6000 truck drivers go on strike in Iran

 At least half a dozen strikes and protests were held on Sunday, April 24, in Tehran, Bandar Abbas (southern Iran), and Iran’s western cities against the against the repressive policies of Hassan Rouhani's government and the looting of workers’ salaries by officials of the mullahs’ regime.

Bandar Abbas – A major strike by Iranian truck drivers continued with at least 6000 drivers refusing to work. This protest was against the regime’s agents, including syndicate officials and those in charge of shipping terminals, over their policy of extortion under various guises. Congestion caused by the protesters’ trucks and cars have closed off all roads to Baba-Gholam Highway.

Tehran, Yaft Abad District, 9:00 AM (local time) - The market traders of the furniture industry went on strike against extortions by government agents. They had gathered to strike in front of the customs representative in one of the entrances to the bazaar.

They protested the staggering increase in import tax rates. The regime’s customs announced that import tax rates are being raised since in the current difficult economic climate, imports in the furniture industry are not necessary.

One of the furniture producers stated: "Imports and exports in this business continued during the time of sanctions and since this business generated a large amount of profit, nobody stopped it. Now they allege that our circumstances have supposedly changed. The border areas got sensitive to expanding export and import in this business. Therefore, the tax rate was increased in order to be profitable enough for the customs."

Tehran, Mowlavi Street, 9.30AM - Predominantly young people protested and defied the regime’s suppressive security forces. The repressive police clamped down on homeless people in Herandi Park under the pretext of clearing out drug addicts. They beat up and attempted to arrest working children, including those rummaging through garbage cans. In order to disperse eye-witnesses who protested this action, the suppressive forces fired tear gas into the crowd. They also prevented people from taking any photographs or filming the incident.

Nazgol Oil Cooking Factory, Mahi-Dasht - A group of workers of Nazgol Factory gathered 10 kilometers into the Kermanshah-Islamabad Road to protest the non-payment of three months of their salaries and long overtime wages.

Kopoli Tissue producing industry, Mahi-Dasht, Kermanshah - A group of workers and employees of the tissue producing company, Kopoli, protested in the industrial town of Mahi-Dasht against non-payment of six months of their salaries and overtime wages.

Iran Khodro Industrial Group Representatives, Gomrok Street, Kermanshah - A group of repairmen and workers of Iran Khodro’s local representation (Mir Abdolbaghi representative group) protested against their overdue insurance money and four months of unpaid salaries.