Shabtabnews In this dark night, I have lost my way – Arise from a corner, oh you the star of guidance.
Iranwire – The labor strike at Pars Wagon Company in central Arak has entered its sixth week, with tensions escalating after the arrest of several protesting workers on the night of September 2.
Despite the security crackdown, employees staged a protest march on Monday, breaking through a line of special unit agents to take their demonstration to the streets.
The 1,170-strong workforce at Pars Wagon Company is protesting what they describe as discriminatory practices, unjust wage policies, and poor working conditions.
🎥 کارگران شرکت واگن پارس در اراک پنجمین هفته اعتصابات را در اعتراض به شرایط موجود پشت سر گذاشتند. برخی گفتهاند که شب گذشته ماموران اقدام به بازداشت تعدادی از معترضان کردهاند.کارگران در اعتراض به بازداشت همکاران خود اقدام به راهپیمایی اعتراضی کردند که با برخورد ماموران مواجه… pic.twitter.com/7dfxuSKmHw— ایران وایر (@iranwire) September 3, 2024
Workers report that despite the company securing lucrative contracts and maintaining active production lines, employee benefits have been reduced, and salary payments are often delayed.
One employee, speaking to the Ilana news agency, highlighted the stark inequality within the company: “On Women’s Day, managers’ wives receive bonuses of several million tomans, while workers are overlooked.”
“The highest salary for a worker with 20 years of experience and overtime is 25 million tomans ($416), it is now reduced to 20 million ($333). Meanwhile, managers receive additional perks like travel and sports expenses.”
The disparity extends to other benefits, with a recent company car purchase allocating 70 vehicles to management and only 10 to the remaining 1,170 workers.
The current wave of protests began on July 25 as a peaceful sit-in within the factory premises. However, the situation escalated when several workers were banned from entering the workplace the following Saturday, sparking wider demonstrations.
Protesters are calling for the resignation of CEO Morteza Molanjad, accusing him of mismanagement and using offensive language towards workers. Under his leadership, workers say their rest areas have been destroyed, forcing them to use cardboard on the factory floor for breaks.
The workers’ grievances also include opposition to recent changes in working hours and rest days, which they say were implemented without proper consultation.
