Iran: Over 200 Kooshk miners strike for a fifth day

Over 200 miners at Kooshk, Bafgh’s lead and zinc mine, went on strike for a fifth day. They were protesting against appalling conditions and unpaid wages.

The striking miners wrote a letter to Ali Rabii and Mohammad-Reza Nematzadeh, the Iranian regime’s Labour and Industry ministers, demanding that the “the inhuman and unjust” conditions at the mine are brought to an end immediately. Iranian Labour News Agency (ILNA) reported that the miners have asked these ministers to appoint a special inspector if necessary.

“Timely payment of monthly wages and benefits, having the necessary medical check-ups and tests, welfare provisions and compliance with health and safety needs at the mine, payment of hard work bonuses, payments for exposure to lead and food costs” are some of the demands included in the striking workers’ letter.

According to ILNA the miners were also demanding the payment of three months’ backpay. Since the strike started one month of this backpay has been paid.

About three months ago iron ore miners in Bafgh, in Yazd Province (central Iran), went on strike to protest against the privatisation of their mine. The Iranian regime used riot police and other special police units to intervene in that strike, arresting a number of striking miners.