Statement of the Tudeh Party of Iran:

The workers' strike in the Iranian national oil industry is a symbol of the growing stand-off between Iranian workers and the ruling dictatorship…  The Tudeh Party of Iran supports the demands of workers and employees in the oil industry!

According to published reports, a significant number of workers, technicians, and official employees within various sectors of the oil and gas industries have gathered [in protest] in severalsites in the oilfields of southern Iran and have gone on strike. The employees of the oil and gas industries demand the implementation of Article 10 of the national code Law on Duties and Responsibilities of the Ministry of Petroleum.An increase in wages and retirement bonus, as well as an improvement in working conditions, are among their other demands. 

The strike of the official [formally enfranchised] employees of the national oil industry amidst the current sensitive situationcouldprove to be important and have a major influence on political developments [in the country]. These protests in several oil-rich areas - such as Asaluyeh, Mahshahr, Gachsaran, Khark Island, Tang-e Bijar operational area as well as Ahvaz - are a sign of the growing class consciousness and vigilance of the working class and toilers [of Iran], as well as their steadfast struggle towards the realisation of their trade union, and welfare demands which will have political significance.  

The strike and protest of the official employees of the national oil industry is indeed political in nature despite their demands overtly pertaining to union and welfare issues- and it can be emphasised that this strike is clearly symbolises the continuation of the struggle of the workers and the toilers [of Iran] against the ongoing destructive neoliberal and unpopular policies of the regime of the supreme leader. At a time when the Islamic Republic government is trying to extinguish the flames of the current popular uprising by intensifying its repression, launching show trials, and issuing and executing death sentences, the industrial action of the workers and official employees of the national oil industry is a clear sign of the continuation of the [wider] struggle against the ruling dictatorship. 

The turnout for this strike of workers, technicians, and official employees should be considered as being in tandem with the nationwide protest movement of the people of our country.This strike can be evaluated and supported in line with and as part of the preparation and organisation of labour strikes. In addition, the support and solidarity of workers - whether manual or intellectual - in other industrial, production, and service sectors should be sought for this action by the oil workers. In this way, the grounds will be laid for the spreading of these protests and organising of more labour strikes with the possibility of linking them even further with the nationwide popular protest movement. 

The TudehParty of Iran, the party of the working class of Iran, strongly supports the struggle of the official employees of the national oil industry as well as all workers and toilers throughout the country and stands shoulder-to-shoulder with them in this decisive struggle - and will use all ofits powers to strengthen this strike movement and secure the interests of the working class in the framework of decisively bringing down the ruling dictatorship. 

• Greetings to the workers and employees of Iran's national oil industry!
• Victory to the struggle of the working class and the toilers for their demands and against the ruling dictatorship!
• Forward towards the preparation and organisation of industrial actions and a general strike!

The Tudeh Party of Iran

17 December 2022