“مردم ما به دنبال آرامش و آرامش در جهان هستند.”

“Our people are seeking peace and tranquility in the world.”
Majid Dari

Workers of Haft Tappeh and Foolad Khuzestan were able to start a new season of labor-civil protests. They had very serious and influential examples that, although lasted for many days, were never turned violent. Their slogans were clever and up-to-date, showing the inefficiency and corruption in the current government structure. They became entangled in poverty, as the government’s claims of being just and fair were not enough to pay their wages before their sweat dried. Months of unpaid wages finally dragged them to the streets. They stopped being cautious and shouted their labor demands with their backs to the enemy and their faces towards their homeland. They fought against injustice and oppression, asked for help from the community, and appreciated the students who heard their cries.

Their street protests became a civil movement, far from radicalism and violence. They shouted at those who they believed were responsible for the current situation. Naturally, their threats were useless. They had nothing to lose. But as predicted, the arrest of the more active individuals put a stop to their movement. As usual, the government focused on cleaning up the problem rather than addressing the demands. But can this method always prevent future actions? The widespread corruption, with each new major scandal – labeled as embezzlement – weakening the government’s power and causing people to rely on this sacrificial meat.

Complex connections and good genes, nobility, being connected to powerful institutions, multiple rulers including coins and sugar, etc. every day they want a bigger share and in the midst of the disappearance of the middle class and falling into a weaker class, hope is dragged towards destruction and slowly, socio-civil movements arise in different parts of the country. Once it’s the workers of Haft Tapeh, once it’s the retirees, once it’s the teachers, once it’s the steelworkers. If the intellectual rulers don’t change the sick structure and continue to be pleased with just cleaning up the surface and blaming women, undoubtedly this pleasure will not last and these island-like movements and unanswered demands will eventually come together. Then, hearing the people’s cries will not be a cure.

But the question that arises is whether privatization in countries that have experience in this matter has been the same? Abandonment and neglect of the employer? Shouldn’t there be any support with a backing for workers in privatized factories or complexes? When a 29-28 year old worker in a sugar factory sends a video message stating that their demand for government takeover will not be fulfilled in any way and those who are protesting are anti-government and causing foreign interference, there was no institution or official to ask why their wages have been delayed for months? Why without reason or evidence, have they been accused of being a woman?

It has been announced transparently that the factory has been transferred to the public in order to determine how the transfer has been carried out and whether the employer has any commitments towards the workers or not. This is something that must be observed in most transfers.

But in the midst of it, he was showing off more than a few points:

1. Throughout these protests, we have not witnessed any resignations. This means that none of the officials consider themselves directly or indirectly responsible. We haven’t even seen the presence of the Shah among the protesters or showing sympathy towards them. During this time, the President, despite giving several speeches, did not mention the protesters at all. Pure indifference. Perhaps he still hasn’t heard the voice of the people!

2. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, this government has succeeded with the support of reformists. Therefore, the supporters of Hassan Rouhani must in some way be accountable to the voices of the protesters. The fact that there has been no coordinated and effective action from the reformists either shows a division and gap among them in supporting the workers, or that there is no clear and definite plan to respond to the demands of the guilds and civil society, or that they simply do not care about these issues. In any case, it is a weakness that cannot be ignored, and if not addressed in a timely manner, it will either have to be repaired and resolved, or they must know that in the next elections, their popularity will decrease just like the fundamentalists.

3. Social networks once again showed their power and were able to directly and without intermediaries publish news of the protesters. However, the state media remained silent and showed more than ever how backward it is from society.