On January 5, retirees from Social Security and Steel sectors took to the streets in various cities across Iran. This protest was neither the first instance of such discontent nor likely the last.
Protests and demonstrations by workers and retirees in various cities across Iran are burning embers of social and economic dissatisfaction that now manifest in Iran’s cities and streets. These protests, held in Ahvaz, Isfahan, Kermanshah, Shush, and Rasht, echo the voices of a class that has been grappling for years with livelihood challenges, the neglect of the regime’s mafia-like system, and economic instability.
Workers and Retirees’ Demands
The recent protests by workers and retirees in Iran highlight several fundamental issues, reflecting the depth of these protests and their increasingly political nature.
Retirees and workers have protested low wages and the failure to adjust them in line with inflation. These wages, at best, cover only a small portion of daily living costs.
Many protesters demanded attention to their basic rights, including adequate pensions, access to healthcare services, and job security for active workers.
The continuous rise in prices, from essential goods to public services, is another major concern for the protesters. The slogan, “The government’s work is to loot the nation’s pockets,” conveys the public anger over the predatory policies of the clerical regime.
Simultaneity and Scope of Protests
Protests were held in several cities, including Ahvaz, Kermanshah, Shush, and Rasht. In Ahvaz, Khuzestan Steel retirees gathered outside the Khuzestan governor’s office, chanting, “Retiree, raise your voice, shout for your rights.” Meanwhile, in Isfahan, steel retirees also took to the streets to voice their grievances over the current livelihood situation.
Additionally, contract workers from southern oil fields in Ahvaz and retirees from 2023 gathered outside the Bushehr governor’s office for demonstrations. These protests, encompassing oil industry workers and Social Security and Steel retirees, signify a widespread crisis affecting all working-class segments.
Challenging the Regime’s Enemy-Making Policies
The slogan, “Our enemy is right here; they lie when they say it’s America,” reflects public awareness of the regime’s strategy of creating fictional external enemies. The regime frequently fabricates imaginary foes to divert public attention from domestic issues.
Now, the beleaguered Iranian populace loudly condemns the allocation of national resources to the regime’s warmongering and terrorist projects. While Iran’s wealth is spent on military, missile, and regional war-mongering policies, many citizens face livelihood challenges, unemployment, and a lack of basic facilities at home.
Choosing the “Street Option”
The protests by workers and retirees in Iran reflect the deep economic and social crises that have gripped the society for years.
The regime’s anti-people policies have imposed a difficult and grueling life on workers, retirees, and other deprived segments of Iran. They understand that if they remain silent, the situation will worsen in the days to come. Between succumbing to the demands of the regime mafia and rebelling against the status quo, they have chosen the latter, raising the banner of rebellion in the streets.
The continued protests of workers and retirees awaken other voices, turning regime change into a widespread and national demand. The pounding fists and raised voices declare that rights are not given but must be taken—on the streets.
Is there any other message in the raised fists and the resounding voices on the streets?