Teachers in over 100 cities in Iran hold 3-day national strike over poverty, injustice and oppression

On 5^th March 2019, teachers in Iran held their last day of a 3-day national strike which had expanded to over 100 cities. As the striking teachers shared pictures of their sit-in, Mr Amir Ali Nemat Allahi of the Ministry of Education of the Islamic Republic said: “All the pictures are photoshopped.”

The powerful and united nationwide teachers’ strike with its justified and legitimate demands compelled the government representative to deny it. However, the teachers and other people took to social media and responded by posting more pictures and video clips.

Striking teachers posted: “If they are all photoshopped, then why were the security forces and Basij militia mobilised and threatening the teachers?”, “Why don’t you visit Hamedan, Kermanshah, Karaj, Marivan, Shiraz, Jolfa Aligoodarz, Khomeni Shahr, Saqez, Isfahan, … to see the extent of the strike?”

The teachers compared the government’s denial to that of the Iranian monarchy’s head of police in 1979 in reaction to the mass protests at the time: “These are all edited recordings”.

The 3-day national strike was called by the Coordinating Council of Teachers’ Associations of Iran. The participants said no to the imposition of poverty, injustice, and oppression.

The demands include:

-Release of all imprisoned teachers
-Dismissal of all security cases against teachers, workers and civil right activists
-Free education for all
-An end to the privatisation of schools
-An end to the commercialisation of education
-Raising wages to above the poverty line
-Free healthcare for all
-Right to assembly
-Right to organise

The teachers also demand fair contracts and quality teaching for all children.

According to reports, students supported the striking teachers and retirees also shared clips to show their support for the strike.

The Coordinating Council of Teachers’ Associations of Iran has announced that they will hold other strikes if their demands are not met.

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