We congratulate the International Workers Day and call on the workers for unity and solidarity!
The first of May of this year is coinciding with the 100th anniversary of celebrating the International Workers Day in Iran. We congratulate International Workers' Day to all workers and activists of freedom, social justice and socialism. We cherish the memory of all the fighters around the world, from Chicago to Tehran, who lost their lives or suffered imprisonment in order to eradicate exploitation, tyranny, discrimination and inequality.
The first official commemoration ceremony of May 1st was held in Tehran exactly 100 years ago by the organizers of the first trade union of Iran (the United Council of Trade Unions), which was founded in the atmosphere created by the Constitutional Revolution. Since then, despite the legalization of Labor Day within Labor Laws in 1946 and 1990, except for short periods of time when the breeze of freedom started to blow due to political upheaval or power vacuum, workers have not been allowed to celebrate International Workers' Day independently, like other workers in many other countries. During the last independent Labor Day event held in Tehran on the first of May last year, police attacked the gathering and they arrested dozens of participants and sentenced some detainees to prison terms.
Dear struggling workers,
The International Workers Day belongs to us, belongs to you. No one has the right to prevent the celebrations. At a time when you workers are under pressure from all sides and your rights are being attacked more than ever by the exploiters and capitalists, you need more than ever solidarity and unity to defend your rights. The International Workers Day is an opportunity for solidarity and a collective protest against the oppressive neoliberal, cronyism and conservative policies of the government. It is the day to demand the rights of the workers. The more solidarity and unity you have on this day, the sooner you achieve your goals. There is no other way but unity, local and national organizational solidarity and increasing protests and strikes. Continue your struggles. The Left Party of Iran (People's Fadaian) will support your just struggles with all its might.
Dear workers and toilers,
Celebrate the International Workers Day shoulder to shoulder in every way possible. Take part in an independent ceremony held on this occasion by following the Corona epidemic's protocols and demand your rights from the government and corporations.
Use cyberspace services to hold International Workers' Day as largely as possible and to make your voice heard, organize joint protests and exchange views. The regime cannot stop you from celebrating this special day virtually. The International Workers Day symbolizes the solidarity of labor movements and their common protest against exploitation, discrimination, injustice and inequality imposed by capitalists and the capitalist system on workers around the world. This day is the workers' struggle for achieving the rights that they were deprived of before the beginning of labor movements, such as the 8 hours per day working regulation. They accomplished those rights as a result of consistent, united, organized and solidarity struggles in many countries and they now enjoy their rights to varying degrees. In addition to achieving parts of their rights, during this period the workers were able to significantly transform and democratize the socio-political atmosphere of their societies by forming trade unions and political parties and participating in political movements. In every country where the workers were more organized and stronger, they were equally more prosperous and a deeper and wider democracy was established in those societies. In our country, thanks to the selfless struggles of workers and strong parties and trade unions, significant achievements have been accomplished in certain periods of time during the past 100 years but a large part of these achievements have been plundered by the revival of dictatorial and authoritarian regimes and the suppression of labor organizations by them. Strive to dismantle the system of tyranny and establish freedom and democracy which are the pre-requisite requirements for protecting your rights and improving your working and living conditions. Experiences gained from different countries teach us that it is not possible to maintain and promote the achievements of the global labor movement even in the most developed and wealthy countries without maintaining solidarity and strong organization and democracy.
Compatriot workers and toilers,
The Corona epidemic has spread due to the recklessness and senseless secrecy of government leaders and agents and their refusal to take timely and effective preventive measures in a catastrophic manner. This disease has taken the lives of many of our compatriots. It is evident that the government is not willing to confront Corona epidemic seriously without public pressure. You must demand the immediate purchase of the standard Corona vaccines and its free distribution, the free treatment of patients and the protection of livelihood of the unemployed and patients affected by this epidemic. Protest against discriminatory policies and the monetization of vaccines and treatments and the plans which give preference to the wealthy class.
Frozen wages below the poverty line, unprecedented intensification of exploitation of temporary contracts, lack of job safety, livelihood and social security, increasing the insurance premiums and the cost of medicine and treatment, increasing gender discrimination against women, sky-rocketing the incidents at work places due to unstandardized health regulation are the consequences of the repression of workers' organizations and the domination of capitalists and tyranny. Widespread structural corruption, deepening the gap between poor and rich, presence of poverty and unemployment are other problems in our society which are rooted in the neoliberal and conservative government policies and inequitable distribution of revenues and looting of state capital by government affiliates.
Fight these destructive policies that have robbed you of your achievements and have imposed modern slavery on you. These policies have pushed most of you to the brink of starvation. Unite and fight together with the movements and progressive forces defending freedom and social justice to eradicate the government policies and replace them with a new plan.
The regime has deprived you of the right to organize and legal strikes. It has abolished workers' protective laws and prevented you from forming independent unions. It is your right to form trade union and participate in political activities and going on strike. Protest against the deprivation of trade union rights, the imprisonment of trade union and political leaders, and spare no effort to secure their freedom.
Do not take part in mandated elections that strengthen your class enemies and oppressors and strengthen the foundations of tyranny and persuade people to refrain from doing so. So far, no government has formed a parliament that has not taken away some of your rights and changed the laws against you. Condemn the fake elections and call for the unconditional rights for allowed movements of trade unions and parties, release of political prisoners, the abolition of censorship, the holding of free elections and the trial and punishment of perpetrators of political crimes and thieves and looters of the country's wealth.
Condemn and demand the lifting of economic sanctions that incite recession and unemployment and give the government an excuse to cover up its inefficiency, corruption and anti-social policies.
Protecting the rights and interests of workers and toilers is one of the main components of the program and priorities of the Left Party of Iran. That is why our party attaches special importance to the struggles of the workers and for the defense and promotion of their rights. We have always supported your struggles and demands and will continue to do so. All the demands that the workers are fighting for are reflected in our party program and they are the main targets of the struggle of the Left Party of Iran (People's Fadaian).
Long live the unity and solidarity of the Iranian workers' Struggle!
Long live May 1st, the day of global solidarity and united combat of workers!
Executive Board of the Left Party of Iran (People's Fadaian)
April 29, 2021
Add new comment