2020-07-10

In a situation where in Iran, the corona pandemic kills hundreds of people daily, in Haft Tappeh Sugar Cane, more than thousand workers are protesting in the streets in the heat of more than 55 degrees Celsius and in front of the Governor’s Office of the Islamic government. Workers’ lives are in danger due to corona virus on the one hand and bullets fired by the armed forces of the Islamic Republic on the other. Workers in this critical situation throw themselves to death because they see no other alternatives. The government, with its indifference and unresponsiveness to the workers, has pursued a policy of silence and indifference so that the workers either die in the streets as a result of covid-19, heat and hunger, or surrender to the status quo. Workers have vowed to continue protesting and staying on the streets. They are not alone. Currently, there are dozens of strikes and protest rallies in Iran on a daily basis, and the regime is engaged in the policy of state terrorism and paying for proxy wars in Yemen, Syria, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Islamic Jihad in Palestine, and so on. The regime is jeopardizing the development and spending of workers’ resources to acquire nuclear weapons in the region. The oppressed workers and toiling masses in Iran need class solidarity of the workers around the world.

Below is the statement of Haft Tappeh workers’ strike and demands:

Haft Tappeh strike: 25th day – demonstration in Shush

On July 9th, 2020, the 25th day of their latest strike, workers in Haft Tappeh Sugar Cane Company once again took their struggle into the heart of the town of Shush, Khuzestan province in Iran.

After speeches outside the Governor’s Office, the workers and their families marched along various streets in Shush. Despite the 50-plus Celsius temperature, the workers re-iterated their main demands, particularly revoking privatisation.

The following are the workers’ main demands, as published on the Haft Tappeh Sugar Cane Company workers’ independent channel on Telegram.

• Immediate payment of unpaid wages and renewal of insurance booklets
• Immediate reinstatement of all sacked workmates
• Immediate arrest of Asadbeigi and life sentences for Asadbeigi and Rostami*
• Divest Haft Tappeh’s fraudster employer and the private sector
• Return all embezzled wealth to the workers
• End retired managers’ employment.

Source: Haft Tappeh Sugar Cane Company workers’ independent Telegram channel

* Omid Asadbeigi is the former CEO and Mehrdad Rostami the Chairman of the Board of Haft Tappeh. Both are free and leading the oppression of labours despite of currently on trial for fraud.

Bureau of International Relations of the Communist Party of Iran

10 July 2020