In late December 2018, after the long-running mass protests and strike of the Haft Tapeh sugar cane workers in Khuzestan, Iran, the authorities have tried to set up an election for the formation of an “Islamic Council” of workers which would stand in opposition to the already existing independent workers’ council and its elected representatives. One year ago, the workers started to elect their representatives who consult with the workers and represent them. This was successful and opened up discussions about the formation of workers’ representation and workers’ councils in other industries in Iran.
The authorities tried to force some workers to stand as candidates for the “Islamic Council” but not many have and some already withdrew their candidacy again as the “Islamic Council” is not the workers’ independent and legitimate representation and organisation.
It has been reported that when some of the workers went to the Office of Labour to withdraw their candidacy, they were met by the city’s head of judiciary and head of the intelligence service who threatened the workers. They were told “You have a file with us and it will be bad for you if you withdraw your candidacy for the Islamic Council.”
The workers of Haft Tapeh who managed to form their own council and elect their representatives reject the Islamic Council as it represents government politics which the workers object to. One of their main objections is the relationship between the government and the directors of Haft Tapeh who are embezzling funds from the company.
The workers consider the formation of an “Islamic Council” as the government’s tactic to dissolve workers’ organisations so that they can continue with plans to restart “slave-like” working conditions and complete the handover to the “embezzlers” and “thieves” of the private sector.
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