Author: Editor

HRANA Recap: This Week’s Protests in Iran

Posted on by Editor
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HRANA protest recap, weekly protest recap, weekly protest report

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, a number of protests took place this week in Iran, many of which were continuations of ongoing movements.  Read our recap below for details, photos, and videos from the demonstrations.

Saturday, December 25

Dozens of architects assembled before the building of the Ministry of Roads & Urban Development in Tehran. They asked the Ministry to address problems regarding the Construction Engineering Organization’s exam, which is held to grant engineering licenses. This ministry, which supervises the national exam, has not responded to the issues.

Residents of the village Shamsabad Noogh, located in Kerman Province, protested against the digging of a water well and a water transfer project. As video footage shows, this protest turned violent.

About 20 workers of the Saturation Railway Sleepers Company Shirgah assembled and protested for demands related to wages at the factory premise. Reportedly, the workers have not received wages for three months and their employer’s insurance contribution for 16 months.

Sunday, December 26

A number of retirees and pensioners of the Fulad Company Pension Fund assembled in Ahvaz, Isfahan and Damghan cities to ask for demands regarding pensions and benefits.

Monday, December 27

In Ardabil, a number of workers of the fabric company Sabalan assembled at their workplace to protest against layoffs and delays in payments. They had held protests the previous two days.

A number of retirees of Social Security Organization of Kermanshah Province assembled and protested against low wages.

 

Tuesday, December 28

Working and retired teachers and educators of more 19 cities across the country assembled before the building of the Ministry of Education (and Parliament in Tehran and Alborz Provinces). They demanded the implementation of a plan whereby teachers’ income, depending on a ranking, will be raised up to 80% of faculty members’ salaries.

About 70 workers working on the Shafa-Rud Dam project in Rezvanshahr held protests on the work premises. They asked that 7 months of delayed payments and 4 months of unpaid employers’ contribution for insurance be paid.

Several workers of Telecommunication companies in rural areas assembled before the parliament to protest unfair wage disparity between personnel in urban and rural areas.

Wednesday, December 29

For the third consecutive day, the workers of the petrochemical company Regal assembled at their workplace to ask for the implementation of the Job Classification Plan. The workers also demanded their currently unpaid Adverse Weather Benefit during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A group of retirees of the Social Security Organization assembled before Parliament in Tehran to asked for their demands.

A number of teachers a preschools in Delfan City, located in Lorestan Province, assembled before the Ministry of Education building to ask for their demands.

HRANA Recap: This Week’s Protests in Iran

Posted on by Editor
News
This week's protests, weekly protest recap

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, a number of protests took place this week in Iran, many of which were continuations of ongoing movements.  Read our recap below for details, photos, and videos from the demonstrations.

Friday, December 17

Dozens of citizens held protests in Azadshahr City as backlash against the removal of Sunni Imam Mohammad Hossein Gorgij from his office. This unprecedented dismissal was ordered by a representative of the Supreme Leader in Golsetan and aroused the anger of Sunni communities in Iran.

Following a visit by the Minister of the Economy to Bahabad City in Yazd province, a number of people held protests to ask the minister to halt the construction of new mines which are considered destructive for both the environment and the cultural texture of the city.

A number of citizens who had long ago purchased land that was previously managed by police in Mahdasht in Karaj protested against legal issues regarding these lands that have still not been resolved after 19 years.

Saturday, December 18

A group of workers at the Zinc Production Factory of Bandar Abbas assembled in front of the factory building and asked to address raw material supply issues. According to the testimony of  one of the workers, these problems have caused factory closure since August of this year.

A number of the workers at petrochemical company Farabi assembled before company headquarters to protest against the failure to implement the Job Classification Plan. They also asked for wage raises when it comes to overtime, shift working and working on holidays. According to these workers, the company manager has reduced their wages and benefits and tried to replace the protesting workers with new ones as revenge rather than address the issues.

In Isfahan, dozens of contracted teachers assembled in front of the Ministry of Education building and protested for their demands.

