Anti-labor mullahs’ regime in Iran couldn’t tolerate even a controlled Labor Day rally

 State authorities in Iran attacked members of the Bus Drivers Union who chanted their own slogans and raised placards in a demonstration staged in Tehran’s Taleghani Avenue. The placards were all rounded up and two syndicate members were arrested.

“Fair pay is our right”, “Release jailed laborers” and “Syndicates are our right,” were the slogans seen on the placards.

Report – Labor Day gatherings in various cities across Iran

Terrified of workers’ anger flaring, the anti-labor mullahs’ regime was forced into holding a completely controlled Labor Day ceremony in Tehran and direct the workers in a very short path for a march. This demonstration was held from Abu Reyhan Avenue to the Taleghani Intersection in Tehran.

However, in this controlled demonstration the workers were seen setting aside restrictions imposed by the regime and chanting slogans such as, “Release jailed laborers”. Furthermore, in contrast to the slogans broadcasted by regime operatives through loudspeakers, the crowd was heard chanting their own slogans demanding their rights.

“Revive job security,” “No more part-time contracts,” “Employment, security and a decent life is our right,” were some of the slogans heard.

The workers raised placards written, “Part time contracts = slavery”. The fed up workers protested the oppressive plans imposed by the mullahs’ regime and wrote in their placards, “Unemployment is the main vice in society”.

On Saturday, April 30^th a large group of workers in Khoramabad, western Iran, rallied outside the regime’s governorate office marking Labor Day and protested cruelty and injustice. Placards raised by these workers read, “This year’s minimum wage is not just” and “We workers are unemployed and demand our legitimate rights.”

Terrified of this rally expanding, the regime’s agents attacked the demonstrators to disrupt the entire gathering. However, the angry workers resisted this attack and continued their demonstrations in smaller pockets until 11:30 am.

Workers in the city of Isfahan marked Labor Day only to face stiff restrictive measures by the police.

Incoming reports indicate laid off workers of the Bisotoun Dairy Company in Kermanshah, western Iran; municipality workers of the 2^nd district in Ilam, western Iran; firefighters of the private sector in Mashhad, northeast Iran; and a group of municipality workers in Isfahan, south-central Iran, all held rallies on May 1^st marking Labor Day and demanding their return to work, receiving their unpaid paychecks and an end to all forms of discrimination.