Free Workers’ Union Statement: A Great Storm of Fundamental Changes in the Country is On Its Way

The Free Workers’ Union, in issuing a statement regarding the anniversary of the popular uprising revolution, announced a great storm of fundamental changes in the country.

As September 16 approaches, coinciding with the anniversary of the government-ordered killing of Mahsa Amini and the start of the popular uprising revolution, the collapse of system-aligned figures and the erosion of the government from within has weakened the position of the government and its agents in the face of the Iranian people. The upcoming uprising on the occasion of the anniversary of the popular revolution is a revolution against suppression, one that has continued to advance powerfully against the government’s repressions.

The “Woman, Life, Freedom” uprising, which began with Mahsa’s death, had a major impact on the political and social fabric of society, bringing together all segments including teachers, university professors, students, schoolchildren, doctors, lawyers, workers, retirees, and others. This unity has created a major barrier against the predetermined scenarios of the system.

Until now, various statements have been issued by human rights activists, professors, doctors and others regarding this revolution and the system’s repressions, but now the working class has also been added to their ranks. The Free Workers’ Union, as the anniversary of the popular uprising approaches, released a statement to the following effect: “As far as the government is concerned, this government is no longer capable of managing any aspect of the economic, political, social and cultural life of a ninety-million-person society. This government, in addition to its extreme anti-freedom, tyrannical and misogynistic nature, has transformed one of the world’s wealthiest countries into such a wasteland that poverty and misery, depression and suicide and hopelessness, child labor, waste-picking, hunger and malnutrition in the scale of tens of millions, crime and delinquency and a thousand and one social abnormalities resulting from extreme economic insecurity have become its main features.

The country’s economy has actually collapsed in a fatal whirlwind of endless and constantly intensifying economic crises, and millions of unemployed youth, in search of a ray of happiness and survival, have become displaced in various countries of the world by risking their lives. The wages of millions of workers, teachers, employees, retirees and every hard-working wage earner are many times below the poverty line and cost of living basket as declared by the government’s own institutions. The pension funds of teachers, workers and people’s assets in financial institutions have been plundered by government agents and mercenaries. The country’s industries, agriculture and environment have been destroyed, and in short, everything related to the continuity and survival of social life in a society full of wealth and dazzling capabilities is burning and being destroyed.

 The people have issued the order for fundamental changes in the country through the “Woman, Life, Freedom” uprising. They have the right to take to the streets and reject the existing government. Protest and rejection of a government is the most fundamental right of the people.

The government’s panic in expanding the scope of repression and resorting to the most criminal and heinous forms of dealing with protesting people, women and youth, political prisoners and the families of the martyrs of the “Woman, Life, Freedom” uprising in the days close to the anniversary of the uprising’s start is nothing but a display of despair and helplessness of the despotic and medieval government in the face of an upright, modern and freedom-loving people.

The great storm of fundamental changes in the country is on its way despite any degree of deception, villainy and repression by the government, and in this process the Iranian working class, in the continuation of the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement and the decisive confrontation underway to end the existing inhumane situation and shape the country’s future, alongside fighting and revolutionary women and youth, will be the standard-bearer of establishing a free, equal, happy and prosperous society.”

Long live the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement, long live freedom and equality

Free Workers’ Union of Iran, September 20, 1402