Re: Workers’ Sit-In in Tehran, Iran

Workers in Baresh Textile factory in City of  Esfehan, in protest of non-payment of their wages for seven months, have staged a sit-in at the Iranian Parliament (Majles) in Tehran for more than two weeks. In the past few months, Baresh workers resorted to a variety of measures to protest against the non-payment of their wages; however, they have only been treated with silence and/or threats, repression, arrests and imprisonment. Carrying on a protest outside the Majles in the cold of winter is their latest attempt for the realization of their most basic rights, the payment of their wages. Following are excerpts from statements made by the protesting workers to the Iranian Students’ News Agency (ISNA).

“ We wrote more than 200 letters to the Industry and Labour ministries, Workers’ House, governor’s office and even to the Supreme leader and the Office of the Presidency but thus far have not been given any responses. We gathered in front of the Provincial Governor’s office demanding the Governor’s attention to our issues; instead, the “Special forces” attacked us with batons and tear-gas. That’s such an irony when the government of Iran had just asked the US government not to launch any assault on Afghanistan during the month of Ramadan yet their own forces attacked workers hurting and wounding scores of us. We still do not know what our crimes could have been for receiving such a violent treatment. Is it because we worked for seven months without pay? Our families are hungry. We felt so ashamed that some workers had to beg in order to survive. We only want payment of our wages.”

The above statements are just a small reflection of the unbearable conditions of Baresh and many other workers in Iran imposed by the Islamic Republic of Iran’s authorities and employers. Most workers’ protests face censorship and do not get media coverage. As many of labour activists and unions in other parts of the world know by now, workers in Iran have been deprived of their basic rights for more than twenty years. While workers have organized numerous protest actions in defense of their rights, freedoms and basic needs throughout these years, they have continually faced rejection, persecution, arrests, assaults and jails.

Tens of thousands of workers from various industrial groups in Iran are faced with the similar problem of unpaid and delayed wages. We are asking all labour organizations worldwide to take any possible measures in support of the protest and demands of Baresh textile workers. All unpaid wages to workers from all industries in Iran must be paid immediately.

In Solidarity,

Yadullah Khosroshahi

International Section, Labour Foundation-Iran

December 20, 2001