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Should Iranian guild associations be brought closer together?

Iranian guild associations are separately pursuing a multitude of labor actions, including strikes. While many have called for closer collaboration, it is unclear whether such a convergence would aid their cause.
A man sits outside a shop, which was closed as part of a strike, in Tehran's main bazaar October 12, 2008. A week-long strike against a new value added tax (VAT) appeared to be spreading in Tehran's bazaar on Sunday, even though the Iranian government suspended the measure for two months, witnesses said on Sunday.   REUTERS/Stringer (IRAN) - GM1E4AC1M3W01

May 1 is recognized by many governments across the world — including Iran — as International Workers' Day and is celebrated in various forms.

In Iran, May 2 is Teachers' Day. Therefore, the beginning of May is of great importance for two large groups of Iranian wage earners. Following previous trends, this year witnessed demonstrations, both by teachers and by workers. However, the makeup of the participants in these demonstrations has subtly changed in recent years. A semi-governmental news agency, for example, reported that a number of retired teachers as well as teachers who work on an ad hoc basis also took part in the Workers' Day protests. Protesters held up photos of imprisoned workers as well as of imprisoned teachers. Moreover, as seen during several waves of teachers’ protests in 2018, worker and student organizations also supported the teachers' cause and demanded that authorities respond to teachers’ demands.

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