Thousands of teachers held protests in more than 50 Iranian cities to demand better salaries and the release of their colleagues detained in earlier rallies.

Some scuffles were reported during the demonstrations on Thursday that took place outside the parliament in Tehran and at the provincial offices of the education ministry in other cities across the country.

The Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations, which had organized the protests, reported that several people were arrested during the Thursday protests, including two in the southern city of Bushehr and one in the southwestern city of Ahvaz.

This is the fourth nationwide protest by teachers in the past two months, as they vow to continue protests until their demands are met.

Iranians with different professions are holding regular protest rallies or strikes to demand better work conditions and salaries.

Less than a week ago, hundreds of staff members from Iran’s judiciary department took to the streets in several cities.

Food prices have risen by more than 60 percent this year, on top of high inflation in the previous three years. Government figures released in recent days showed that prices for 83 percent of basic food staples have reached a critical level. People living on salaries have cut back on consumption of nutritious food, such as meat, fruits and dairy products.