Truck drivers in Iran continued their nationwide strike for a 6th day, spreading to the cities of Arak, Chaboksar, Poldokhtar, Yasuj, Kavar, Kashmar, Neyshabur, Saveh, Eslamshahr, Farrokhshahr, Tehran, Ardabil and Marand.
Truck drivers were also seen on strike in Khorramabad, western Iran. 112 cities of 30 provinces are now scenes of this nationwide strike movement.
The drivers’ main demands are higher fares and lower repair costs but nothing is done for them. On July 24 an eye-catching number of drivers parked their trucks on the Chalous freeway, up north, after a lorry tipped over due to pitiable road conditions.
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In the same month of May, the general secretary of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), Stephen Cotton, wrote to Hassan Rouhani stating that ITF backs fair wages for truckers. He also reiterated the need for a free trade union that can pursue transport safety for drivers.
In Mashhad, truck drivers rejected the deceptive promises provided by regime officials and authorities. Officials were seen selling low-cost tires at the city loading terminal center and resorting to a variety of propaganda measures aimed at discouraging drivers and ending their strike.
Authorities in Kermanshah were also pressuring truck drivers, only to face stiff resistance from them. Intelligence agents and police officers in this city began taking stripping license plates off parked trucks in order to force the drivers to end their strike. The family members of the truck drivers began protesting these illegal measures, reported Iran News Wire.
Videos from various cities are being posted on the internet. You can see a montage below.