A number of the workers at the Haft-Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company assembled before the company building to protest for their demands. Reportedly, the protest turned violent with the interference of the police. Police used pepper spray and beat the protestors.

Sunday, December 19

A number of people whose investments have been blocked in the cryptocurrency exchange “Cryptoland” assembled in front of the head judicial office in Tehran to ask for the return of their lost money.

A number of the drivers and workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company assembled in front of the Tehran Municipality building and marched in the streets. They demanded the implementation of the Job Classification Plan and the delivery of unpaid wages.

A group of citizens who pre-purchased car from two car companies, Rigan Khoodro and Shahr Khodro, assembled before the company buildings to ask that their money be returned. Reportedly, the companies have neither delivered the cars nor refunded the money to 2000 customers.

A number of educators in Amol, Khorramabad, Isfahan, Javanrud, Lordegan, Malayer, Mariwan, Ramhormoz and Sari assembled before the Ministry of Education of each city. They asked for the implementation of the Job Ranking Plan.

Retirees and pensioners of Fulad Steel Company assembled before the company’s pension fund departments in Isfahan and Ahvaz to ask for pension-related demands.

A number of retirees and pensioners of the Social Security Organization assembled and protested before the organization building in Khorramabad, Arak and Kermanshah cities. They asked that the organization raise wages above the poverty line, close the disparities in wages, pay end of year bonuses and other demands.

A group of faculty members at Payame-Noor University assembled and protested in Shiraz City. They asked to close disparities in wages. They said that these disparities persist despite a Parliament resolution in 2020. Unlike other universities, their income has not been increased.

Monday, December 20

Several trainees at the Gachsaran Oil & Gas Company held protests before the company building. They said that, in breach of agreements, they have not been employed after eight years.

A number of patients with the blood disorder Thalassemia assembled before the Ministry of Health building in Tehran to protest against a market shortage of their required medicine. Earlier, the head of the Thalassemia Association in Fars Province stated that more than 511 patients have lost their lives due to a shortage of more than six months.

 

Tuesday, December 21

A number of retirees of Iran Telecommunication Company assembled before the building of the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology in Tehran. They asked the company to comply with its own bylaws and regulations and pay medical and dental expenses.

Similarly, a group of retirees of the Shahrekord Telecommunication Company assembled on company premises to ask the company to cover medical and dental expenses and provide other welfare amenities, as mandated by company regulations.

Wednesday, December 22

A group of the workers of the Central Iron Ore Company in Bafgh City assembled at the company entrance. Reportedly, they assembled to demonstrate discontent about the new CEO

.

A number of shareholders who lost their investments due to fraudulent activities in Iran’s stock market assembled before Parliament. They demanded protection from small investors.

A number of workers of the Iran Chocolate in Tabriz assembled in front of factory headquarters to request delivery of unpaid wages and benefits.

Thursday, December 23

Continuing the nationwide protests in recent weeks, working and retired teachers and educators in more than 100 cities held protests. Among other demands, they demanded the implementation of a plan whereby teachers’ income, depending on a ranking, will be raised up to 80% of faculty members’ salaries.

HRANA Recap: This Week’s Protests in Iran

Posted on by Editor
Labor and Guilds, News
weekly protest recap, weekly protest report

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, a number of protests took place this week in Iran, many of which were continuations of ongoing movements.  Read our recap below for details, photos, and videos from the demonstrations.

Friday, December 10

Following Iran’s president, Ibrahim Raisi’s, visit to Lorestan Province, a group of villagers from the area near Khorramabad gathered at the entrance of the airport, where the president was going to be received. The villagers protested against water supply management, chanting, “we don’t have drinking water”.

Similarly, a number of railway workers assembled and demanded that issues regarding supplementary insurance, official contracts and access to safety equipment be addressed.

Saturday, December 11

In response to a call by the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations, the educators and teachers of 100 cities across the country went on a strike and held protest to demand the implementation of a plan already enacted by Parliament whereby teachers’ income will be raised in accordance with a ranking.

