On Sunday, May 12, 2024, retirees continued their protest gatherings in various cities across the country to claim their rights. In Ahvaz, Social Security retirees gathered and marched in front of the Social Security Organization’s headquarters, once again demanding “salary increases in line with inflation.” They also condemned the arrest of Ms. Maryam Zelaki, an activist in this city, and called for her immediate release. The protesting retirees in Ahvaz chanted slogans such as:
– “Inflation, the scourge of the people”
– “Only in the streets will we achieve our rights”
– “Social Security must be freed from government monopoly”
– “The rich Iran! What has the incompetent official done to you?”
In Kermanshah, Social Security retirees, joined by government retirees, gathered in front of the Social Security Organization’s headquarters and shouted slogans like:
– “Retiree, rise up against oppression and discrimination”
– “Inflation, the scourge of the people”
– “The result of the government’s work is the plundering of the people’s pockets”
They expressed their protest against the looting of retirement funds and the disparity between the payments and the inflation rate and current living expenses.
In Shush, retired workers from Shush and Haft Tappeh gathered in front of the Social Security Organization’s building, holding placards to protest their dire living and medical conditions.
Steel industry retirees also held protest gatherings on Sunday, May 12, in several cities including Ahvaz, Isfahan, Tehran, Dameghan, Shahroud, Qaemshahr, and others. In Isfahan, steel retirees marched and gathered in front of the Steel Retirement Fund, expressing their anger and protest against the plundering of this fund. They chanted:
– “We saw no justice, only heard lies”
In Rasht, protesting retirees chanted:
– “Retiree, shout out, cry for your rights!”
Retirees also held gatherings in the cities of Arak and Tehran.
Nearly two months into the new Iranian year, the Islamic Republic’s government has taken no serious action to address the problems of retirees and pensioners, focusing instead on oppressing women and girls in the streets under the so-called “Noor Plan” to suppress women’s right to freedom of dress, which must be stopped. In this context, on May 6, retirees from the telecommunications company held protest gatherings and marches in several cities and provinces in front of their respective provincial telecommunications companies. These protests took place in cities including Ardabil, Isfahan, Ahvaz, Marivan, Kermanshah, Rasht, Arak, Sanandaj, Bandar Abbas, Tehran, and Khorramabad. During these gatherings and marches, slogans were chanted such as “Incompetent official, the company has plundered!” and “Supplementary insurance must be reformed.”
The non-implementation of the 2009 regulations, delays in the payment of medical expenses by the telecommunications company’s contracted insurance, and delays in the distribution of non-cash rations are among the main issues of protest for these retirees. When the company was handed over to the Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation and the Executive Headquarters of Imam’s Directive, the new owner committed to paying the retirees’ claims, which has not been fulfilled. Additionally, the retirees’ share of the supplementary insurance payment increased from 30% to 50%, and the food allowance was cut under the pretext of lack of liquidity.
At the same time, reports of mismanagement and misuse by this institution have been published, with one issue being the ambiguity surrounding the employees’ cooperative fund. The demands of the telecommunications retirees include the full implementation of clauses 6 and 9 of the March 2007 Cabinet resolution, the August 2009 regulation by the then board of directors of the telecommunications company of Iran, and other livelihood demands.
The struggles of Social Security retirees are part of the persistent labor movement that has been active in the streets in recent years and has achieved certain results, which are of great importance to the nationwide movement. They forced the government and parliament to implement some degree of adjustment. Additionally, independent retirees’ associations, while demanding an improvement in living standards and fostering unity among retirees from various sectors, have also protested against executions and the Noor Plan, repeatedly calling for the release of political prisoners.
