Retired Telecom Worker Protests Continue Across Iran

Retired employees of Iran's telecom company took to the streets on Tuesday, in various cities across Iran, continuing protests that had been started the day before. 

The retirees are demanding long-overdue implementation of employment regulations approved in 2010, along with the payment of benefits, wage arrears, and the restoration of supplementary insurance and medical coverage.

These demands have remained unaddressed for 13 years. The telecom company has cited a lack of liquidity as the reason for refusing to implement the 2010 regulations. Moreover, they have cut workers' supplementary insurance and denied pensioners their rightful welfare benefits.

Reports received by IranWire confirm that the retired workers gathered in cities such as Tehran, Rasht, Shahrekord, Ahvaz, Zahedan, Arak, Mashhad, Zanjan, Dezful, Yasouj, Shiraz, Borujerd, Bojnord, and Sanandaj. 

In each city, they assembled in front of the central telecommunications building to voice their grievances and call for their rights.

Videos shared on social media show scenes of pensioners in Ahvaz chanting slogans such as "Every day is the same until we get our rights" and "We've heard lies, but we haven't seen justice.” Protesters in Tehran, meanwhile, expressed frustration with the lack of attention given to their demands at the regional management office.

During their nationwide protests, telecom retirees have consistently emphasized specific demands. 

Despite organizing regular protests over the past few months, telecom retirees have yet to receive any response from the authorities regarding their concerns.

In addition to the telecom retirees' widespread protests in more than 14 cities across Iran, employees of the Yasouj municipality gathered outside the Kohgilouye and Boyer Ahmad governorate building. 

They expressed dissatisfaction with the municipality's performance and city council, demanding their rights be acknowledged.

In a separate protest rally in Tehran, a group of families with haemophilia patients gathered in front of the Food and Drug Organization. They expressed their disappointment with the organization's failure to distribute the new drug HEMLIBRA, citing an alleged lack of clarity regarding its price.