Protesting Hepco workers close the railway again; Governor promises to change the factory's situation

Workers at the Hepco machine factory rallied again and closed the north-south railway.

According to images and news published on social media, HEPCO workers gathered on Monday, May 11, to protest the non-receipt of outstanding demands and the factory's uncertainty.

This time, like last week's protests, the workers held their protest rally on the North-South railway line.

These workers have gathered many times in recent weeks to fulfill their union demands and have closed the North-South Railway for a while in protest.

Hepco is one of the largest factories producing heavy road construction machinery, which began its operations before the revolution and was taken over by the government after the revolution. Since privatization and in 2007, the problems of this factory have intensified.

News agencies had previously cited the factory's employer's indifference to paying workers' demands and the company's situation as the reason for these protests.

According to the workers, the problems at the Hepco Arak factory are increasing every day, and the private sector of the factory, which recently took over responsibility for this industrial unit, is indifferent to the problems of the factory and its workers, and the pressure of the problems is increasing every day.

After the factory was handed over to the private sector, workers at Hepco Arak have repeatedly protested the non-payment of their wages on time and have demanded that its ownership be returned to the government.

Of course, it is said that the workers' second demand has been fulfilled, and the economic recession, bankruptcy of production units, and mismanagement have caused many workers to be deprived of their salaries and benefits. In such a way that in recent months, one or more protest rallies have been held by workers almost every day.

Some reports indicate that in the past year, around six thousand labor rallies have been held, mostly in protest of unpaid salaries for several months, mass layoffs, uncertainty following the transfer of factories to the private sector, and low wages.

Source: Voice of America