Iranians were hopeful when President Hassan Rouhani’s administration came into office. But two years into the government’s term, many civil society organizations have yet to see a change in their situation. Moreover, some have even received treatment similar to that experienced under the previous administration of Principlist President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association (ITTA) is one of these organizations. After having staged continuous rallies to voice its demands for improved conditions, ITTA and its members have received nothing but rough treatment at the hands of the authorities.
ITTA member Mehdi Bohlouli told Al-Monitor, “The teachers’ main demands are related to both their financial situation as well as status. These teachers are unhappy with the state of their livelihoods — their salaries and wages — as well as their social and work conditions, which unfortunately have drastically declined in recent years. Even in the Ahmadinejad era [2005-13], when a certain security atmosphere prevailed over the country, ITTA issued annual statements and wrote letters each year to request that its demands be met.” Bohlouli added that things appeared to be changing when the new government came into power: “The atmosphere seemed to open up, creating hope among teachers that they would now be able to voice their objections more openly, as they had done in 2006 and the years before that, and not be faced with security measures.”