Iran Oil Industry Strikes Enters Fourth Week; Still Continues To Expand

ICBPS- Iran’s oil industry strikes by Iranian oil workers on fixed-term contracts and increase in wages have spread to more than 114 oil, gas, and petrochemical companies— entered the fourth week.
Iranian workers of oil, gas and petrochemical industries walked off the job and went on a nationwide strike — which started on June 18, 2021 — more workers from dozens of contract companies have joined the widespread strikes.
Hundreds of workers from other commercial, industrial and governmental sectors have joined the nationwide protests.

SUMMARY

On July 8, 2021, workers of the Oil Design & Construction Company (ODCC) in Abadan, Pisa in Iranshahr, Behdad Madan Pasargad in Isfahan, and Darya Sahel in Qeshm, Iraj Faramzi Company have joined the nationwide strikes.

Previously, workers of more than 60 Iranian oil companies have joined the strike during the past weeks.

Now, workers at hundreds of oil and gas projects and petrochemical plants have gone on strike, demanding better wages and working conditions.

The strike of the contract and temporary workers of the Iranian oil industry has entered its fourth week. Over the past three weeks, strikes have been carried out on about 100 contracting parties with Iran’s Ministry of Petroleum.

More than 105 thousand workers in the oil and gas sector have joined the nationwide strikes to demand wage increases, reduced working days, the end of temporary contracts, and removing corrupt contractors.

The strikes in Iran’s energy sector began on June 19 and tens of thousands of workers have joined the nationwide campaign.

According to Kayhan London, strikes in Iran’s energy industry continue as hundreds of workers joined the widespread campaign on Thursday.

Iran’s exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi also have come out in support of the nationwide strikes and widespread protests across the country, described them as ‘an unprecedented manifestation of national solidarity’.

هم‌میهنانم،

اعتراضات و اعتصابات فزاینده شما در این روزها برای دستیابی به ابتدایی‌ترین نیازها و حقوق‌تان، جلوه‌ای دیگر از همبستگی ملی‌ بی‌سابقه‌ای است که در نافرمانی مدنی بزرگ روز ۲۸ خرداد از خود نشان دادید.#اعتصابات_سراسری pic.twitter.com/P5lVHrbU8P

— Reza Pahlavi (@PahlaviReza) July 10, 2021

Six large trade unions have supported Iran’s nationwide strikes.

Workers from several plants and companies have joined the thousands who are already either in a work stoppage or have reportedly left the manufactories plants where they were employed.

The “unprecedented” workers’ strike is becoming more widespread since the 1979 Revolution.

A day after Iran’s Sham Election, thousands of workers of Iran’s vital petrochemical and oil industries took part in a nationwide strike.

Further, the contract workers from dozens of Iranian industrial sites are to expand the current strikes if their demands are not met, declared the organizing council.

The core economic demands are wage increases, reduced working days, and the end of temporary contracts.

The nationwide strikes have disrupted Iran’s refineries’ activities, and more permanent workers are expected to join the strike in the coming days by organizing and carrying out a strike.

On July 23, 2021, a group of contract workers in Asaluyeh, southern Iran, went on a nationwide strike on Wednesday, July 23, 2021, to protest poor working conditions, low wages, wage inequality, and lack of welfare.

As workers from dozens of petrochemical plants joined the nationwide strike of refinery and power generation employees across Iran, Tehran Refinery threatened to fire 700 strikers.

The contract workers of refineries, petrochemicals, and power plants have gone on strike demanding “an increase in wages to [about] $500 per month” and “change the leave period to 20 working days and 10 days off.”

Today in Iran, workers’ stress is traditionally caused by factors such as too much work, too little pay, a poor work-life balance, lack of job security, or an oppressive working environment.

According to videos posted on social media, thousands of workers in the citizens of Tehran, Qeshm, Abadan, Bidboland Behbahan, Gachsaran, Mahshahr, Ilam, Isfahan, Jahrom, and Bushehr walked off the job on Wednesday to demand corporations raise wages, provide health care and paid sick leave, and grant employees the right to unionize.

The nationwide strikes movement is labeled “Campaign 1400”, referring to the current “Iranian calendar year 1400”.

On July 24, the payment-employees of Abadan Refinery gathered to protest double taxation, chanting slogans against the so-called moderate Rouhani’s oil minister, Zanganeh.

The workers of Tehran Jonoob Co. and Adish Co. also joined the nationwide strikes.

The temporary workers at the Tehran Refinery posted pictures online announcing the officials expelled 700 workers following the protest over low wages.

The workers’ demands: “Wages to be paid on time, contractors to be cut off from the oil industry, workers dismissal, and slavery laws in free economic zones to be abolished.”

The contract workers of Kayhan Pars Company in the Isfahan Refinery also joined the strikes, and the workers of other parts of the refinery have also announced that they will walk out on the job in the coming days.

On June 23, 2021, Ahvaz Ramin Power Plant workers walked off the job and gathered in front of the main building in protest of job insecurity and unpaid wages. ICBPS

Workers of Sepahan Isfahan Cement Company also held a rally in front of the Mobarakeh governor’s office in Isfahan province on Wednesday.

“The contract workers will join the strikes which have been started by the payment-employees of Iran’s oil section from July 29.

The strike by contract workers and oil projects is the second in a row in less than a year.

The country has faced nearly continuous protests by employees, workers, medical staff, farmers, ranchers, and pensioners over an inflation rate of more than 50%, high unemployment, unpaid wages, and financial difficulties.

Reporting by Kaveh Taheri, Additional reporting by ICBPS, Editing by Kate Cohen.