Conditional end to strike in Haft Tappeh and release of Sepideh Qolyan
Haft Tappeh workers ended their 72-day strike on the condition that their dismissed colleagues return, their cases be closed, insurance premiums, arrears and pensioner claims be paid. Sepideh Gholian, a union activist, was also temporarily released on bail of 200 million Tomans.
The protesting Haft Tapeh sugarcane workers have conditionally and temporarily broken their strike with the commitments they received from their employer.
The announcement published by the independent Haft Tappeh Workers Channel and the website of the “Free Workers Union of Iran” states: “Given the employer’s commitment to return fired colleagues to work within less than five days, in view of the firm promise to close all open cases against colleagues in the Shush Prosecutor’s Office, also considering the employer’s denial of the authority to dismiss outside the disciplinary committee, the provision and distribution of work clothes and shoes twice a year, the specific and written schedule provided for the payment of salaries (Mehr salaries on December 26, Aban salaries on January 5, and January salaries thereafter on time and without delay), the payment of pensioners’ claims for the next three months at the latest, the unconditional and immediate extension of the insurance booklet and payment of the insurance list, the provision of customary claims, spouse’s rights, work hardship, travel, bonuses and exploitation, Ramadan payments, and… an increase in food rights and numerous other matters, today, Tuesday, the colleagues decided to temporarily suspend the strike by temporarily and conditionally accepting the minutes signed between the employer and city officials.”
At the same time as the strike at Haft Tappeh Sugar Factory ended, women's rights activist Mahdieh Golroo announced on Twitter that Sepideh Qolyan had been released.
Sepideh Gholian, a labor activist living in Dezful who was arrested twice in the fall and winter of 2018 in connection with union protests in Haft Tapeh, was released from Qarchak Prison in Varamin on November 20, 2019, on bail of 500 million Tomans, but 22 days later, she was sent back to prison during the recent protests.
The Haft Tapeh Sugarcane Workers' Union announced that Qolyan has been temporarily released on bail of 200 million Tomans until the completion of the trial.
ILNA news agency had previously reported that on Tuesday evening, December 1, following union negotiations between workers and members of the Susa Supply Council at the governor's office, the strike at Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Plant ended and workers returned to work: "Apparently, in a meeting between workers' representatives, members of the Supply Council, and the employer, the employer agreed to some of the workers' demands and it was decided that the mehr salary would be paid within 20 days."
According to ILNA, the employer is required to purchase the workers' needed clothing and gradually distribute it to them starting next week: "The pensioners' claims will also be paid in three installments until the end of the year, and other legal benefits will be paid to the workers in accordance with the instructions and approvals of the Labor Law."
Haft Tappeh workers gathered in front of the complex's office on Sunday, December 10, in a last-ditch effort to claim their arrears.
Source: DW
