Find enclosed Issue 17 of Iranian Workers News in PDF
format as attachment, also available from :
http://www.etehadchap.com/en17.pdf
Plain text version follows:
News
Sit-in by Cashmere factory workers in Kermanshah
On Monday the 2nd of April a group of workers from
Cashmere textile factory in Kermanshah ( western Iran)
staged a sit-in in protest at the closure of this
factory and demanded that the factory should be
reopened.
Security forces attack the peaceful demonstration of
Baresh factory workers
On Sunday the 6th of May , security forces and the
anti riot squad attacked the peaceful demonstration of
Baresh textile factory workers in Isfahan ( central
Iran) with tear gas injuring a number of workers and
arresting 50 workers to disperse the demonstration.
The workers who numbered more than a thousand, had
gathered outside the factory in protest at non payment
of their wages and bonuses for over 4months and
started a demonstration towards the centre of the city
intending to take their demonstration towards the
provincial offices of Isfahan province for a sit in
when they were attacked by the security forces.
Baresh factory is managed by Bonyad Mostazafin ( a
government Islamic foundation) . The director of this
major financial institution which controls major
sections of Iranian economy , ins nominated by the
Islamic regime's supreme clerical leader , Ayatollah
Khamneii and is directly and solely controlled by him.
With the rise of the workers protests against their
appalling living conditions and against impending
unemployment and long delays in payment of their
salaries , for defending their most basic rights,
Iran's Islamic regime has enhanced suppression of the
workers . Last March workers from Simin textile
factory in Isfahan, were confronted by vicious attacks
of the security forces , some of them were injured ,
25 demonstrators were arrested.
Strike by Nassaji Bafnaz workers in Isfahan
On Tuesday May the 8th morning shift workers from
Nassaji Bafnaz (textile ) factory in Isfahan went on
strike once more in protest at non-payment of their
salaries for over 3 months and gathered outside the
factory gates.
The demands of the striking workers were written on
factory walls and included the following demands:
Provision of the factory's raw materials, payment of
unpaid wage sand bonuses , provision of employment
security, passing a law allowing early retirement for
workers in harsh and difficult jobs, accurate
accounting of Hamedanian foundation and prosecution of
those who have wasted and pillaged the factory's
funds.
It is worse noting that this factory is under the
control of Hamdanain foundation , controlled by
ayatollah Mazaheri who is related to the Islamic
Republic's supreme clerical leader .
Demonstration by Nassaji ChitRey workers
On Tuesday 8th May, hundreds of workers from Nassaji
ChitRey (textile) factory
in Shahr Rey ( southern Tehran) , demonstrated . This
demonstration started outside the factory gates and
continued until the governor's office in Shahr Rey.
Workers then gathered outside this office and some of
their representatives gave speeches in protest against
the factory's closure and non payment of salaries and
bonuses. Following this protests, one of the officials
of the local government came to the demonstration and
called on workers to show self restraint and opposed
their gathering, but he was confronted with workers
angry shouts who told him : such talk isn't solving
our problems.
Over the last 6 months, ChitRey factory workers have
demonstrated and staged protest gatherings on a number
of occasions, the latest of which was a protest two
weeks ago, with repeated closure of the road Fadayan
Eslam in southern Tehran, where this factory is
located. Before this latest protest , workers gathered
on the 30th of April in front of factory, giving
slogans demanding payment of unpaid wages.
Kafsh ShadanPour workers close the Tehran-Karaj road
On Saturday 23rd of April, workers from Kafsh
ShadanPour factory ( shoe manufacturers) closed the
Tehran-Karaj road for a second time. 475 workers from
this factory demanded payment of 11 months unpaid
wages. During this period , workers showed their
protest in various ways, but the management refused to
come to the factory and respond to their demands.
During this period government officials were also
trying to pacify the workers with promises, however
none of these promises materialised. Now the workers
have nothing left. Their families are poor and hungry
and the workers have moved the protests from the
factory to the streets and roads. By demonstrating in
streets and roads the workers hope to force the
management and the government to pay their unpaid wage
sand bonuses.
