Thousands of members of the Free Union of Iranian Workers went on strike on Saturday against the Isfahan Steel Company, demanding better working and living conditions and higher wages. The strike was significant in its scale and reach, drawing attention from state news outlets.
The Free Union of Iranian Workers Telegram channel reported that the strike was part of a larger protest against the steel company and its refusal to meet workers’ demands. Workers gathered in front of the management building after marching within the factory premises.
Various media outlets reported that Isfahan steelworkers have been protesting inadequate living conditions and low wages, and are advocating for the proper implementation of a job classification plan, wage equity with other steel companies, and other related items.
Last Sunday, Isfahan steelworkers declared a hunger strike, refusing to accept the company’s food in protest. Fowad Keykhosravi, a board member of the Free Union of Iranian Workers, spoke to VOA about the strike. He said that more than 3,000 workers from various departments of the Isfahan Steel Company – including rolling, casting, converter, tall furnace, agglomeration, coke production, furnaces and other sections – had taken part in the strike.
He added that the protest was made even stronger by the involvement of workers from both the evening and night shifts, alongside their daytime counterparts.
Keykhosravi discussed the demands of the Isfahan steelworkers, saying that their specific demands included the revision and complete implementation of the job classification plan, which has only been partially executed since 2014. He said that workers are asserting their right to wage restoration and a 30% increase before the end of 1402 (the Iranian calendar year ending on March 20), in order to bridge the gap between their wages and the rising cost of living.
He also noted that other demands included increases in bonuses and other wage components, as well as aligning wages with those of other steel companies, including Mobarakeh Steel.
Keykhosravi highlighted that the strength of the protest among Isfahan Steel Company workers was also due to the extensive crackdown on workers’ protests on February 26, 2023. This crackdown involved the deployment of a significant number of special guard forces within the company, the detention of numerous workers, and the implementation of heightened security measures by the company’s security personnel, coupled with recent security threats.
The Fars News Agency, associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, called the protest a “trade union gathering” and reported that the CEO was engaging with the workers. The gathering did not disrupt production, as employees in specific roles continued their work.
Worker protests in different parts of Iran have been increasing in recent years, expressed through strikes, assemblies, and marches. However, the government’s attempts to quell the protests with heightened security and judicial measures have been unsuccessful.
The Isfahan Steel Company strike is a powerful example of the working class standing up for their rights, and is a reminder of the importance of collective action. The strike shows that workers are determined to fight for their rights and will not be intimidated by state repression. It is a sign of hope that workers will continue to demand better working and living conditions, and that their voices will be heard.
