Nurses Protest against the Denial of their Demands

 

January 22, 2005 - Since last week, Iranian nurses have held a number of protest gatherings and sit ins. This is the sixth time over the last two years that such protests have taken place.

 

Although attempts had been made to obtain permission for these protests, the Iranian authorities not only refused to issue such a permit they threatened protest organizers. University authorities warned nurses working in University hospitals that they risked losing their jobs should they stage a sit-in.

 

In this week’s protests nurses held placards with slogans such as:

‘Privatisation means slave wages for nurses’, ‘privatisation means further exploitation of nurses’, ‘making nurses redundant endangers patients lives’ …

 

The main demands of the nurses are the following:

 

1-     Provision to increase the nursing workforce. (although the population of Iran has doubled over the last 25 years and the number of doctors has increased considerably, total number of nurses has decreased.)

2-     To recognise the work of nurses in hospitals and private clinics as hard and hazardous occupation.

3-     Reform of the job classification scheme and a complete halt in privatisation of nursing care in State hospitals.

4-     The immediate and unconditional Payment of the 20-milliard Tomans funds passed by the Iranian Majles (parliament) to improve nurses’ pay and encourage nursing education and training.

5-     Inclusion of the term ‘expertise’ in the nursing regulations

6-     An end to discrimination against nurses and full implementation of a fair pay equity system.

 

 

 The IASWI urges all concerned organizations and individuals to support Iranian nurses and send protest letters to the Iranian authorities in support of their demands.

 

 

International Alliance in Support of Workers in Iran (IASWI)

 

Please send your protest letters to:

 

Mohammad Khatami, President

Islamic Republic of Iran

Palestine Avenue, Azarbaijan Intersection

Tehran, Iran

Fax: 98-21-674790

Email: [email protected]

 

Please send a copy of your protest letter or a report on your actions to:

International Alliance in Support of Workers Rights in Iran

[email protected]

P.O.Box 1164 Station Q,

Toronto, Ontario, M4T 2P4

Canada