A Report about Kian Tire Workers'
Protest
In continuation of their recent protests, on Monday, the
25th of October, Kian Tire workers gathered at the factory and,
in order to attract the attention of people and officials, set
tires on fire in a place that was visible from Islam Shahr
Highway, opposite to Chardangeh governorate.
Sixteen days ago, Kian Tire workers cast the managers and the
employer out of the factory (1); following this, the management
has tried to deceive the workers by giving them false promises.
Although 2 weeks has passed since these promises were made, none
of them have been realized. During this time, the workers,
without engaging in production, have been present in the factory
every day during the usual working hours.
Last week, in protest of uncertainty [about the factory's
situation (1)], talk about gathering outside Ahmadinejad's
office in protest intensified. In order to decide how to
continue the protest and proceed with their decisions, the
workers held their general assembly on the 17th of October.
Under the pressure generated by the workers' protests, the
governor of Chardangeh was forced to appear in front of the
crowd of protesting workers. The workers stood united against
the governor's excuses and deceptions regarding the [threatened]
closure of the factory, and unanimously shouted, "Instead of all
this nonsense, pay our unpaid wages!" "We condemn layoffs!" The
governor, after making some promises, left the gathering of
protesting workers.
On the 23rd of October, after workers' demands were not
answered, workers gathered in front of the factory's council and
then decided to announce their plan to continue and intensify
their protest until their demands are answered. They gave the
management an ultimatum that if by Sunday the 24th of October,
raw material is not delivered to the factory, and if their
health insurance cards are not renewed, from Monday the 25th of
October, they will gather in protest either in the factory or in
front of Ahmadinejad's office.
On Monday the 25th of October, when the raw material was not
delivered and the factory didn't start production, the workers,
in protest of the uncertainty of the factory situation and their
unanswered demands, gathered in the factory from 10am until 12
noon and set tires on fire. Angry Kian Tire workers pulled down
and set on fire all the banners hanging at the factory that
welcomed the governor of Chardongeh, honoring him as an
exemplary governor. Simultaneously with this protest action,
representatives of the workers were sent to the Ministry of
Industry at 11am to pursue their unanswered demands in a meeting
convened to investigate these demands. The workers'
representatives firmly stood against the threats and deceptions
of the officials of the Ministry of Industry, and emphasized
workers' demands. They declared that they wanted the situation
of the factory clarified, that they wanted payment of unpaid
wages, and that if these demands of the Kian Tire workers are
not answered, all of the Kian Tire factory workers would gather
in front of the Ministry of Industry; they stated that they
would not take any responsibility for the consequences of that
action. As a result of the firm position of the workers'
representatives, the officials of the Ministry of Industry
declared that there is a 5 milliard Touman loan ready to be
issued to the factory, and this loan should be made soon. After
this meeting, the Kian Tire employer also promised that before
the end of the day, he would deposit 50 percent of workers'
September wages to their accounts, and that during the next few
days, 40 tons of raw material would be delivered to the
factory. After the representatives returned to the factory, and
informed the workers of their negotiations, the workers declared
that if the promises made are not realized by Tuesday the 26th
of October, they will resume their protest immediately.
WPI sends its regards to the courageous Kian Tire workers and
calls upon other working divisions to openly declare their
support and sympathy with their fair demands. The presence of
Kian Tire workers' families is a way of expanding the amplitude
of this fair protest.
Down with Islamic Republic
Long Live the Socialist Republic
Worker-communist Party of Iran
27th October 2010
(1) Editor's note: The owner of Kian Tire would make a good sum
of money if he were to close down his factory, despite the fact
that both raw materials and demand in the market exist for this
factory's product. However, many of the Kian Tire workers have
not been paid their wages in months, and if the factory were to
close, they would never get those wages.