Barez Tire Workers on Strike

Iran Labor Report, Free Assembly of Iranian Workers has reported a 3500-strong workers strike at Barez Tires. The strike started gradually with total shutdown of operations by midday afternoon January 1. Earlier, back in September, the workers went on a four-day strike which was only ended when Kerman labor office gave them some assurances. A change-over at the management level in November made the workers not to use the strike option. Instead, they gave the new management the opportunity to settle accounts and provide some answers.

However, using the pretext of the subsidies cuts, the new management refused to satisfy the workers’ demands, prompting them to start a new round of strikes at Barez.

The workers shut down the operations one by one resulting in a total work stoppage by the afternoon of January 1st. The night-shift workers also joined the strike later.

Barez workers have been calling for permanent contracts instead of the current month-by-month one. They are also asking for their full 70-hour overtime compensation rather than the current 40-hour one recognized by the management. The workers are also eligible for one day day off every other week. They are calling for two days per week. Finally, they are protesting the reduction in production bonuses which have been reduced since last October.
Barez workes spent a third day on strike.