Protest gathering by Parchehbafi Kashan workers
On Tuesday 24th April , around 120 workers from Parche
Bafi( textile) factory
Kashan (in central Iran) organised a protest in front
of the offices of the factory's management demanding
payment of their unpaid wages. Before this protest ,
workers from this factory had gone on strike in
February , in support of their demands.
Protest gathering by Workers in the Medical Sciences
Faculty of Mashad University
On Monday the 9th of April , workers in the Medical
Science s Faculty of Mashad University ( South western
Iran) gathered in protest at the University's decision
to privatise their work. More than 500 workers took
part in this protest , some of them workers with more
than 17 years experience, demanding a halt to the
policy of privatisation. One of those present in this
protest said: I have worked for 15 years in this
factory, hoping to get a permanent post and now that I
have reached retirement , I am facing this and I and I
don't know what kind of future I can expect.
Protest gathering by Autobus Rani and Bazyaft workers
in Khoram Abad
On Saturday the 8th of April a large number of workers
from Autobus Rani and Bazyaft companies in Khoramabad
( western Iran) gathered outside Lorestan provincial
offices in Khoramabad demanding payment of their
unpaid wages and bonuses and protesting about lack of
insurance cover. The protester said:"from the time
when we returned form New Year holidays (March 2001)
until now we have repeatedly gone to the provincial
and city authorities but instead of responding our
demands, the officials threaten us ." These workers
have lost their jobs without getting their unpaid
salaries and bonuses.
Protest gathering by sacked workers in PetroChimi
plant, Bandar Khomeini
110 sacked workers from PetroChimi plant, Bandar
Khomeini (in south eastern Iran) gathered with their
families outside the governor's offices in
Mahshahr in protest , demanding a return to work.
In addition to these workers, some 700 other workers
in this plant are threatened with job losses.
Protest gathering by sacked workers from Sanaye
Plastic Shomal
On Wednesday 25th of April, workers from Sanaye
Plastic Shomal (producer of plastic goods), having
already complained for two weeks against sackings ,
gathered in protest outside this factory.
66workers from this factory, all of them full time
workers with 18-24 years experience were sacked on the
7th of April.
Protest by Alaedin workers in front of the Majles
(Islamic Parliament)
On Wednesday the 25th of April, 100 workers from
Alaedin factory (producers of cooking gas) situated on
the Tehran-Karaj road , in protest at non payment of
salaries and closure of their factory outside the
Majles (Islamic parliament). During the last 6 months
this is the fourth protest by these workers . The
protesters said that neither the ministry of Labour
nor other government offices have dealt with their
demands and going to these officials had no result
except empty promises.
Strike by workers in Karishan Factory in Khouzestan
Workers from brick making plant Karishan in Khouzestan
( in south western Iran)
have gone on strike since the 6th of May demanding
payment of their unpaid wages. On Wednesday the 9th of
May representatives from the Ministry of Labour
went to the plant trying to convince workers to end
their strike and give up their protest, but the
workers announced that they will continue their strike
until they get their unpaid wages.
Protest by workers from Tabesh and Saegheh companies
in Abadan
On Saturday the 21 of April , workers from Tabesh and
Saegheh company , contractors to Abadan Oil refinery (
in south western Iran) which has 350 workers ,
protested at non-payment of their wages and bonuses
for over two months by staging a sit-in. Protesting
workers also attacked the central offices of this
company and demanded immediate payment of their wages.
Sit-in by municipality workers in Mahabad
Around 50 workers from Mahabad municipality ( in
western Iran) have staged a sit-in in front of the
main municipality building in protest at non-payment
of their wages for three months. Despite many empty
promises by officials these workers have received no
payment over the last few months.
