We Support the Nationwide Strike of the Workers of the Oil Contracting Companies and their Demands!

We Support the Nationwide Strike of the Workers of the Oil Contracting Companies and their Demands!

The righteous protests of contract workers in refineries, petrochemicals, and power plants due to the non-response to their demands by contractors and managers of the Ministry of Petroleum (POM), went on a nationwide strike on June 21 with the call of the "Council for Organizing Protests of Oil Contracting Workers". Today, around 25 companies, including workers of Damavand Petrochemical projects, workers of Tehran Jonoob Company in Mahshahr Port, contract workers of Abadan Refinery, Asaluyeh workers, workers of Rajan Company in Adish Refinery, workers of Kayhan Pars in Isfahan also joined the general strike of workers called "Campaign 1400". The strike and demands of the striking workers have the support of all contracting and permanent workers and employees of the oil industry. The demands of the striking workers in the oil industry are the same as the demands of the Iranian workers and are supported by them. This is the second strike in the oil and petrochemical industry in less than a year since August 2020.

A large proportion of workers either have a temporary or project base contract and, as a result, do not have job security. In this regard, we can mention the dismissal of 700 project workers on June 21st.

The most important demands of the workers in this strike are wage increase to 12 million Tomans (~US$500) per month in proportion to the growth of prices, determination of wages in other wage levels with the consent of the elected workers' representative, proper implementation of job classification, direct employment of contract workers by The National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), increase of vacations, improvement of health status, and safety of the environment and working conditions. The strike comes as the contracting companies refuse to implement last year's NIOC management directive to classify jobs, raise wages and comply with labor law, but in response to workers' protests they started shortening contracts, reducing wages and benefits, and increasing pressure on workers. This strike is an appropriate response to the behavior of the employers and their regime official supporters, who take every opportunity to deprive the workers of their rights. Another significance of this strike is that it is coincided with the appointment of someone who intends to make a series of new changes against workers' rights at the request of the Chamber of Commerce. Changes that will worsen both the working and living conditions of workers. In a similar reaction to these actions, the official workers of the oil industry have given the management of the MOP until June 30th to end the violation of their rights. They will go on strike if they do not receive a positive answer.

The Left Party of Iran (People’s Fadaian) supports the nationwide strike of contract workers in the oil industry and calls on other workers and left, democratic and pro-justice forces to do whatever they can to support the righteous strike and demands of oil workers which are the demands of all workers and wage earners. The success of this strike and the failure of the anti-labor goals of the contractors and their supporting and collaborating government are crucial at this time, as employers and the government are preparing for a new attack on the rights of the working people. Strike is part of the trade union rights of workers and wage earners. We condemn any use of force to suppress the strike and call for strict observance of workers' union rights and for recognition of the demands of the striking oil workers based on recognized labor rights.

Political-Executive Board of the Left Party of Iran (People’s Fadaian)

June 23, 2021