July 5, 2021

SENT VIA EMAIL

Union of Metalworkers and Mechanics of Iran (UMMI)

Islamic Republic of Iran irunionmessenger@gmail.com

Greetings,

As the National President of Unifor, Canada’s largest private sector union and Canada’s union for energy workers, I am writing to express our full support and solidarity with the members of the Union of Metalworkers and Mechanics in Iran (UMMI). We also stand in solidarity with all of the workers at oil and gas projects and petrochemical plants who have gone on strike in South Pars, in Tehran, and across Iran, involving at least 72 companies, as part of the coordinated action called Strike Campaign 1400.

Re: In solidarity with oil and gas workers and their Strike Campaign 1400 in Iran

Unifor condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the termination of 700 workers, who were fired for joining the petrochemicals strike.  We demand that they be immediately reinstated.

Unifor supports your call to the government for better wages, including a set of wage demands for each employment category, adequate social security, and better living conditions. Workers are willing to return to work if employers meet their demands.

Workers are employed by subcontracting companies, which provide labour for development projects in the oil and gas fields. Contractors routinely underpay social security contributions by misclassifying workers, which affects their pensions, unemployment, and sick pay. This situation is unacceptable, and in blatant violation of international core labour standards.  

We congratulate you on your tremendous courage and resolve in the face of oppression, and we stand in solidarity with your struggle and just demands.

Sincerely,

Jerry Dias

National President

cc. Lana Payne, Scott Doherty, Mohamad Alsadi                                 JD/klcope343

Reference: Union of Metalworkers and Mechanics of Iran (UMMI) website