Socialist Action /May 2002
Teachers Rally in Iran
By OUR CORRESPONDENT
In recent months, workers throughout Iran have held numerous strikes
and rallies for better pay and working conditions. Demonstrations by teachers
have continued despite violent attacks by the authorities. Their core demands
are for a pay raise and the right to organize independent trade unions.
There are about 2 million teachers in Iran. Their average monthly salary
is approximately equal to 130-190 U.S. dollars per month, which is considered
below the poverty line even by the standards of the Islamic government.
The government has ignored the plight of teachers during the past 20
years. Most of the teachers hold one or two additional jobs to be able to
support themselves and their families. The deteriorating financial situation
of the teachers has disturbed the educational system and the respectful
social status that teachers traditionally hold.
Government pay increases and benefits for other civil servants have not
covered the teachers. Therefore, the teachers feel they are being excluded
and betrayed.
The so-called reformist faction of the government believes that any
action against President Khatami will weaken their political bargaining
status.
The "reformists" have the majority at the legislative branch,
which supposedly makes them responsible for the laws that affect working
conditions. But the real power rests in an unelected religious body, the
Council of the Guardians.
The current wave of teachers' demonstrations began on Dec. 31, 2001,
when hundreds of teachers assembled in front of the central office of the
Ministry of Education and Culture in Tehran. Many teachers were arrested.
On Jan. 15, following a call by the Organization of Teachers (a government-affiliated
group) in Tehran, teachers gathered at "Shaheed Ba Honar" College
of Education. Many started a march toward the Ministry of Education and
Culture. After security forces dispersed them, the teachers called for a
bigger assembly on Jan. 18.
The Jan. 18 assembly was turned into a rally. Afterwards, thousands of
teachers began to march toward the University of Tehran. Some teachers displayed
their paychecks to reporters. One shouted: "I earn $130 and have to
pay 85,000 tomans (about $103) for my rent! Housing and equality are our
basic rights!"
Workers from several factories released statements voicing their own
demands as well as supporting the teachers. The teachers tried to march
to the Ministry of Culture but security forces drove them back. Two teachers,
Akhtar Gasemzadeh-Moein and Mohamad-Abrahim Ahmadnia, died as a result of
these attacks. A demonstration on March 9 in front of the University of
Tehran honored their memories.
Similar rallies occurred in the cities of Yasoj, Isfahan, Yazd, Zanjan,
Kurdistan, and Khuzestan.
On Jan. 22, approximately 12,000 teachers and their supporters gathered
in front of the Islamic parliament in Tehran. Factory workers also joined
this demonstration. Slogans were raised against the Islamic parliament,
including, "The monthly salary of an MP equals the annual salary of
a teacher." Similar demonstrations were reported in the cities of Kermanshah,
Boyer-Ahmad, Malayer, Isfahan, Tabriz, and Shiraz.
On Jan. 26, despite threats from the authorities, thousands of teachers
and high school and university students in Tehran tried to gather in front
of President Khatami's office to have their demands heard by the so-called
reformist president. Security forces used tear gas and bullets against them.
Hundreds were arrested and many were injured.
Although the teachers were unable to gather in front of the president's
office, they started new demonstrations in different areas of Tehran. Slogans
included: "Teachers, students, unity, unity!" and "You [the
president and parliament members] live in luxury and wealth; then you preach
to us about devotion!"
There were similar demonstrations in the cities of Khoram-abad, Ahvaz,
Babol, Isfahan, and Khomini-shahr. On Jan. 31 in the city of Shiraz an
estimated 7000 teachers rallied. Many teachers were arrested and injured
when security forces attacked.
On April 16, in a symbolic act, seven pigeons were set free by a government-affiliated
group (Hall of Educators) in the east of Tehran. The teachers' demands on
a written note were tied to the birds' feet.
The spokesperson for the Hall of Educators announced: "The teachers
could not find any help or support from the officials on the earth. So,
we are sending these birds to the sky-hoping that somebody may hear us and
respond to us."
Socialist Action /May 2002 |