A number of workers of the Ahvaz Water and Wastewater Company assembled before the company building to ask for their delayed payments. A number of the workers of the Ahvaz Water and Wastewater Company assembled before the company building to protest against the recent company merger with its counterparts in rural areas. According to these protesters, the company can hardly afford to pay salaries due to the cost of the 500 additional personnel that accompanied the merger. Workers said the merger has brought the company to the verge of destruction.

A group of the workers at the mining company Toos, located in Khaf County, assembled at their workplace to protest against delays in payments and insurance issues. This protest ended with the promise by some company managers and other local authorities to address these issues.

A group of the workers of the car company Azim Khodro assembled to ask their wage demands be met and to protest against factory closure. These workers blocked the road connecting Oshtorinan City to Lorestan. Reportedly, due to some legal issues, the company is banned from operating and consequently, 180 workers have been laid off without pay.

 

Sunday, December 12

For the second consecutive day, educators and teachers in dozens of cities across the country assembled to ask for the implementation of an enacted plan to raise wages.

A group of the retirees of the Gilan’s Social Security Organization assembled before organization headquarters to ask that demands, such as raising wages above the poverty line, be filled.

Similarly, a group of the retirees of the Khuzestan’s Social Security Organization assembled in front of the organization building in Ahvaz City. They asked for the elimination of pension disparities and other demands.

Retirees of the Fulad Company Pension Fund assembled in front of the pension fund office in Isfahan City to ask for demands regarding pensions.

A group of the workers of steel company Fulad Yasuj assembled before the governorate building in Yasuj City to protest against a factory shut down due to power outages and the consequential layoff of 226 workers.

Monday, December 13

Thousands of retired and working teachers and educators, joined by other citizens, demonstrated in more than 100 cities across the country. These protests were held on December 13 at the call of the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations.

Their more important demand was the implementation of a plan whereupon the incomes of teachers will be increased depending on rank, to up to 80% of the salaries of faculty members.

Several workers of petrochemical company Regal assembled in front of the governorate building in Bandar Mahshahr City. They demanded implementation a Job Ranking Plan, as well as unpaid benefits and supplementary insurance.

Tuesday, December 14

In Shiraz City, retirees of the Iran Telecommunication Industry (ITI) assembled in protest against long unpaid benefits and wages accumulated over 15 years. Reportedly, the benefits and wages of about 1500 retired workers have never been fully paid during and after company closure in the last decade.

A group of workers under recruitment of the contracting companies affiliated with Iran Electric Power Distribution Companies travelled to Tehran and assembled in front of Parliament. On that day, the conditions of contractual workers were discussed in the parliament. The protesters asked for removing private contracting companies and to be employed directly by the Electric Power Distribution Companies.

Workers of petrochemical company Takhte-Jamshid, located in Bandar Imam Khomeini Petrochemical Special Economic Zone, assembled before the company entrance to protest against low wages. They said that after adopting the Job Classification Plan, wages have not been significantly raised. Even worse, in some cases, wages have been decreased.

Residents of the village Lavar-Sharghi in Dashti County, located in Bushehr Province, assembled on the road connecting the village to the center part of the county. They said that heavily loaded vehicles from a cement factory caused consdierable damage to the road.

Wednesday, December 16

A number of personnel of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance in East Azerbaijan Province held a protest before ministry offices to protest against low wages and irregularity in payments.

A number of contracted teachers assembled before Tehran’s <inistry of education to ask for their demands. They chanted that they would not go to work until their issues were addressed.

In Tehran, a group of taxi drivers assembled before the Municipal Taxi Organization’s building. Sccording to a protestor, the company has refused to deliver cabs despite the drivers paying 60 million tomans (14,280 USD). In a violation of the purchase contract, the company has requested additional payment, claiming the price of a car has increased by 18%.

A number of farmers in Hirmand City in Sistan and Baluchestan Province assembled in front of governorate building to protest against cuts to fuel portions for water engines and tractors. 

