Slap with Strike to the Government
Workers and labourers carried out the strike decision successively to support the struggle of TEKEL tobacco and food workers against 4-C, which means irregular, deprived from the right to organise, work with low pay.
Participation was very high particularly at the business lines of petroleum, glass and leather in spite of the pressure of the employers. The health and office labourers took their places in the action, in which the participation went up to 100% in the towns such as Yatagan and Tunceli. The members of Retired Workers Union (Emekli Sen) went on hunger strike for 1 day, due to not having the chance to stop work. The members of Kamu Sen (Public Workers´Labour Union) marched to Turk-Is (Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions) chanting slogans.
The service was totally about to stop in the municipalities where Belediye-Is Union (of Turk-Is) and Genel-Is Union (of DISK- Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey) are organised in Izmir and Adana. In particular, the buses, ferries and metro have not worked in Izmir since 6 o´clock in the morning. The buses in Adana did not work, either.
Istanbul also supported TEKEL tobacco and food workers, who are resisting for the employee personal rights, like all others cities in the country. Workers and labourers in Istanbul, who stopped work due to the joint call of 4 confederations, held a demonstration in Sarachane Park. The unions, Belediye-Is and Turk Metal participated in the action, in which about 20 thousands of people are, massively. The workers of fire brigade at resistance, Sabiha Gokcen Airport, the municipality of Esenyurt, Marmaray, Sinter-Metal Union were also in Sarachane Park, together with Presidents of various unions and the President of EMEP (Labour Party), Levent Tuzel, the President of ODP (Freedom and Solidarity Party), Alper Tas and the President of HE (Houses of People), Ilknur Birol. Turk-Is Region Secretary, Faruk Buyukkucak who made the joint declaration, said: “We are addressing the Prime Minister, who says this country is not unowned while intimidating the workers. This country is not unowned, but you are not the owners of this country. The owners of this country are TEKEL tobacco and food workers, pharmacists, grocery men, workers of subcontractors, doctors, firemen, teachers who are not nominated, unemployed people and retired people.”
The action to stop work was also massive in Ankara. Workers and labourers especially in Cankaya Municipality and in various public offices, where Petrol-Is and Turk-Metal are organised, stopped work to support TEKEL tobacco and food workers. All workers affiliated to the unions in MKE, Barutsan Factory, in some work places of TPAO, where Petrol-Is Union is organised, did not work; workplaces were left empty and the production halted in the Facilities of Botas, Kayas, Gazi Cartridge Factories, ELSA Mask Factory, where Turk Metal Union is organised.
ESM Union, Yapi-Yol Sen Union, Yol-Is Union, DISK, KESK (Confederation of Public Workers Unions), TMMOB, EMEP, ODP, HE (Houses of People) and other mass organisations met with TEKEL tobacco and food workers in Ziya Gokalp Street. Yusuf Senol, spokesman of KESK, making a joint declaration stated: “The labourers have come together and the ones who support this legitimate resistance snowball day after day. Turkey and all world have already heard the sounds of the workers and labourers, but those who want to create an empty peace atmosphere and stand to attention with IMF have not heard yet.”