Strike by IranPouya workers
Workers from IranPouya factory ( producers of fridges)
went on strike in protest at non payment of their
wages and plots by management. The factory's
management has not only refused to pay the workers
wages, in alliance with bonafide groups it has
expropriated valuable land near Pounak square in
Tehran, which had been put aside for workers housing
and sold the land to the Air force.
Protest gathering by teachers in Tehran
On Saturday 5th of May hundreds of teachers gathered
for a protest meeting lasting 45 minute sin 'teachers
club' in Tehran. The teachers demands included a 25%
pay rise, the right to elect school directors, a
return to work for those teachers who have been
dismissed for political, ideological opinions, many
having lost their jobs without any trial. At the end
of this meeting, the teachers warned that if their
demands are not met in the next two months, they will
repeat their protest.
Teachers and employees of the ministry of Education,
totalling 1million employees, live in poverty eve
according to official statistics. They face economic
hardship as well difficult working conditions, given
the interference of the religious state on education
and training, ideological
8 million unemployed
According to Gharamn Bahrami, member of the economic
commission of the Majles ( Islamic Parliament) : !the
number of unemployed in Iran, not taking into account
those who are studying, is around 8 million. This is
while we have a population of 35million people under
20years old." He added:@ the problem of unemployment
is very serious, because every year 1miilion school
leavers are added to the job market while we cannot
find a solution for those who have been unemployed for
a year." (Paper Hambastegi, Tehran 18th March 2001) .
These comments are made at a time when :1-Official
figure s always underestimate the number of the
unemployed. For example, the regime's officials use
official figures claiming that the number of the
unemployed is 2to 3 million workers.
2-With the exception of a small group of workers who
have lost their jobs- and even they for a limited
period and getting a small sum _ most unemployed
workers in Iran have no unemployment insurance or
other social security.
*From 1995 , 50 percent of workers employed in the
province of Mazandaran have lost their jobs. According
to the director of Khaneh Kargar ( government set up
workers organisation) in Mazandaran, (in northern
Iran) , 2000 workers from Takhteh She Layii, Choukha
Nassaji(textile) , Pak company, Simorgh Shomal, Sahar
Teflon, JinMode, Nafshin Carpet and Chitsazi Behshahr,
have received no wages for 4 to 24 months. He added
that from March 1995 to March 2001 , 50 percent of
employed workers in Mazandaran province have lost
their job and from a total of 240,000 in 6000
industrial production units , 40 per cent are employed
under temporary contracts.
Workers , first victims of privatisation
According to statistics published by the Central Bank
of Iran, during 1378 (March 99- March 200) 4280
companies in various Iranian cities were liquidated
which represents an 8.3 % rise compared to last year.
On the other hand according to the deputy minister for
Labour in Iran, in 1999, the rate of unemployment or
those who faced unclear future because of sudden
closure of industrial units, was around 57 thousand
and 862 workers. In this respect , Ahmad Payvar, one
of those responsible for the organisation of Social
Services said:" a large section of the industry are
closed and their workers have been introduced to the
Social Services , this is because of the epidemic of
'privatisation' which has engulfed the country's major
industries. Many units such as the textile, knitting ,
carpet, wood cutting--- factories have closed down or
come to a stand still after privatisation. ( Paper
Hambastegi, Tehran, 14 April 2001)
First of May 2001
Workers celebrations in Iran- A step Forward
1)If we accept that 1st of May is an expression of the
solidarity amongst the countless many in the labour
camp in a united front against exploiters, then the
way this day is celebrated represents a significant
indication in evaluating the level of awareness,
readiness and class unity of the poor and down
trodden masses, in the same manner one can present
this as a reflection proportional to the balance of
social forces in any country.
2)In Iran following the retreat of the Islamic
Republic regime following protracted struggles by the
workers to obtain an official holiday for May the 1st
as International Workers Day, the workers succeeded
in their efforts to combat attempts by the regime and
its cronies amongst the working class to deprive
this day of its true significance and transform it to
a day of workers expressing allegiance to Vali Faghih
( the Islamic regime's religious leader) and forging
unity between 'capitalists and workers'. This in
itself became the first target of the radical
working class.