Thursday December 16

Hundreds of educators and teachers in Hamedan Province held protests in front of the building the Ministry of Education. They asked for the implementation of the Ranking Plan, wage raises, and the freeing of detained teachers.

HRANA Recap: This Week’s Protests in Iran

Posted on by Editor
News
HRANA protest recap, weekly protest report

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, a number of protests took place this week in Iran, many of which were continuations of ongoing movements.  Read our recap below for details, photos, and videos from the demonstrations.

Friday, December 3

For several consecutive days, a number of workers at the Haft-Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company assembled to ask to returnto work and for modifications in their contract. 

Saturday, December 4

In a continuation of their protest , the workers of the Haft-Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company assembled in front of the governorate building in Shush City. 

A group of people with disabilities held protests in three cities. They assembled before the building of the Plan and Budget Organization in Tehran and in front of the governorate building in the cities of Saqqez and Mashhad.  

These citizens asked for minimum wage disability benefits in accordance with Article 27 of the National Law on the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Dozens of workers at copper mining companies in Sungun Varzeqan City went on a strike for the fifth consecutive day. They assembled and marched on the perimeter of the workplace. Their demands include closing the disparity in wages, addressing contract issues and implementation of a “Job Classification Plan”.

 


A number of workers at the petrochemical company Makran in Chabahar City went on a strike to protest against delayed wages and benefits. As one of the workers said, the contractor of the Urea and Ammonia Company Sina has not paid their wages under the pretext of a delay in payroll checks from the CEO. The workers said that they can hardly afford their livelihoods and are fed up with empty promises from the company.

Sunday, December 5

A group of seasonal workers at the Haft-Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company protested in three separate assemblies. One group gathered in front of Kaab Amir, the parliament member of Shush City Kaab Amir, another in front of the governorate building, and a third in front of the building of the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labour, and Social Welfare. They asked for a return to work and better job contracts.

Victims of frauds by the trading company Sekkeh Samen assembled in front of the Justice building in Tehran to protest against a delay and other shortcomings in the conviction of the company.


Retirees of the steel company Fulad assembled in Tehran, Isfahan and Ahvaz before the buildings of the company’s Retirement Association. They asked for raises in their pensions, as well as removing disparities in pensions. 


 

 


Personnel of cooperatives in charge of managing Edalat stock assembled and protested against delayed payments and uncertainty in their job. 

One of the protesters said: “We are about 700 people who, after 15 years working in 352 offices of this cooperative, have not had any official contract. Moreover, we can hardly afford our livelihoods due to 44 months of unpaid wages”.

Shareholders of several housing cooperatives assembled and protested on the side of the road connecting Tehran to Karaj. Complaints included the unfair allocation of land, as well as some shareholders not receiving a house, even after 37 years.

Monday, December 6

Personnel of cooperatives in charge of managing Edalat stock assembled in front of the building of the deputy minister of Cooperatives, Labour, and Social Welfare and protested against delayed payments and a lack of job security.

The retirees of the Social Security Organization assembled in front of organization’s building in Ahvaz City. They asked for better health insurance coverage and an increase in the end-of-year benefits.

Personnel of the petrochemical company Farabi assembled in front of the company security building to ask for the implementation of “Job Classification Plan”. They also protested about the reduction in wages that stemmed from a  decrease in overtime works and working hours at holidays.


Tuesday, December 7

In Kerman, a group of residents from the southern parts of the province assembled in front of the entrance of the water tunnel carrying water from Halil River to Kerman. They claimed that this water transfer project would bring about water shortages in their region. Protestors set up tents and tried to prevent tunnel drilling. In response, the project contractor maintained that they have obtained all required permits and the project will go on.

A number of workers of the Iran Electricity Industry Company assembled in front of the building of the Ministry of Energy to ask to be under contract with companies under the Ministry of Energy rather than private contractors.

A group of students from the University of Medical Sciences of Shahrekord assembled at the campus to ask for their demands.

