Document Type : Research Article

Authors

• Hassan RajabiFard ¹
• Karim Soleimani ²

¹ PhD student of History, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

² Associate Professor of History, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

With the decline of Reza Shah’s throne in September 1941, the industrial working class—that had previously been formed in Iran—found an opportunity to express its guild demands. Meanwhile, political parties, especially the Tudeh Party, also tried to use the opportunity to propagate among the working class. In short time, they were able to get many privileges from industry owners and the government. At first, Taghi Fidakar tried to keep the union as a guild institution and away from political conflicts, but with his departure from Isfahan, the Tudeh Party used labor activities as a means to achieve political goals and eliminate its rivals, diverting the path of union struggles. This article examines the confrontation between workers and unions using a rational explanation method. Article findings show that the political and guild action of this class was based on a kind of class-consciousness and understanding, and was not merely a factor of unions and parties. On the other hand, the Tudeh Party emphasis on political issues caused the opposition parties to reduce the power of the labor unions by creating a parallel organization and derailing it. The result of this process was the forgetting of guild demands in the shadow of political activities, which caused the most damage to the workers of Isfahan.

Keywords

• Industrial working class
• Isfahan
• Political action
• Guild activity
• labor unions

Main Subjects

• Social history

Extended Abstract:

Isfahan industrialization and the emergence of the working class

After the fall of Reza Shah, the political space opened up new spaces for the political activities of social groups and parties. One of the target groups that received much attention was the workers. During this period, political parties also opened the space for trade union activities. Taqi Fadakar and Moharram Ali Shamideh decided to form an independent union called the "Workers' Union." The union's manifesto shows that the workers initially thought only of fulfilling their trade union and economic demands and did not pursue any political goals.

Establishment of parallel unions

With the emergence of unions, there came to be a resistance by the government and the industrialists. They tried to prevent the unions from operating by establishing parallel unions. The policy of establishing parallels failed because none of these parties had a coherent agenda for political and social reform. The Isfahan Workers' Union was able to seize power from the traditional forces in the municipality and the National Assembly, relying on the workers' votes. Fadakar also won the parliamentary elections.

Taqi Fadakar's departure from Isfahan allowed the factory managers to put more pressure on workers. In December 1323, Shams Sadri, Ahmad Kafami, Hossein Sarafian, and Amirkivan founded the "Union of Workers, Craftsmen, and Peasants." The most crucial goal of the new union was not to follow a trade union ends but to confront the Tudeh Party. However, in 1324, the "Union of Workers, Craftsmen and Peasants" became the primary organization of and for workers in Isfahan.

The Qavam period was one of the most critical periods for the Tudeh Party and, consequently, the working class in Isfahan. With the establishment of the Democratic Party of Iran on July 29, 1325, things began to turn out differently. The Democratic Party confronted the Tudeh Party. The Tudeh Party union sign was taken down from all the factories. Pro-Tudeh unions also joined the Democratic Party.

The spread of the financial crisis caused by the factory recession also contributed to this situation. This process continued until the years close to the Coup. One significant consequence was a diversion in the workers' union agenda and mobilization. During this period, the most crucial feature of labor activity was the conflict between the unions and their leadership by the government. Government unions also split into two branches after the fall of the Tudeh Party, losing their effectiveness.

Conclusion

Based on a rational understanding of their situation, the workers of this period supported groups and movements that could act for and fulfill their rights. However, their attempts to form an independent trade union movement failed due to the involvement of political groups and the internal weakness of this class. This eventually prevented the formation of unions and independent movements that could represent the demands of the industrial working class in Isfahan.