Iranian truck-drivers  nationwide strike

Iranian truck drivers have begun another prolonged nationwide strike to protest rising costs and the hollow promises and  deceptive policies of the authorities, two months after an earlier lengthy strike which drew international support by International trade union confederation (ITUC, with 27 million Member), and Trades Union Congress (TUS), and  labor Start (Switzerland), and Industrial global Union(Switzerland), Industrial Workers of the world (IWW- England), and Labor Unions of Italy , CGIL, CISL,UIL, and United Road Transport Union (URTU- England) ,

Numerous cities across the country are witnessing truck drivers launch a new wave of nationwide strikes on Saturday, marking the fifth such movement. According to previously made arrangements, truckers will be on strike until December 31.

Video clips posted online by striking Iranian truck drivers showed trucks being on strike in  in various cities including Ardakan, Hamedan, Arak, Nahavand, Saveh, Shahrud, Neka, Borujerd, Kermanshah, Bardsir, Sirjan, Shahr-e Babak, Sanandaj, Kerman, Qom, Qazvin, Shiraz, Marvdasht, Abadeh, Kazerun, Zahedan, Chabahar, Kashmar, Taybad, Sabzevar, Neyshabur, Mashhad, Garmeh, Nehbandan, Lordegan, Shahr-e Kord, Tehran, Bushehr, Ilam, Semirom, Shahreza, Isfahan, Najaf Abad, Shahin Shahr, Zarrin Shahr, Mobarakeh, Ardabil, Urmia, Tabriz and many more are currently on strike. Signs indicate other cities will join the strike in the upcoming days.

According to Iran News Wire Truck drivers started their nationwide organized strikes during September, truck drivers in 112 cities across Iran launched a nationwide and coordinated strike. This protest was in response to previous calls for such pre-planned measures.

Drivers are protesting low paychecks, high prices for spare parts and not receiving any responses to their demands.

In cities such as Sabzevar, Malayer & Nahavand, angry drivers are seen standing on the road and preventing any driver to leave with loads in their trucks.

As with other protests, Iranian authorities have failed to respond to the needs of the striking truck drivers, during the last 4 round of strike, they attempted to intimidate them and force them to return to work which has not been effective either. However, The Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) and the mullahs’ intelligence apparatus Took repressive measures to 

prevent expansion of strike. for example, The outspoken Haft Tappeh labor representative Esmaeil Bakhshi who is known for his passionate speeches during the workers’ weeks-long strike action, was detained on November 18 on the 14th day of the sugarcane workers’ strike and was released on December 12 on bail. Since his release, he has been absent from workers strikes and other labor activities.

“He was beaten until he was on the verge of death,” the source said adding that some of his ribs were also probably broken. Bakhshi’s relative said: he was severely tortured in detention and was now suffering from severe physical and psychological problems.

To end this, Truck drivers across Iran, continuing their nationwide strike, they are playing a major role to generate further hope in the society.