Iran's oil workers in a strike rally in the south of the country on December 17, 2022
Employees and workers at some industrial and operational units in Iran’s oil sector have gone on strike in several cities in the south of the country.
The protest actions have reportedly taken place in Mahshahr, Ahvaz, Asaluyeh, Gachsaran and Tang-e-Bijar.
Firefighters in Kharg Island and the staff of a chemical studies Company in the southern oil-rich regions have also stopped working on Saturday.
The Telegram channels of the Council for Organizing Oil Contract-Workers' Protests as well as the Free Workers’ Union have published details and photos of these protests.
According to reports, the strikes were held in protest to inattention to the demands of these workers, including higher wages and retirement bonuses.
In its latest statement, the Council for Organizing Oil Contract-Workers' Protests called for a nationwide strike by the workers saying that the move is to protest “lack of job security.”
The strikes are also seen as support for ongoing anti-regime protests. “We all know that executions and repressions serve to enslave us more, and workers would suffer the consequence,” reads the statement.
During the nationwide protests in Iran in the past three months, workers, and employees in various industrial, production and energy sectors have held numerous protest gatherings and strikes.
Low wages, non-payment of arrears, and inattention to their demands have been mentioned as among their main grievances.