In this exclusive interview, the Vox Ummah team discussed ongoing labor developments with the Iranian Federation of Gas Refinery Workers’ Associations (Bushehr Province) President Alireza Mirghaffari.
The interview focuses on the gas workers’ strike, the workers’ orientation to imperialism, their support for their homeland, and their demands for better working conditions.
Q: Could you start by describing what this facility does, who it serves, and where the gas is exported? We want readers to understand the scale of your work and its importance to the national economy.
A: The South Pars Gas Complex, the world’s largest natural gas field, comprises 13 refineries, 12 of which are currently operational. It produces a diverse range of essential products, including ethane, methane, butane, propane, gas condensates, and sulfur. Over 70% of the nation’s total energy supply originates from this strategic region, underscoring its significant strategic role in ensuring national energy security.
Serving as the primary feedstock provider for more than 50 petrochemical plants, the complex contributes to over 40% of the country’s foreign exchange earnings. It employs approximately 22,000 professionals, with more than 15,000 working through contracting companies across key operational sectors such as maintenance, production, safety and firefighting, human resources and logistics, information technology and communications, procurement, and other vital areas.
As the largest labor union in the country, we take pride in representing the workforce at the very heart of the nation’s industrial and energy infrastructure. The South Pars Gas Complex stands not only as the cornerstone of Iran’s energy independence but also as a symbol of resilience and stability in a region of critical geopolitical importance. Our strategic significance was the primary reason that one of the refineries was a direct target of the US-Zionist attack during the 12 days American-Zionist aggression.
Q: How did this strike begin, and what pushed workers to take action?
A: The strike began at the request of the Labor Union Association, supported by its policy framework dedicated to advancing workers’ rights and improving workplace conditions. Over the years, the individual labor associations — and later, the Federation of Gas Refinery Workers’ Associations of Bushehr Province — have consistently relied on collective tools such as strikes and coordinated workplace demonstrations to strengthen workers’ bargaining power and achieve tangible progress.
This latest action continues that broader, long-term effort. It reflects our union’s commitment to ensuring that every worker who contributes to this vital industry benefits equally from the standards and rights that have been secured through years of persistent bargaining and collective action.
Q: Are you part of a union or workers’ committee? How are you organising to protect your rights and build collective power among colleagues?
A: Yes, we are actively organized through formal labor unions at each of the 12 operational refineries. The structure of each workers’ association is determined based on the number of employees at the facility, through direct elections and a general assembly. Workers vote directly for candidates they trust to represent their interests.
The size of each board of directors varies between five and seven members, depending on the number of union members. After the board is elected, the association selects its officers — including the president, vice president, treasurer, secretary, and other positions — from among the elected members.
Once each association is established, a fully authorized representative is elected from the board to participate in the general assembly of the Federation of Gas Refinery Workers’ Associations of Bushehr Province, ensuring coordination and collective action at the regional level.
I serve as the President of the Board of the Labor Association at the 10th refinery of the South Pars Gas Complex, as well as the President of the Federation of Gas Refinery Workers’ Associations of Bushehr Province. I am currently serving my second term in this leadership role, working to protect workers’ rights and strengthen collective power across all refineries.
Q: What are the main demands, and what working conditions led you to this point?
A: Our five central demands build upon the progress achieved in previous rounds of negotiations and actions. They seek to extend the gains made to all workers across the complex, including those in support roles such as catering and facility services who may not yet enjoy the full range of benefits secured in earlier stages. Our current demands include:
Compensation for the temporary suspension of welfare benefits; and
The provision of air transport for contract workers coming to workplace from distanced cities to improve safety and work–life balance.
These demands are part of a continuing process of improvement and progress. Our goal is to ensure that every worker, regardless of role or employment status, enjoys the same fair conditions and respect that define the South Pars workforce.
Q: How has the strike affected your daily life and your family? What sacrifices have been made to keep the movement alive?
A: Maintaining our commitment to justice and progress has required perseverance, patience, and sacrifice from thousands of workers and their families. Despite the challenges, we have ensured that workplace stability and discipline were not undermined. Through the establishment of unified disciplinary committees, any action taken within the refineries now follows clear procedural standards, ensuring that no worker can be dismissed without due cause or evidence.
