The Iranian Resistance hails the brave workers of the Azarab and Hepko factories in the city of Arak – central Iran, who have been protesting bravely for their rights in recent days, and calls on the general public and the youth to help them in solidarity. The Iranian Resistance also calls on the international organizations defending the rights of workers to support the striking and protesting workers in Iran and to take effective action to release the detained workers and to address their demands.
On Wednesday, September 20,
The workers of the factory gathered at the entrance of the Tehran-Arak road yesterday and closed the road. Anti-riot motorized and infantry guards, plainclothes and regime guards beat them in a brutal attack and arrested dozens with their siege. The enraged workers confronted the mercenaries with the slogans: “Innocent workers must be freed” and “The mercenary, go away”, “Jerk, jerk”. A number of detainees were freed by workers’ efforts, and others were transferred to unknown locations. Since the beginning of this year, regime thieves and predators have stepped away from giving low wages of these workers. The workers of the factory, one of the major manufacturing units of the country’s largest industrial hubs in Arak, have so far been protesting for their rights to be able to have a living. Workers are also worried about being unemployed because the factory only works at 20% capacity.
Yesterday workers from the Arak’s Hepco Company also gathered on the rail track route of Arak to Tehran. 900 workers of the factory have not been paid salaries since the last winter. Hepco is one of the largest manufacturers of heavy equipment, such as road construction, mining, and agriculture
Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran
September 20, 2017