This statement of the Haft Tappeh Sugar Cane Workers’ Union was issued after the second day of their latest strike.
The Haft Tappeh Sugar Cane factory’s wheels stood still during the strike!
The strikes of the Haft Tappeh Sugar cane workers continue with the presence of workers’ families
In continuation of the strike that started on Saturday December 9th, today, Sunday December 10th, this strike took place with the extensive presence and support of the workers’ families. In today’s strike – on December 10th – the workers, together with their families, first attempted to close the access routes of vehicles carrying sugar cane to the factory, and then the workers shut off the steam furnaces. By shutting off the steam furnaces, the factory came to a complete stand still and all work stopped. Meanwhile, all workers in various parts of the company marched from the entrance to the office buildings. During the march, all workers chanted the slogan “Afshar have some decency, leave Haft Tappeh alone.” [Siamak Afshar is the company’s vice president.]
(The workers are demanding that Haft Tappeh to be returned to state supervision)
Unsuccessful management plot:
Yesterday, the company’s management tried with a deceptive move to pay a portion of the wages of some workers, so that it could create discord within the ranks of workers. With this deceitful move the management tried, and is trying, to create divisions within the unity and sympathy of the ranks of workers to achieve the common demands of the workers, and to separate a number of them from the ranks of the struggle. But today, thankfully, we have witnessed the enthusiastic presence of all workers, and the management’s devious plan failed due to the workers’ consciousness and sympathy.
The workers’ demands
Two months’ wages for the years 1394 [2015-16] and 1395 [2016-17] (for contract workers), the productivity bonus for 1394 and 1395, as well as five months’ wage arrears.
The strike continued with chants of a slogan against management until 11 o’clock. During the strike, the security forces were present in large numbers in the factory area, but the intimidation of the security forces failed to weaken the will of the workers.
A word with the workers:
The Haft Tappeh Sugar Cane Workers’ Union considers unity, sympathy and solidarity of workers and families as part of the class struggle.
We have said many times and we will go on saying that the cause of all these hardships, poverty and misery of us workers is the capitalist system, and we have no choice but to have unity and solidarity in the class struggle to get rid of these misfortunes. With a well-organised and conscious struggle, we workers can floor the owners of capital. Today, the workers’ families were able to double the workers’ class strength and power by their presence. For this reason, we clasp the hands of all the workers’ families who were present at this strike, and we repeat that there must always be workers’ families in this class campaign and they must be present until the final victory.
Haft Tappeh Sugar Cane Workers’ Union
10 December 2017
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