A number of seasonal workers at the Haft-Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company assembled in front of the Governorate building in Shush City. They asked for official contracts with the company rather than employment as contractors.

A number of citizens who have purchased pieces of land from the government assembled in front of the building of the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labour, and Social Welfare in Umria City. Reportedly, after 30 years, the legal issues of their properties have not yet been settled. 


 

A group of farmers in Abadeh County in Farsi Province assembled in front of the governorate building to protest against the closure of their water wells. 

Wednesday, December 8

A number of the workers of the Ahvaz Water and Wastewater Company assembled before the company building to protest against the recent company merger with its counterparts in rural areas. According to these protesters, the company can hardly afford to pay salaries due to the cost of the 500 additional personnel that accompanied the merger. Reportedly, the company is four months behind on payments.

 

A group of workers of the Ilam Petrochemical Company assembled before the governorate building to protest against the layoff of 60 workers. Despite a direct order by the president, the company did not let these fired workers return to work.

Thursday, December 9

A group of educators and teachers in Qom Province assembled before the building of the Ministry of Education. These teachers demanded the implementation of a plan, which has already been enacted by parliament, whereby teachers’ income will be raised in accordance with a ranking

A group of contracted teachers and educators in Isfahan city assembled in front of the Ministry of Education to protest against low wages, the pay gap and other issues.


A group of retailers from a Friday market in Yasuj City assembled and protested in front of the governorate building. They claim that they cannot afford to move the market to somewhere else, as was requested by authorities.

 

HRANA Recap: This Week’s Protests in Iran

Posted on by Editor
Labor and Guilds, News
Haft Tappeh, Kaab Amir, protests, Shiraz, Tehran, weekly recap
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, a number of protests took place this week in Iran, many of which were continuations of ongoing movements.  Read our recap below for details, photos, and videos from the demonstrations.

Saturday, November 27 

A number of seasonal workers at the Haft-Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company assembled today in Shush City, first before the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labour, and Social Welfare and then in front of the Governorate building. Their demands regarded issues with their contracts. Last Thursday, this group of workers assembled in front of the office of Parliament member Kaab Amir.

A group of personnel at Distribution Electrical Company in Golestan Province assembled in front of their company’s building, asking for permanent, official employment rather than their current temporary agreement.

Workers at petrochemical company Fajr assembled before the company entrance to protest against an increase in working hours. Reportedly, shift hours were increased from 8 to 12 without workers’ consent. According to labour code, shifts longer than 12 hours are forbidden. 

Nurses and other personnel at the Ministry of Health assembled in front of the Planning and Budget Organization building to ask for the implementation of an “extra payment plan”, a reduction in taxes, and a pay raise. Despite being enacted in 2014 by Parliament, the “extra payment plan”, has not yet been put into action after seven years.

Injured veterans of the Iran-Iraq War assembled in front of the Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs in Tehran to protest against poor living conditions.

The victims of Fardadkar Amitis Company, who lost their money due to fraudulent acts by the investment company, protested before the Qoddoosi Courthouse in Tehran. About ten thousand victims have lost a combined 2500 billion tomansb (594,887,500 USD). The protesters asked to move the case from the Qoddoosi Courthouse to the Economic Crimes Court and the Branch of Economic Corruption of the Revolutionary Court.

A group of farmers in Bavy County protested for their water allocation for fall cultivation. They assembled before the Karun Irrigation Company, Eastern Lands in Ahvaz City. Despite promises, two months have passed without farmers receiving water allocation. 

A group of physicians and medical graduates working in the government sector assembled before the Medical Sciences Building in Yazd City. They protested against unfair salary calculation methods and heavy taxes.

Sunday, November 28

Families of the victims of Ukrainian International Airlines Flight 752 marched on the Military Courthouse where the trial of low-ranking military officers is being held. The assembly was on surveilled by many security agents. In the early hours of January 8, 2020, Flight 752 was hit by a missile sent by regime military forces. After a few days of covering up the cause of this incident, the regime admitted that the plane was hit by a missile shot from an anti-missile defense base.