During all these years , before and after the
announcement that this day was an official holiday,
celebrations of May Day took many forms , from leaving
a bunch of flowers on machinery in the factory or the
workshop, to distributing sweets and cakes amongst
workers , to holding open gatherings and
demonstrations , announcing the workers demands. But
what distinguished this May Day from other years and
gave it special significance was the clear attempt and
the success of the working class to organise
independent and open celebrations of this day,
boycotting and disrupting the formal state
celebrations.
3) Although repression and censorship do not allow us
to be aware of the true dimensions of all the actions
, but what is published and is in the public domain
gives a more or less clear impression of the general
direction of workers reactions in solidarity with May
day.
In the gathering organised on the occasion of
International workers day by Khaneh Kargar ( workers
organisation set up by the regime) in front of the
Majles ( Islamic Parliament) , following a speech by
Mahjoub, the director of Khaneh Kargar and Hazrati, a
deputy in the Majles, a 9 points statement was read
out. What was significant about this demonstration and
its statement was one, the small number of
participants in comparison with last year and then
the presentation of some demands as 'resolutions' of
this gathering . Regarding the first point, it is
worth nothing that last year's May day demonstration
was organised on the same day and by Khaneh Kargar ,
thousands of workers participated in that
demonstration and turned it into expression of their
anger and protest against the Majles's decision to
exempt workshops if less than 5 employees from the
Labour Legislation. On the second point , we should
explain that beside legitimate workers demands , such
as abolition temporary contracts, national
negotiation, the right to strike , a reactionary
fascist demand, calling for expulsion of foreign
workers from Iranian workplaces had been added û We
will explain this item later in this article but
regarding other workers demands included in this
resolution, it should be noted that this was mainly
done with the aim of ignoring one of the worker's
most essential demands, the right to set up their own
independent nationwide organisation. The leaders of
Khaneh Kargar try to portray themselves as defenders
of the workers rights and to suppress any attempts to
form independent workers organisations. These groups,
who under increasing workers pressure have been forced
to defend some workers demands in
word only , are well aware that national agreements on
pay deals, or the right to strike has no meaning and
no guarantee without independent trade unions and
workers organisations.
But if in Tehran , the heavy police presence and
occupation of many streets by security forces and the
anti riot squad, did not allow workers to hold large
independent gatherings, in Isfahan ( central Iran)
workers disrupted the official ceremony held by Khaneh
Kargar in Pirouzi hall in this town. Angry workers ,
ahead of them textile workers , carrying placards
saying they have not been paid for months, attacked
the speakers podium and destroyed it then they
organised a demonstration towards the provincial
offices in the town.
The speaker of this ceremony, Soheila Jelodarzadeh is
a member of the parliamentary leadership and one of
those responsible for the workers organisation set up
by the Islamic regime.
In Kermanshah ( western Iran) around 1500 workers
boycotted the official state celebrations and
organised their own independent meeting in one of the
town's main squares. In some other towns in Kurdistan
(western Iran) such as Sagghez and Baneh, bakery
workers syndicates organised their own independent
meetings .
4) Attempts by workers on 1st of May 2001 to set up
their own independent meetings and present their class
demands , boycotting the official celebrations by
Khaneh Kargar, should be seen as a hopeful sign,
indicating the workers class of their class identity
and the need to organise and set up their own
independent camp. . These efforts have special
significance if you consider that they are taking
place at a time when government set up workers
organisations are reorganising themselves . These
organs and at their head , Khaneh Kargar, have tried
to present themselves as simply trade organisations
and sided with some of the workers protests in order
to achieve their main role , i.e. confronting the
setting up of independent nationwide workers
organisations in a more effective manner.
5) as we wrote earlier , the central issue raised by
Khaneh Kargar in its May day celebration was
propaganda and incitement against foreign workers .
