve their problems and follow up their demands.

Previously, preschool educators time and again rallied in various cities urging the Education Ministry to recruit them officially, which ensures their fundamental rights. However, the ministry still rejects educators’ demands leaving them with numerous dilemmas.

Rally of Remote Telecommunication Retirees

Fars province—on Sunday, May 23, retirees affiliated with Shiraz Remote Telecommunication Office held a rally in front of the Provincial Governorate.

“We ask Fars’s Governorate to defend the rights of 1,300 retired workers of Shiraz Remote Telecommunication Office. We want our overdue salaries and delayed compensation. Our demands have been delayed for 15 years,” workers had written on a banner.

Oppressive Measures to Prevent Retirees’ Protest

Alborz province—on Sunday, May 23, to prevent any protest by retirees and pensioners, the State Security Forces had surrounded the Social Security Organization’s representation in Karaj.

According to prior notice, it was supposed that retirees, pensioners, and welfare recipients affiliated with the organization stage nationwide rallies on Sunday.

In recent weeks, retirees continued their protest every Sunday. On May 16, they staged their rallies in 15 cities despite authorities’ threats and deceitful promises.

Rally of Steel and Mine Industry Retirees

Isfahan province—on Sunday, May 23, retirees of the Steel [Foulad] and Mine industry once again rallied in front of the Foulad Retirees’ Fund.

They protested employers for trampling their fundamental rights. Retirees also blamed officials for their incorrect method in implementing the plan for balancing salaries.

Protest of Oil Platform Engineers and Employees

Bushehr province—on Sunday, May 23, a group of oil and gas engineers, as well as employees at oil platforms of the South Pars project warned about the government’s refusal to increase their salaries. They are affiliated with the Southern Operational Areas, a subsidiary of the Oil Company.

A source familiar with the issue said, “Given the massive budget deficit, the Majlis has issued a letter to the Oil Ministry, ordering that ‘the personnel’s salaries should not be increased in the current Persian year.’” This is while the people must scramble with 40-percent inflation and the scares of essential goods due to the government’s economic policies.

On the other hand, they should overcome health and hygienic expenditures regarding new leaps in the coronavirus pandemic, which has particularly engulfed Iran’s southern provinces, in addition to the financial consequences of Covid-19.

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