 

Several families with children with SMA (Spinal Muscular Atrophy) assembled in front of the Parliament building in Tehran to ask that their children’s medicine, necessary to treat SMA, be imported.

A group of retirees of Haft-Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company assembled at the entrance of the factory. They claimed that the years of service payment is lower than dictated by labour law.

Retirees using the Fulad Company pension fund assembled in front of pension fund offices in the cities of Ahvaz and Isfahan. They asked for a raise in pensions in order to stay above the poverty line, as well as the elimination of pension disparities and issues with supplementary insurance.

A number of truck drivers in Sarbaz County, Sistan and Baluchestan Province, assembled in front of the governorate building to protest against a cut on fuel rations. They said that fuel rations for their trucks have been cut without compelling reason.

Monday, November 29

A number of retirees of airline company Homa assembled in front of Homa’s pension fund offices. They protested against delays in payments and the merger of Homa’s pension fund with the national pension fund.

In Bandar Mahshahr, a number of jobseekers assembled before the refinery tanks of the Persian Gulf Bidboland Gas Refining Company. They protested the company recruitment policy, which discriminates against native workers.

Tuesday, November 30

A number of the victims of financial frauds from financial institution Caspian assembled in front of the judiciary building in Tehran to demand the return of their investment, including profits and loss.

 

A number of residents in a nomadic area known as “Sargachineh” in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province protested in front of the provincial governorate building. Residents said that 57 hectares of land have been unlawfully assigned to one person who is not even a native of this area.

For the third consecutive day, families of children with SMA assembled in front of the parliament in Tehran to ask for the import of required medicine for their children.

A number of seasonal workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company assembled at company premises. They had been protesting for several consecutive days to demand that their contract issues be addressed.

Technical workers from various districts assembled at their workplace, Distribution Electrical Company of Tehran, to ask for permanent employment contracts. One of the workers said that many of workers have not been offered a permanent contract after 20 years.

Municipal workers in Khorramshahr City assembled in front of the governorate building to protest against a four-month delay in payments.

Dozens of workers of three copper mining companies in Varzeqan City assembled on company premises. Reportedly, these workers protested against the return of four fired managers.

 

Workers at two companies that are contracting for Petrochemical Company Apadana in Asaluyeh City went on strike to protest against the employers, who failed to keep promises regarding workers’ demands.

The teachers and educators from the Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, Fars, Qom and Khuzestan provinces went on strike and assembled before the buildings of the ministry of education in each province. These teachers demanded the implementation of a plan, which has already been enacted in the parliament and whereby teachers’ income will be raised in accordance with a ranking

Wednesday, December 1

About 120 retired workers of Haft-Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company assembled before the company entrance to protested a miscalculation in benefits.

For the fourth consecutive day, dozens of families with children with SMA assembled in front of parliament in Tehran to ask for the import of required medicine for their children. During this assembly, President Raisi appeared and promised to address this issue in a meeting with that included three representatives from the families.

 

Municipal service workers and gardeners in Kish protested before the building of the Kish Free Zone Organization to protest against low wages and benefits.

 

For the second consecutive day, educators in Qom City assembled before the  provincial Ministry of Education to ask for the implementation of a plan that, though passed by the parliament, have not yet been enacted.

Several retired and working school teachers in Shiraz City went on strike to demand implementation of the afore-mentioned plan.

For the second consecutive day, a number of workers of three copper mining companies in Varzeqan City assembled on company premises.

Thursday, December 2

In response to a call by the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations, retired and working educators in 73 cities across the country assembled in front of the building of the Ministry of Education (or, in Tehran, Parliament) in each city. They demanded the implementation of a plan already enacted by Parliament whereby teachers’ income will be raised in accordance with a ranking.

In Qom City, a number of farmers assembled before a production cooperative company to ask for their water portion. They also protested against heavy fines for unauthorized withdrawals from wells.

For the third consecutive day, dozens of workers at three copper mining companies in Varzeqan City went on a strike and assembled at their company premises.

 

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