10th December 2025

Press release

For immediate use

The Committee for the Defence of Iranian People’s Rights (CODIR), has today issued a call to trade unions in Britain to back the demands of oil workers in Iran, in their struggle for basic trade union rights and conditions of employment.

In spite of blockades by the police and security services over 5,000 workers and their families in the South Pars oilfield in Iran marched to the local governor’s office yesterday (9 December) in protest at pay, terms and conditions for the oil workers.

According to reports from a number of those involved in the workers’ protest, the day before, workers received direct messages from the Public Relations Office of the South Pars Gas Complex on their mobile phones, along with explicit warnings from refinery security units about the consequences of participating in the action.

The oil workers were supported by local residents who had witnessed the police activity and blockades the night before, even joining in chanting slogans such as: “Enough with promises, our tables are empty.”

Amongst the key demands of the oil workers is the removal of temporary contractors who are used to undermine the pay demands of full time staff and are widely seen as an example of corruption in the management of the oil and gas fields.

Management and police intimidation has not deterred the workers from sticking to their demands. They have announced that they will continue their weekly protests until their demands are met, including, minimum wage reform for
workers; the complete elimination of the salary cap for workers in operational
areas; the elimination of the retirement years-of-service cap; the return of over-
collected taxes in accordance with the law; and the prevention of the plundering
and merger of the retirement fund with other bankrupt funds.

CODIR General Secretary, Gawain Little, urged British trade unions to take action in support of their colleagues in Iran, following the particular emphasis upon this area of activity at the recent CODIR AGM.

“We are very keen to encourage action by British trade unions”, said Mr.Little, “sending an email or letter of protest may not seem like very much but the cumulative impact can be significant, both in showing workers that they have international support and in putting pressure upon the regime to acknowledge workers’ rights.”

Mr. Little was also keen to stress the importance of British trade union support for the wider struggle for human rights in Iran.

“Over 50% of political prisoners in Iran are trade union activists,” he said, “in jail in appalling conditions for simply raising basic trade union demands and fighting for the rights of their members. The struggle for trade union rights in Iran is bound up with the struggle for social justice and democracy.”

CODIR is urging letters of support to be sent via CODIR at
codir.executive@gmail.com

and to the organisation campaigning for solidarity with the workers in struggle in Iran at:
irunionmessenger@gmail.com

ENDS

Further information for Editors

Contact Information for CODIR:-

Postal Address:
B.M.CODIR
London
WC1N 3XX
UK
Website: www.codir.net
E-mail: codir_info@btinternet.com

Further information on CODIR

CODIR is the Committee for the Defence of the Iranian People’s Rights. It has been established since 1981 and has consistently campaigned to expose human rights abuses in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

CODIR has worked closely with the trade union movement in the UK, the peace movement, all major political parties and Amnesty International to press the case for an end to torture in Iran’s prisons. Major trade unions in Britain are affiliated to CODIR and support its campaign for peace, human and democratic rights, and social justice in Iran.

CODIR has published Iran Today, its quarterly journal, since 1981, explaining the latest developments in Iran and the most effective way that the British public opinion could demonstrate its solidarity with the people of Iran.

In recent years CODIR has worked closely with Stop the War Coalition and has been vocal against any form of foreign intervention in the internal affairs of the nation.