Over the past three days, Iran has witnessed several protests and strikes across various sectors, highlighting the country’s deep-seated economic and political discontent.
On June 21, oil sector workers across Iran initiated strikes demanding higher pay, job security, and the implementation of a 14-days-on, 14-days-off work schedule. These strikes are particularly notable given the harsh working conditions oil rig workers face.
Workers on Lavan Island, part of the Iranian Offshore Oil Company, resumed their protests, emphasizing unmet demands for changes to wage determination policies, management overhaul, and other basic needs. Similar strikes were reported among project workers in several oil companies, including those in Esfahan, where workers at the Sepahan Oil Project walked off their jobs.
The Council for Organizing Oil Contract Workers (Arkan Sales) reported that project workers had previously warned they would protest if their demands were not met by the end of June. Consequently, workers from companies like Dasht Abbas, Samin, and Zamanpour Scaffolding Contractors began their strikes on June 20, demanding increased wages and the 14/14 work schedule.
According to reports, additional protest nuclei are forming across various project sectors. These workers are calling for the elimination of contractors and insisting on equal wages and working conditions for all oil and gas industry employees, regardless of their employment status.
Contract workers of Isfahan Sepahan project join the strikes of oil workers, demanding higher pay and better working conditions.#Iran #IranProtestspic.twitter.com/FU0CuaEjjn
— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) June 21, 2024
The unrest extended beyond the oil sector. Project workers at the Salman Farsi Petrochemical Plant joined the strike, demanding similar conditions. Telegram channels associated with labor and retiree unions reported that workers from 30 companies in refineries, petrochemicals, and other oil, gas, and power facilities, mainly in southern Iran, handed over their tools and went home. More than 3,000 workers have reportedly joined the campaign, pushing for eliminating contractors, ensuring job security, the 14/14 work schedule, and wage increases.
On June 20, Health Ministry retirees gathered in Tehran to protest the regime’s anti-human and plundering policies. They chanted slogans demanding the resignation of incompetent officials, reflecting their frustration with the government’s handling of economic and social issues.
In a report published on Thursday, June 20, the state-run newspaper Etemad highlighted that “an examination of labor protests over the past 27 months, from the beginning of 2022 to June of this year, shows that during this period, thousands of coal, copper, iron ore, and chrome miners in the provinces of Kerman, Mazandaran, Yazd, Razavi Khorasan, South Khorasan, and Semnan have held protests ranging from a few hours to several days and weeks, demanding their legal rights.”
The report further noted, “Of the 12 labor protests by miners during these 27 months, 10 protests centered on wage increases and several months of delayed payments. The lines of protesting coal miners were notably longer, indicating that the exploitation of underground miners’ rights is more widespread.”
June 21—Lavan Island, southern #Iran
Workers of the Iranian Offshore Oil Company resume protests as authorities continue to ignore their demands for changes to the wage determination policies, change in the company's management, and other basic needs. #IranProtests pic.twitter.com/sJ1aFGQKvE— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) June 21, 2024
On June 20, Health Ministry retirees in Tehran held a protest against the regime’s policies in front of the Retirement Fund office. The demonstrators called for the resignation of the regime’s authorities.
Meanwhile, in a stark display of the regime’s brutal tactics, security forces in Zahedan violently attacked and demolished the home of a marginalized Baluch family on June 19. The homeowner described the assault, which involved around 100 armed officers arriving in 50 vehicles at 5 AM. The family, including five children, was forcibly evicted, and the house was destroyed. The authorities demanded a payment of 30 million tomans to avoid demolition, which the family could not afford.
The strikes and protests over the past few days underscore the widespread discontent among various sectors of Iranian society. These actions reflect growing frustration with the regime’s inability to address economic hardships and systemic corruption.
Amid this backdrop, Iranian officials continue to insist on the importance of voter turnout in the upcoming elections, portraying it as a means to counter their insolvable domestic and international challenges. However, the ongoing protests and strikes paint a different picture, one of a populace increasingly disillusioned with the status quo and willing to take to the streets to demand change.
Furthermore, on June 20, PMOI Resistance Units continued to commemorate the anniversary of the 1981 massacre, where the regime’s security forces opened fire on a peaceful protest by over 500,000 PMOI supporters and members. This day marked the beginning of the all-out resistance against the mullahs’ regime. Since then, the regime has executed and killed more than 120,000 members of the Iranian Resistance.
On June 20, 1981, the Iranian regime's security forces opened fire on the peaceful protest of more than 500,000 PMOI supporters and members. Since that day, the regime has executed and killed more than 120,000 members of the Iranian Resistance.
June 20 marked the beginning of the… pic.twitter.com/wfzWZWzVbL— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) June 21, 2024
PMOI Resistance Units across #Iran commemorate the anniversary of June 20, 1981, which marks the beginning of the all-out resistance against the brutal rule of the mullahs.#PMOI #ResistanceUnits pic.twitter.com/Xw4SumrT1F
— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) June 20, 2024