May Day 2000!

Workers Vowed General Protests in Iran!


The First of May, the International Workers’ Day, is fast approaching. For all workers that are affected by the global capitalism’s offensive on the rights and achievements won by the world’s working class in the past two centuries, for millions of people that are struggling fervently against the current backward and inhuman market order, and for the working people in countries with repressive and reactionary regimes, the First of May has a crucial meaning more than ever before.

Working people in countries such as Iran are facing ultra hardship. The majority of people in Iran live in dire poverty. There are massive unemployment and underemployment. Unemployment among youth, the highest percentage of Iran's population, and women is extremely high. The largest part of working class is not covered by unemployment insurance benefits, and for those eligible, it is not being enforced properly. Average wages are considerably lower than the average costs of living. Inflation is very high and nearly all working people have lost their purchasing power, even for basic needs such as food, clothing and housing. More than 500 manufacturing plants and workplaces with the workforce of at least 400,000 have not been paying wages to their employees in the past 6 to 24 months. Just two months ago, the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Parliament) passed a new bill exempting workshops with a workforce of five or less from provisions stipulated in the labour law for a period of six years. This will severely affect approximately 3 million workers who are employed in thousands of small workshops throughout Iran. Nearly two million workers from Afghanistan, Iraq and a few other countries are not cover
by any labour law or social security programs. Gender apartheid against women, Political suppression of opposition and gross violation of freedom of expression and other internationally recognized human rights are an every day reality in Iran. Only a couple days ago, the regime’s authorities banned at least 12 publications including some mainstream daily newspapers.

Working people in Iran are fighting back against the regime and the ruling class under enormously repressive and unfavorable conditions with no right to organize freely or strike. Despite this, Workers are vigorously mobilizing to stand up for their rights and freedoms. Direct and independent actions such as sit-ins, strikes, demonstrations and blockage of roads have been some of the methods used by workers in their recent struggles. Workers have promised if the new anti-labour bill were not withdrawn, a national strike and protest movement would be launched on May Day 2000. On this May Day, Workers are striving for the realization of many pressing demands including:

• Immediate withdrawal of the new anti-worker bill that exempts workshops with five or less employees from labour legislation
• Immediate payment of all unpaid wages
• The unconditional right to organize free and independent workers’ organizations
• The right to strike
• Unconditional end to any form of systematic violation of freedom of expression and other internationally recognized human rights and freedoms for all people in Iran
• Immediate end to any form of discrimination against immigrant workers, which are predominantly from Afghanistan and Iraq
• Immediate end to all kinds of gender apartheid rules and systematic discriminations against women in the workplace, employment, laws and in society at large
• Wage increase according to actual rate of inflation
• Establishment, implementation and enforcement of sufficient unemployment insurance benefits, pension benefits and other essential income security programs for all workers (employed, unemployed, immigrants, injured, disabled and retired)
  
  
  Current Attacks on workers in Iran are a part of the contemporary global onslaught by capitalists and their governments on workers’ international rights and achievements. Workers and their organizations and all progressive groups must confront this global offensive internationally and with more determination than ever before. On May Day 2000, Let’s once again demonstrate that workers’ solidarity knows no border!