By Ehsan Abadi
Two separate oil workers related trade unions and federations from Iraq have expressed solidarity with the ongoing nation-wide workers strike in Iran.
On June 28th the Baghdad based General Federation of Trade Unions of Workers in Iraq sent a solidarity message to the ongoing labor strike in Iran. Published in Arabic and English, the statement reads:
With great interest in the strikes of oil workers in Iran five days ago against the backdrop of demands for an increase in salaries and payment of late salaries, our union also expresses its concern about the news received about the dismissal of 750 striking workers. Because this constitutes a clear violation of the conventions of the International Labor Organization, in particular Conventions 87 of 1948 and 98 of 1949.
Long live global labor solidarity.
We support the struggle of workers for their rights everywhere
On the following day, June 29th, The Iraqi General Federation of Oil and Petrochemical Workers (IFOU) also expressed its support for the ongoing labor strike in Iran. Signed by Hassan Jumaa Awad, head of the Iraqi Federation of Petroleum and Petrochemical Unions, the statement reads:
The Federation of Oil and Petrochemical Syndicates in Iraq supports all protest movements that demand an improvement in the reality of work and in all sectors. For the oil workers who work in the most difficult circumstances, and we are very concerned, as it came to the companies’ administrations to lay off a large number of workers. Accordingly, we support all protests made by the workers under the unions to which they belong, although the Iranian authorities do not support the unions and not recognize them. Therefore, we demand the Iranian government to recognize the trade union movement in all sectors, and we call upon the workers in the government sector to support their brothers in their protest movement for a decent life. Long live the struggle of workers wherever they are. We demand the Iranian government to respond to the demands of the workers.
The ongoing nation-wide labor strike in Iran started on June 19 mainly by temporary and contract workers in the petrochemical sector in southern Iran but has since expanded to include formal workers in the oil, natural gas and energy production industries in other parts of the country. At the moment more than 2000 employees from 90 different companies in eight provinces have joined the movement to demand payment of unpaid salaries, wage increase, safer working conditions, permanent contracts, right to protest and right to form independent worker councils.
The timing of the strike adds to its significance as it took place immediately after the engineered elections which saw the largest election boycott since Islamic Republic’s inception in 1979.
Worker struggle against capitalist wars, sanctions and repressions
In both countries the situation of workers is worsening daily while worker’s right to protest as well as the right to form independent worker unions is effectively diminished.
In Iraq decades of US economic sanctions and war has helped the Iraqi national bourgeoisie to privatize social services, wealth and natural resources. In Iran the situation is similar as the US led economic sanctions helped the Iranian national bourgeoisie to further deregulate and militarize the economy, cut state subsidies and turn the country into a heaven for western mega corporations which are waiting for the finalization of the nuclear deal.
In both countries the population of informal and temporary workers as well as the unemployed youth has grown exponentially in recent years.
“From Tehran to Baghdad our slogan is revolution!”
In recent years solidarity messages have been increasing among social and political movements of the two neighboring countries. These solidarity messages are exchanged despite the dark history of the 1980’s Iran-Iraq war, the heavy interference and presence of the Iranian regime in Iraq as well as the anti-Arab nature of Iranian nationalism.
The solidarity messages became most visible in October and November 2019 when popular protests took over both countries. The #OctoberRevolution in Iraq demanded an end to US-Iranian foreign-backed and sectarian occupations, end to systemic poverty and the establishment of civilian self-governance towards national self-determination. In Iran, popular Aban protests erupted spontaneously in opposition to the sudden austerity cut in subsidies which resulted in a 300% spike in fuel prices. Both popular uprisings were brutally suppressedby state security and militia forces. In Iraq at least 700 protesters were shot and killed in thehands of state security and Iran-linked sectarian militias such as Hash al Shaabi. Inside Iran thestate security and the IRGC forces shot and killed at least 1500 protesters while 7000 protesters
were arrested.
In response to Iranian state’s killing of protesters, student movement at Tehran University staged a daring demonstration and sang radical revolutionary slogans in support of struggles in Iran and Iraq.
One of the slogans was “From Tehran to Baghdad our slogan is revolution!” to “from Iran to Baghdad poverty, repression, tyranny” and “from Tehran to Ahwaz the workers are oppressed”.
Ahwaz: The bridge between freedom in Iraq and Iran ?
Ahwaz is the capital city of Khuzestan, southern region in Iran which borders Iraq. The region is important for popular struggle in Iran since it hosts major oil and petrochemical industries. The region played a significant role in the success of the 1979 revolution through a series of historic oil strikes. Today the region is heavily polluted and toxicated due to the industries and systemic environmental injustice by the central state. Ahwaz is predominantly inhabited by Ahwazi Arabs who are heavily discriminated against by the Iranian regime and are kept systematically poor and unemployed since the majority of industrial jobs are deliberately given to non-Ahwazi Arab and non-local workers brought from other regions. This has resulted in promotion of sectarian and ethnic conflicts among local and non-local workers as opposed to their unity.
Cross-regional solidarities, cross border revolutions
To conclude, the Iranian- American capitalist regimes are dual counter-revolutionary enemies of social, economic and political emancipation in both Iran and Iraq, but also in Syria and Afghanistan. As the living conditions become more unbearable across the region, new solidarities between the different popular and democratic movements of the neighboring countries provide glimpses of hope for alternative shared futures. These new solidarities are challenging the traditional left’s analytical framings which separate the labor struggle from environmental, ethnic and gender emancipation.