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Iran and the international trade union movement

Assistant general secretary of the global union federation IndustriALL KEMAL OZKAN spoke to Liberation about the current labour struggles in Iran, from teachers to oil workers

Could you tell us about the situation of trade unions in Iran today? Are they recognised by the authorities and free to organise? How strong are they? What are the key challenges they face?
 

FROM the start, the Islamic Republic has sought to portray itself as a guarantor of labour rights. This was done to co-opt the thriving labour movement, which had been a driving force in the revolution, and to undermine the left.
 
This ended with the sharp dictatorial turn of the regime in the early 1980s and the bloody suppression of the left-wing opposition groups. Despite the provisions of the revised (1989) constitution, which protects the right to form and be active in a trade union, the Islamic Republic does not tolerate independent trade union activities of any kind and has a long and brutal track record of suppression in this respect. Its default response is intimidation, violence, and repression.
  
Because of their struggles, unions and their activists enjoy huge support among the general population and are afforded a lot of respect. The regime is acutely aware of this and labour activists remain the largest of the contingents among Iran’s significant population of political prisoners. Several activists have already served long or repeated sentences of imprisonment.
 
Concerns relating to the workplace are at the forefront of the public’s consciousness. A recent example is the ongoing struggle of Iranian teachers and education workers — represented by the Iranian Teachers Trade Association (ITTA) and their confederation; the Co-ordinating Council of Iranian Teachers Trade Associations (CCITTA).

Not only were they one of the prominent trade unions that supported the recent “woman, life, freedom” protest movement, but they have also continued their gatherings and vigils despite constant harassment and huge pressure from the regime.
 
The campaign for the release of long-time political prisoner and former secretary of the ITTA, Esmail Abdi, is just one of several pertaining to activists from this union. It is testament to their resolve that the teacher union activists currently account for one of the highest proportions of political prisoners from any single organisation in Iran today.
 
 

There have been many stories about the regime’s abuse of workers’ rights and repression of those who demand fair pay and decent working conditions. How does the ITUC respond? Does the ILO intervene?

 
Iran is in breach of its obligations under core ILO Conventions. However, because independent trade unions are not recognised by the regime and are forced to operate underground, bodies such as ITUC and ILO have limited avenues to act.

Complaints are submitted — including at the Committee on Application of Standards (CAS) during the ILO’s International Labour Conference — but there are no effective sanctions that can be applied, and regime representatives do not engage in genuine efforts to address concerns.
 
 

In what ways is IndustriALL able to put pressure on the Iranian government to abide by core ILO conventions, including 87 and 98?
 

Generally, when faced with violations of workers’ rights in a repressive regime, IndustriALL has two avenues for applying pressure: diplomatically, by lobbying governments, the ILO and other agencies, and economically, by putting pressure on multinational companies operating in the country, their supply chain and their investors.
 
None of these mechanisms are very effective in Iran. The sanctions regime means that the economy is largely self-contained, with few global investors that can be leveraged, and Iran’s diplomatic isolation means that it is largely immune to these efforts.
 
IndustriALL has sought dialogue with the Iranian government, arguing that establishing an industrial relations system that accords with international standards would benefit the country, but has always been rebuffed.
 
We believe that change in Iran will come from within, with workers and citizens fighting for and winning their rights. Our role is to support them during this process and to be at hand to offer both solidarity and technical assistance in strengthening unions.
 
We also believe that constantly highlighting cases of imprisoned trade unionists helps maintain international awareness and prevents them from disappearing into the prison system.
 
 

Current industrial action by contracted project workers in the oil, gas and petrochemical sector in Iran is expanding. As the global union covering this sector could you give some background and explain the strikers’ demands?
 

Our affiliate the Union of Metalworkers and Mechanics of Iran (UMMI), reports that instead of working with trade unions to find practical solutions to resolve conflict and meet workers’ demands, the authorities rely on threats and intimidation.
 
This does not create industrial harmony in the oil industry, a major industry in Iran and a key source of revenue. Over the past five years, tension has been growing: workers work in very challenging conditions in temperatures that often reach 50 degrees centigrade, with inadequate facilities. When workers protested in July 2018, the protest was violently suppressed and four worker leaders were detained, tortured, and imprisoned.
 
In 2020 the workers reorganised, and in August 2020, UMMI and the workers’ co-ordinating committee organised the first nationwide strike, with 45,000 workers on oil and gas projects taking part. This was a success, with employers agreeing to increase wages according to a matrix prepared by the committee.
 
In April last year, oil and gas project workers embarked on another nationwide strike. This time, the demands were for a 79 per cent pay increase, and wages and social security contributions that reflect skill levels and shift patterns. While 4,000 workers went on strike initially, by May Day, this had grown to 60,000.

Last April also saw the strike of 5,000 workers at Bushehr Petrochemical Site where an agreement was reached to respect the legal rights of the workers. A 38 per cent salary increase was implemented, and the workers returned to work. This sets a precedent for employers negotiating with and reaching an agreement with a workers’ representative.
 
 

It has been reported that 4,000 of the protesting workers will be fired and replaced. What can IndustriALL, the ITUC or ILO do about these repressive actions of the Iranian regime?
 

There is very little that can be done from outside Iran. The solution lies in the unity of Iranian workers.
 
The unity of the workers and awareness gained in contact with trade unions, means no worker has gone to work in this area. Where employers have tried to recruit strike-breakers, many of these recruits have also joined the strike. The threats have led to greater worker solidarity.
 

How does IndustriALL publicise these actions to attract international attention and promote solidarity with the striking workers?

 
We regularly publish news on our website, write open letters to the regime and organise campaigns through LabourStart. Our message is not to portray Iranian workers and unions as victims but as powerful and influential organisations.

The fact that oil and gas project workers are able to win their demands on wages, shift cycles and working and living conditions through co-ordinated unofficial action shows the strength of the Iranian movement, despite the fact that it is forced to operate underground.

We want to communicate this strength. We want to demonstrate to the international community that the true opposition to the regime lies within the country, and is rooted in the workplaces and factories.

Kemal Ozkan will be speaking at a Liberation webinar Iran — the people v dictatorship, for Peace and popular sovereignty, 7pm on Tuesday May 16. Register at www.liberationorg.co.uk/events.

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