The repetition of the demands for the expulsion of
'Afghan workers' by speakers at the official
ceremonies held by this organisation and in its
resolution , took place at the day an celebrations
that are supposed to portray one essential message ,
solidarity of workers throughout the world
irrespective of colour, race and religion, in a united
front against capitalists.
Khaneh Kargar , like fascist and racist organisations
in other countries tried to show foreign workers as a
cause of unemployment and the reason for its increase,
diverting the workers anger against their intolerable
living conditions towards foreign and immigrant
workers instead of blaming the ruling order. The
leaders of Khaneh Kargar say that foreign workers have
not only robbed Iranian workers of job opportunities ,
by taking difficult jobs at low wages , they have
reduced the bargaining power of Iranian workers in
the labour market. This is a truly populist slander
attempting to divide the workers under the guise of
'pity' for them . In the words of a Persian proverb,
ô if they haven's got a stone in their shoe' ( if they
aren't following another agenda) why don't they defend
equal pay between Iranian workers and foreign workers
so that capitalists and managers can't pay lower
salaries to foreign workers reducing workers general
pay.
International Workers day and celebrations of this day
in Iran
Maryam Mohseni
First of May has bitter sweet memories for all of us.
During the last 15 years we have celebrated this day
in various forms. At times in the factory, sometimes
at home, or in the countryside with parties and
distributing sweets, and giving talks about this day
and leaving flowers on machinery to commemorate this
day. On this day we came alive and were proud of
ourselves and thought we had a weight and this was a
reason to celebrate our solidarity as women workers
however the memory of three celebrations are more
poignant than others.
First celebration: This goes back to 15 years ago when
we wanted to celebrate this day for the first time,
independently. Those days 1st of May was not a public
holiday and it was a working day. We had to invite a
few of our fellow workers to the house and at the
same time we had to make sure the news didn't get
around the factory. Those days the need for an
independent celebration of May Day had not sank in yet
. For example when we told one fellow worker that we
were going to celebrate Workers Day , she said :
ôthere is no pride in being a worker, what is there to
celebrate? ô but a few years ago the same worker
became one of the initiators of May Day celebrations.
Another memory is of a year when we celebrated May day
in a colleague's home. The host had made 'ash' ( a
kind of soup) and one of her relatives was decorating
the 'ash' and we asked her to decorate the 'ash' with
words regarding 'celebration of workers day' and she
was surprised and insisted that she should write
ôcelebration of teachers dayö.
This was 15 years ago and now celebration of workers
day has become a necessity.
The second memory is about a few years ago when we
intended to distribute sweets in the factory and leave
flowers on machinery. We had decided to buy carnations
and leave them on machinery when we came to work in
the morning. Two of our fellow workers bought the
flowers and brought them to the factory in the morning
and put them on the machinery, it was a very nice
scene. These flowers stayed all day and became a topic
of conversation about workers day in the changing
room, at break time , in the work room , in the
recreation area, behind machineryà And we talked about
how May day is celebrated in other countries, this had
a more lasting effect than distributing sweets.
Third celebrations: It was 1373 ( 1994) it was about
ten years that we celebrated May Day in the factory.
That year we decided to join workers from 3 other
factories and we went to the countryside to celebrate
May day. On the morning of 11th Ordibehssht ( May Day)
we gathered at 11 am in a place in Tehran and went to
a scenic place near the capital. During the journey
the workers from the 3 factories got to know each
other and at the beginning of the ceremony a history
of May day was presented and then the workers danced
and sang, this was good opportunity for the workers
from the 3 factories to get to know each other and
exchange experiences and efforts and came to know the
struggles of fellow workers.
=====
email:[log in to unmask]
http://www.etehadchap.com
Fax 004631 139897 00448701257959
____________________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get your free @yahoo.co.uk address at http://mail.yahoo.co.uk
or your free @yahoo.ie address at http://mail.yahoo.ie
|
