In Defence of Marxism

Workers, labour activists, freedom-loving people of Iran!

The workers of the Haft Tapeh Sugar Cane mill in Shush city in Khuzestan province [in southern Iran] have been on strike and have been holding protests for around two weeks.

After they stopped work the workers got on the factory's transport buses and went the 10 kilometre distance from the factory to the Governor's Office. Even though they were surrounded by the security forces three times, they got through and by gathering in front of the Governor's Office widened their protest. This led to the riot police being called in and the violent response against those gathered led to a number of workers being injured.

The workers of Haft Tapeh Sugar Cane have not received their wages for three months. The reason for this is the sale of a huge section of the factory's agricultural land and the sacking of 2000 workers by the factory's management.

The reason for the land sale is the government's reckless sugar imports during the past two years.

The striking workers have so far posed a number of demands:
- permanent jobs for contract workers,
- [the right to form] independent workers' organisations,
- [the right to] live in houses owned by the factory,
- a stop to the sale of factory land,
- payment of unpaid wages,
- implementing the job evaluation scheme,
- a pay rise.

The Haft Tapeh Sugar Cane workers have written letters to international organisations like the ITUC and ILO setting out their problems and have asked that their demands be met and that they are allowed to return to work.

After the workers' protests widened the management and officials backed down and have paid one month's unpaid wages to the workers.

We ask the independent tendencies and all labour activists and workers of factories and production units to support the Haft Tapeh Sugar Cane workers in any way they can, including issuing statements, fundraising and so on. They should also declare their solidarity with the Haft Tapeh workers in any way they can.

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Co-operation Council of Labour Organisations and Activists
19 October 2007

Translated by Iranian Workers' Solidarity Network