We support the struggle and demands of educators

We support the struggle and demands of educators

It is essential for students' families to accompany teachers

The working and retired teachers and educators held a three days protest on January 29, 30 and 31 organized by the 'Coordination Council of Cultural Organizations' in the form of sit-in in schools. They also held numerous and glorious protest rallies in the centers of different provinces and cities to force the government and parliament to accept their demands. The protests, in spite of all the threats of the repressive structures of the regime, were held with more participants and they were more organized than the protests of the previous months.

The attack of the repressive forces on peaceful rallies in some cities on February 26, and the arrest of 7 trade union activists and the announcement of a sentence of 4.5 years in prison for Jafar Ebrahimi, the inspector of the 'Coordination Council of Cultural Organizations', failed. On the same day, the repressors could not prevent the successful and glorious holding of this nationwide protest movement, which extended from the large cities to remote rural areas. This, in turn, forced the repressive forces to release the majority of detainees.

The most important demands of employed and retired teachers are grade setting and equalization in job qualification, the release of imprisoned teachers, and free education. The rejection of the grade setting bill by the Guardian Council was also one of the topics of the teachers' three-day protest, which was effective in widening the scope of the protest

The spread of teachers' protests shows that the government cannot stop the protests by suppressing and refusing to accept the demands of the working people who demand wages above the poverty line and the right to organize. Workers and teachers cannot demand less than the basics.

Wage increases have now become the demand of all wage earners, including teachers, workers and employees. To achieve this common it requires a joint, simultaneous and comprehensive struggle with the support of these groups for each other. Therefore, it is urgent that existing organizations redouble their efforts to organize joint movements to overcome political barriers and organizational blockades and gaining better wages and salaries. Scattered protests are ineffective and can easily be repressed but widespread protests cannot be easily suppressed and ignored.

The Executive Political Board of the Left Party of Iran (People's Fadaian) once again expresses its solidarity with the just struggle of educators and declares its support for the continuation of the fight until their goal is achieved. The board calls on party members and supporters, wherever they are and in whatever way they can, to support and accompany teachers in their democratic and justice seeking struggle and not to allow the government to suppress this historic and groundbreaking civil movement. We condemn the arrest and imprisonment of leaders and members of the 'Coordination Council of Cultural Organizations' by the government and call on all freedom fighters to organize a joint struggle with the families of political prisoners to force the regime to release imprisoned teachers and other political and civil prisoners.

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

February 2, 2022