Workers, Pensioners, Defrauded Investors, and Other Groups Stage Sixteen Protests Across Iran
8-June-2025
Category: Labor and guilds، Prisoners، protesters، Teachers
8 June 2025
News Categories: Protests – Pensioners – Workers and Trades – Teachers
Breathing in Confinement – On Sunday, 8 June 2025, at least 16 protest gatherings and demonstrations took place across various parts of Iran.
According to Breathing in Confinement, Statistics Centre of the Prisoners’ Rights League in Iran, groups from different sectors of society staged protests in various locations. Among the protesting groups were oil and gas industry workers, social security pensioners, retirees from the steel and mining sectors, defrauded investors, company employees, shareholders, adult literacy educators, housing applicants, drivers, and poultry farmers.
Protest by Social Security Pensioners
Pensioners under the Social Security Organisation held demonstrations and marches in the cities of Shush, Karkheh, Haft-Tappeh, Ahvaz, and Kermanshah. They protested against low pensions, discrimination, deteriorating living conditions, poverty, and rising prices. Their demands included improved pensions, better welfare services, and free healthcare. Some of their slogans were:
• “The Supreme Labour Council sides with the capitalists”
• “Forget the hijab – think about our livelihoods”
• “They preach religion, but practise lies and theft”
• “Shame on our IRIB, shame on our worthless parliament”
• “Where is inflation control? You lie to the people”
• “Enough oppression and injustice – our tables are empty”
Protest by Steel Industry Retirees
Retirees from the steel sector gathered in Isfahan, Tehran, Ahvaz, and Kerman to protest the failure to fully and properly implement pension equalisation, worsening economic hardship, injustice, and delays in payments. Their chants included:
• “Enough is enough – we cry out against this oppression”
• “Neither parliament nor government care for the people”
• “Implement equalisation without deception”
• “We will not rest until we get our rights”
Protest by Gachsaran Oil and Gas Workers
Third-party contract workers from Gachsaran Oil and Gas Company held a protest and march outside the company’s headquarters and Nargesi guesthouse. Their demands included abolishing the classification of jobs into ‘technical’ and ‘support’, removal of wage and pension caps, raising the minimum wage, and full implementation of Article 10. They also demanded an end to interference in the oil workers’ pension fund. Slogans included:
• “Justice, justice – your promises are empty”
• “We will not rest until we get our rights”
Protest by Industrial Project Management Employees
Staff from this company gathered outside the head office in Tehran to protest the non-payment of wages and benefits since March. They went on strike and demanded immediate resolution of their grievances.
Protest by Shareholders of Biarjomand Cement
Shareholders in Shahrud protested production disruptions and broken promises regarding grey cement. They chanted:
• “Grey cement is our rightful share”
Protest by Water Tanker Drivers
In Robat Karim, water tanker drivers went on strike and parked their vehicles in front of the governor’s office, protesting reduced fuel quotas, rising insurance costs, and low freight rates.
Protest by Defrauded Customers of Ramak Khodro
A number of customers protested in front of the Economic Corruption Department building over delays in car deliveries and price hikes despite fixed contracts. Their slogans included:
• “Manager, come down here!”
• “The government steals and the judiciary protects it”
Protest by Poultry Farmers in Ardabil
Poultry farmers gathered in front of the Ministry of Agriculture building to protest the critical state of production and the risk of bankruptcy. They demanded guaranteed purchase of chickens at fair prices.
Protest by National Housing Scheme Applicants
In Borujen, a group of applicants in the National Housing Scheme protested delays in construction and handover of their units, calling for resolution of unfinished projects.
Protest by Adult Literacy Campaign Educators
A group of educators from the Literacy Movement protested in front of the Ministry of Education over their uncertain employment status and demanded official job contracts.
Protest by Animal Rights Activists
Animal rights activists held a protest against the rising cases of dog killings and called for an immediate end to the slaughter of dogs.