Haftapeh sugar factory strike continues

By: Hassan.Mahmoudi

Despite rhetoric by the Iranian president, Aug. 5 resumption of U.S. sanctions against Iran had a great impact on Iran’s internal situation.

Employees of the Haft Tappeh sugar mill

company in Shush, southwest Iran, are continuing their strike and protests on Sunday for the 14^th consecutive day. This movement is gaining momentum despite measures by authorities dispatching anti-riot units to prevent any such gatherings.

see this video:

 https://youtu.be/xJD65eWQgks

The protesting workers entered the city of Shush and rallied outside the mayor’s office to voice their demands.

The workers were chanting:

“Neither prison nor threats are no longer effective”

“No fear, we’re all together”

Following Friday’s protests, Authorities were attempting to prevent Saturday’s rally yet the brave protesters in Shush proved their efforts futile. The large crowd of Haft Tappeh employees, along with their families, are courageously continuing their protests and steadfast in opposing privatization plans and demanding their delayed paychecks.

See this Video:

 https://youtu.be/oacl89nIjGQ

Jafar Azimzadeh, Director of the Free Workers Union called on all locals in Shush, domestic and international labor unions and organizations, and employees of the Oil Company in Khuzestan to rise in support of the protesting Haft Tappeh workers.

The Iranian opposition coalition National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) issued a statementon these ongoing protests.

Frustrated workers of Haft Tappeh Sugar Cane Industrial Complex continued their strike for the twelfth day on Friday, November 16, with a rally in front of the governorate of Shush and demonstrations in the streets of the city. They chanted: “Do not be afraid, do not be afraid, we are all together”, “Lest we accept humiliation”. In protesting against the destruction of this economic magnet of the country by the clerical regime, in a symbolic action, workers carried the coffin of the Haft Tappeh sugar cane and chanted: “Today is a day of mourning”. The workers who are from different parts of the mill then gathered at the venue of the Friday prayers show of the regime, and by turning their back to the speaker of the ceremony, and by chanting “Facing the homeland, back to the enemy”, “the worker dies, he does not accept humiliation”, “Death to the oppressor; Peace be upon the Worker” interrupted these hypocritical and deceptive ceremonies.

The Haft Tappeh Sugar Cane Industrial Complex has about 4,000 official permanents and on contract workers. The new round of worker’s strike is taking place in protest against the non-payment of months of salary, insurance claims and other arrears, and the livelihood conditions of all the workers. Workers call for the establishment of independent labor councils and the determination of the status of this large economic complex of the country. The regime’s authorities and plundering employer refuse to deal with the legitimate demands of workers by giving hollow promises.

Saluting the strikers, Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the Iranian Resistance, said: “The workers of the Haft Tappeh Sugar Cane Mill, with the slogan ‘Neither threats, nor imprisonment, has no longer any effect’, have risen up against the oppression on the workers, and with the slogan ‘We are hungry’, call on every noble human being for the uprising against the clerical plunderer regime.” She urged the international human rights organizations and trade and labor unions around the world to support the striking workers in Iran.

Hassan Mahmoudi is a human rights advocate, specializing in political and economic issues relating to Iran and the Middle East. @hassan_mahmou1