Military Owned, Pars Wagon Workers Strike, Protest Labor Leader’s Termination

On December 23, 900 Pars Wagon train manufacturing workers went on strike in Arak demanding reinstatement of the head of the Islamic Labor Council (ILC) at the plant, Ali Derakhshandehbakt. The workers contend that Derekhshandehbakht is a member of the ILC until May of 2015 and he cannot be terminated.

Derekhshandehbakht’s contract was not renewed after expiring on December 21 and his badge was taken away from him not allowing him to enter the factory compounds. The head of security at the factory was also replaced with a retired military man who has also made changes to the security personnel at the plant.

On December 24, a meeting was held between the employer and a representative from Khatam al-Osya construction firm in which the military representative told the workers that the main share holder of Pars Wageon – Khatam al-Osya- has come to the conclusion that the head of the Islamic Labor Council should leave the plant. And his departure is to the workers’ benefit. On a second meeting later in the day, departure of Derakhshandehbakht was further stressed.

A worker who did not want to give his name out, told Iranian Labour News Agency (ILNA) that the members of the Islamic Labor Council at the plant gave a deadline for December 27 for their leader to be reinstated, otherwise they will collectively resign. They had also declined to sign their new employment contracts in protest accordingly.

On December 27, 150 workers took to the streets while 750 others stayed at the plant making sure the production lines remain stooped. The next day, tens of security forces entered the factory compounds and held meetings in different offices at the plant. The members of the Labor Council also held meetings with officials of the Labor Office, the Employer, Security officials and other local officials at the Labor Office in Arak.

On the fifth day of the strike, following the meeting of the previous day, termination of the labor leader was overturned, the security forces left the factory compounds and the strike ended.

Pars Wagon workers held strikes in September and September 27 for a week over three month delay in payment of their wages and management practices at the plant. That strike ended with partial payment of the wages, resignation of the internal manager as well as some promises given to the workers.

Katam al-Osyha Construction Firm is the major share holder of Pars Wagon and appoints the employer at the plant. Khatam al-Osya has been formed through a decree by the Iranian leader, Seyyed Ali Khamenei, and the minister of defense is its head. The minister then appoints a representative to run the affairs of the firm.

The firm is a conglomeration of several economic/military companies tied to the Revolutionary Guards and the Iranian Ministry of Defense and is involved in large oil development projects such as Soumar 475 Million barrels oil fields, construction of housing units such as the Mehr construction plan initiated by Ahmadinejad administration, Mashahd-Tehran electric rail project and 5 Billion dollar plane design and manufacturing project as well as other large scale projects. It also controls the assets of two banks in Iran.

Khatam al-Osya also secured the 5 Billion dollar contract to develop phases 13 and 14 in South Pars Gas project vacated by Shell and Repsol in 2010. The construction firm is also involved in several development plans in Tajikistan including Sangtoodeh dam.

Iran Labor Report