Iran cracks down on Labor Day protests by teachers

By Elaheh Salari and Ahmet Dursun

TEHRAN, Iran (AA) – Police cracked down on protests by teachers across Iran on Sunday.

Teachers organized demonstrations in several cities on Labor Day to reiterate their demands for higher pay and better working conditions.

Clashes broke out after police used force against protesters in the provinces of Fars, Kermanshah, Kurdistan, Markazi, Ardabil, Isfahan and Bushehr.

There was no immediate confirmation of casualties or arrests, although videos circulating on social media showed several teachers being detained by security forces.

Educators in Iran went on a nationwide strike for several days last December, forcing the parliament to pass legislation to raise their salaries.

During Sunday’s demonstrations, protesters called on President Ebrahim Raisi and Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of the Iranian parliament, to ensure implementation of the law.

Other demands of the protesters include health insurance and retirement benefits, curbing privatization and maintaining free public education, recruitment of kindergarten teachers, and the release of jailed labor leaders and teachers.