World Should Stand With Iranian People
Tuesday, June 5, marked the 15th consecutive day of the nationwide truck driver’s strike in Iran, with tens of thousands of heavy vehicles drivers taking part in almost 300 cities across the country.
The video footage and photos of the strike, which are being widely circulated on social media, show that the protest – part of the people’s uprising – is both incredibly vast and highly organised. This means major problems for the Regime, as its far easier to quash a localised protest with little organisational structure.
As the strikes continue, truckers from across the world are expressing their solidarity with the striking Iranians, through messages on social media and in letters to government officials. This not only takes a stand in favour of the Iranian people, but also against the corrupt Regime.
James Hoffa, General President of the Teamsters – one of the biggest worker’s unions in the US – sent a letter to Abolfazl Mehrabadi, deputy director of the Iranian regime’s interest branch at the Pakistani Embassy in Washington, DC, expressing support for the Iranian strikers.
He wrote: “Iranian truck drivers in 25 provinces and 160 cities have been on strike over low pay, rising operating costs, increased tolls and other regulatory fees. Teamsters stand in solidarity with our Iranian brother & sisters!... We urge the government of Iran to listen to the grievances of the striking Iranian truck drivers, address their just demands and recognize their internationally recognized rights to assembly, speech, freedom of association and collective bargaining.”
Why are they striking?
There are many reasons why the drivers are striking, including the rising cost of road tolls, insurance, truck maintenance, repressive measures against drivers by Iran’s suppressive forces, and low or unpaid wages/pensions, but it boils down to a corrupt regime failing to help its people.
Human rights activist Heshmat Alavi wrote: “Iran is home to nearly 370,000 trucks delivering goods across the country. An increasing number of drivers are realizing how they have tolerated their unjust conditions far too long and now is the time to stand firm, knowing their voices are heard by the international community.”
Now, more people are joining the strikes, including taxi drivers and chicken farmers, and as the strikes escalate, it is becoming harder for the Regime to suppress. The Iranian people are banding together to fight the Regime and the people’s strength is only growing as more videos are shared on social media.
What’s more, the strikers are not backing down and are rejecting the false promises made by Iranian officials. This is troubling for the Regime and even remarks from officials show that the Regime is feeling the strain.
It is important that governments around the world also take a stand with the Iranian people and their uprising.
طالب مارا در وبلاک خط سرخ مقاومت ودر توئیتربنام @bahareazady دنبال کنید
ما بر اندازیم# تهران # قیام دیماه# اعتصاب # تظاهرات# قیام سراسری# اتحاد
