Iran: Hundreds of Alborz Lastic workers protest in front of the Labour Ministry

The 1400 workers of Alborz Lastic, formerly Kian Tyre, have not been paid for the past six months. On 5 October hundreds of workers from the plant protested in front of the Labour Ministry in Tehran. They demanded their backpay and full nationalisation of the company.

The 1400 workers of Alborz Lastic, formerly Kian Tyre, have not been paid for the past six months. On 5 October hundreds of workers from the plant protested in front of the Labour Ministry in Tehran. They demanded their backpay and full nationalisation of the company.

Hundreds of Alborz Lastic workers protest in front of the Labour Ministry
Alborz Lastic workers protested in front
of the Labour Ministry in Tehran

The workers of Alborz have been protesting and going on strike since April 2008. The authorities have dealt with them severely: bulldozing their way into the factory to arrest the protesters and even trying to use the firefighters against them. The Alborz Lastic workers have nevertheless continued their struggle for their just rights.

Here we translate the interview of a worker from Alborz Lastic with Radio Barabari (Equality Radio, in exile) on the day of the protest.

"I am one of Alborz company's workers."

Q. "I have heard that today there was a gathering in front of the Labour Ministry or is it still going on? Can you tell us how many are taking part in the protest and what has been the outcome?"

A. "This gathering is because we have not been paid for six months and I've now been a 'fugitive' from my own home for 10 days! That's because I can't look my wife and children in the eye. I'm forced to continue with this gathering.

"Unfortunately whichever of these [government] organisations we go to don't follow up our case seriously. And they don't really pay any attention to us. That's the reason why we were forced to come to the Labour Ministry today and apparently these gentlemen are going to take the final decision about us. And now that we have spoken to these gentlemen, they say that it's nothing to do with them, and the things that the Industry Ministry has told you are not correct and we don't accept the Industry Ministry. We don't recognise the Presidential Office.

"Right now we don't know who's in charge here. Who is recognising anyone? When we go to the Presidential Office, they say that these two offices will deal with our case. When we go to the Industry Office, they say 'we've followed up your case' and they don't accept the Labour Office. When we go to the Labour Office, they say 'we don't recognise the Industry Office' and that they have no right to intervene. So they've left us here, all of us workers are angry … and there's no one looking after us.

"This is, word for word, what they've said and now one [Labour Ministry] person has come and, other than promises, is offering us nothing. They say go to the Social Security [Office]! But Social Security has nothing to do with our case. And they're just 'passing' us over here and over there."

Q. "Can you tell us how many workers are there and if they have their families with them?"

A. "The workers haven't brought their families but I think they will be forced to bring their families as well. Now we've written on our placards 'Mr Minister, we haven't been paid for six months. How about you?' Can you live your life if you haven't been paid your wages for a month? I've been a 'fugitive' from home for the past 10 days. I can't go home anymore. I can't face it.

"Now it's the school term and it has a lot of costs and I can't pay these costs. Many of these workers have developed family problems: after 20 years together they've become separated [from their wives]. I'm worried and am grateful that nothing bad has happened yet and that none of our workmates has committed suicide - there's a possibility of this at any time. There's no one to take up our issues."

Q. "I heard a few days ago that one of the employers has said that they want to promote some workers. What is this about, when they haven't paid you for six months?"

A. "What do promotions have to do with anything?! We haven't been paid for six months! Damn their job promotions! We don't want promotions. We haven't been for four months' overtime and they don't even pay our basic wages, let alone promotions. Social Security also doesn't want to sign and approve our benefit books. We have problems with getting medical care and seeing a doctor. Our problem isn't just about wages and the money in our pockets!"

Q. "Right now how many workers like you haven't been paid?"

A. "Look, we haven't been paid for five months and they have to pay one month's advance and our new year bonus. This makes it six months and there are about 1360 of us workers."

Q. "Why have they paid it to some workers and not to others?"

A. "They haven't paid it to anyone. If these gentlemen say they've paid worker, then 'they're mocking his father's grave', 'they're mocking his ancestors' graves'! I'm sorry for speaking so bluntly … I have a degree, I have worked [for the company] for over 25 years. I have paid insurance for 25 years.

Q. "Why isn't your case progressing and why aren't you getting paid?"

A. "I'm not going to go into the major issues of these events. I'm just explaining my problems. Ultimately it's clear that there are major problems and there are plans that mean our rights get trashed. There are plans! But I want my wages because my wife and children are hungry. Now whatever issue or plan there is then they should put it into action, but they should pay our wages."

Q. "What do you want to do now? Are you going to have another gathering?"

A. "We contacted you so that you can hear about the workers' misery, and so that we can have access to the freedom-loving people of the world. I'm talking to you on behalf of all the workers of the factory, [the worker breaks down and starts crying] … I cry so that people of the world know what hardships we're suffering in this country. They've made us destitute. No one is looking after us.

"We will not surrender. We will fight until the last drop of our blood to defend our rights."

Translated by: Iranian Workers' Solidarity Network


Alborz Lastic, formerly Kian Tyre, is the oldest tyre manufacturer in Iran. It was founded in 1958 as the BF Goodrich subsidiary in Iran and re-named Kian Tyre in 1976 after it was sold to Iranian capitalists. After the revolution it was nationalised and in 1994 it was partly (60%) privatised.  In 2001 it was re-named Alborz Lastic. To read more about the struggles of Alborz Lastic workers see the special page.