Our collective efforts have yielded tangible improvements: fairer wages, the upgrading of machinery and infrastructure — including water and drainage systems — and enhanced welfare services. These achievements have brought measurable improvements to the quality of life for workers and their families, strengthening both the workforce and the communities that depend on it.
Our path has not been without challenges. At times, external and politically motivated actors seeking to interfere in our domestic affairs have attempted to exploit or distort the workers’ legitimate struggle, making progress more difficult and costly. Yet our movement has remained firmly rooted in its founding principles — grounded in anti-imperialist and anti-colonial values, and committed to advancing the rights and dignity of Iranian workers in a manner that strengthens and safeguards Iran’s sovereignty, self-determination, and independence.
Q: Would you say there’s a shared political or moral outlook guiding the striking workers?
A: Since its establishment, the labor association has worked to raise awareness and deepen the understanding of workers regarding their rights and responsibilities. In doing so, it has created a foundation of trust and fostered a strong sense of collective solidarity among the workforce, guiding their actions with shared principles.
Q: What is the state of left-wing or union-based organising in Iran today? Do you feel connected to other struggles within the country?
A: Historically, left-wing groups in Iran have often sought to impose Western, secular, and at times anti-Islamic ideologies upon the Iranian people. Such approaches are fundamentally at odds with the cultural, historical, and civilizational heritage of this land and its people. Their Eurocentric and Islamophobic perspectives have left them without genuine roots or authentic connection to Iran, and their interventions have frequently undermined the indigenous labor movement and hindered the progress of our legitimate struggles.
For these reasons, our unions have never had, nor do we intend to establish, any connection with left-wing organizations. Instead, we maintain close and constructive relationships with justice-oriented student organizations, and at various times we have leveraged their expertise and networks to advance the rights and welfare of workers.
Regarding the broader landscape of unions in Iran, independent and strong labor organizations remain limited. This is partly due to the influence of Western-oriented/liberal fractions inside the country and neoliberal thinking and approach within structures associated with labor and worker organizations, which has often constrained the development of a truly autonomous and indigenous labor movement.
Q: As workers in a nation under economic siege, how do you see your role in resisting exploitation and shaping a just future for your people?
A: We approach the pursuit of workers’ rights systematically on three levels:
Local, regional, and workplace-centered action;
Broader national engagement; and
Global and international solidarity
From a global perspective, war, sanctions, colonial exploitation, and the subjugation of labor are all hallmarks of the current system of global imperial domination. These mechanisms serve illegitimate aims, including monopolization, resource plunder, and the exploitation of the Global South.
To confront these challenges, we recognize the need for two powerful tools: first, the development and interconnection of organizations at all three levels; and second, the strengthening of media presence and public education to expand awareness and understanding.
Once a broad and informed collective emerges — fully aware of its rights and intrests— it becomes possible to engage meaningfully within the political sphere. By attaining political influence, we can shape legislation, ensure its proper implementation, and secure outcomes that ultimately protect the public interest and the rights of workers.
Q: In these difficult times, how does your faith help you stay strong? Does Islam guide the way you think about justice and dignity in your work?
A In Islam, both the individual and society occupy a central place. Justice, the struggle against oppression, and efforts to promote welfare and reduce poverty are core pillars of Islam’s values and principles, aimed at honoring and uplifting both the individual and the community. These principles provide not only a guide for personal life but also a clear path for confronting systems built on exploitation, oppression, genocide, plunder, and colonialism.
It is not accidental that the main forces of liberation against the barbarity of US-Zionist colonial imperialism in our region remains to be guided by movements and states such as Hamas, Ansarollah, Hezbollah, and Iran are guided by principles of Islam.
The West, whose very foundation is based on genocide, colonialism, plunder, theft, and exploitation, stands against the core principles and values of Islam. For this reason, true Islam is recognized as the enemy of the collective West, and they strive with all their strength to destroy and confront its values.
On a personal level, these teachings guide me every day by shaping how I approach my work an organizing efforts. They remind me to act with integrity, stand against injustice, and prioritize the well-being of my community. Islam gives me a moral compass, helping me stay grounded and resilient even in difficult times.
