Dear Mr. President, 

I am writing to you as the General Secretary of IndustriALL Global Union, which has 550 affiliates in 130 countries, including Iran, representing more than 50 million workers in the mining, energy, and manufacturing sectors, to call on the Government of Iran to ensure the full respect of fundamental labour rights at the Arak Aluminium Company (IRALCO)’ Plant.  Please note that the Union of Metalworkers and Mechanics of Iran (UMMI) is affiliated with IndustriALL Global Union.

We have received deeply alarming reports that 4,000 workers at the Arak Aluminium Company (IRALCO)’ Plant have been engaged in a hunger strike for the past 50 days. This drastic action stems from the intransigent stance of the plant’s owner, whose refusal to engage in meaningful dialogue or address the workers’ legitimate demands has left the workforce with no alternative but to resort to this extreme form of protest.

To make matters worse, on 15 August, instead of responding to the workers’ legitimate demands, the authorities escalated repression: arrest warrants were issued for five workers, and thirty-one others were charged with disturbing public order and peace. We call for the cancellation of the arrest warrants of the five workers and the closing of the legal cases against the thirty-one other workers. 

IndustriALL Global Union urges the Government of Iran to address the demands of the workers, which include putting an end to the privatisation of the plant that has apparently prevented the modernisation of the factory, and has led to a deterioration of the working conditions, including an increase in workplace accidents such as the deaths of Mahmoud Davoud Ayadi and Jabbar Abdi.  

It is equally important that the Arak Aluminium Company (IRALCO) ends precarious, short term, and contractor-based employment and offers instead job security guarantees to its workforce.  Furthermore, the company must implement adequately the job classification scheme, ensure the timely payment of wages, and reinstate all the workers who have been unfairly dismissed.  

We trust that your government will take immediate action to ensure a fair and just resolution to the conflict at the Arak Aluminium Company (IRALCO)’s Plant. Such intervention must lead to significantly improved working conditions, particularly in the areas of health and safety, the adequate and timely payment of wages, full respect for workers’ rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining, the elimination of precarious employment, and an end to interference by security agencies in labour relations.

I look forward to your prompt action and reply.  

With best regards,

Atle Høie

General Secretary‎ ‎ 

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