Tekel Workers Have Final Say for End of Resistance
Four labour unions confederations announced their joint decision to end the resistance in case the Tekel workers decide not to continue. The confederations consider the resistance as a success.
A view from a recent demonstration in support of dismissed workers from Tekel. TekG?da-?? President Mustafa Türkel, the main actor behind the Tekel protest, which entered its 71st straight day, resigned as Türk-?? secretary-general on Tuesday while the Tekel impasse still awaits to be adressed. |
Istanbul – B?A News Center
In a joint decision, the Turkish Confederation of Labour Unions (Türk-??), the Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions (D?SK), the Public Workers Unions Confederation of Turkey (KAMU-SEN) and the Confederation of Trade Unions of Public Employees (KESK) announced that the struggle of the Tekel workers was successful and that the resistance will end if the workers decide accordingly.
The confederations reminded that support actions for the Tekel workers are being carried out all over the world this week. They summarized their joint decision as follows:
Confederations will comply with decisions of the Tekel workers: The confederations will proceed according to the will of the workers and comply with the decisions to be taken by the Tobacco, Alcoholic Beverages and Food Subsidiary Workers Union of Turkey (Tek G?da-??). All actions will still be carried out upon those decisions.
Successful resistance: The struggle of the Tekel workers can be considered as a success since it influenced millions of people within the country and internationally.
Government urged for a quick solution: The confederations condemned the government for remaining insensitive towards the requests of the workers and leaving them with a choice between starvation and slavery. The confederations called the government to find an urgent solution.
Intervention unacceptable: The confederations believe that the protest movement lead by Türk-?? and started by the will of the workers can only be brought to an end if this again corresponds to the will of the workers. The interventions to be made by the government cannot be accepted.
Not only Tekel workers: The problems experienced by the Tekel workers are a threat which might soon be faced by workers from PTT, sugar factories, energy companies and similar public enterprises.
Torchlight march and sit-down strike
Several support actions are planned for this week: Banners with the workers’ demands will again be posted at all involved work places. A torchlight march followed by a public press release is scheduled for 25 February. On 27 February, a sit-down strike and a subsequent public press release is planned.
71 days of resistance
The workers of the closed Tekel leaf tobacco factory demand to be transferred to other public enterprises under protection of their existing employee personal rights. Today is the 71st day of the workers resistance.
The Tekel workers resist against working under the 4C regulation which would deprive them from their right to collective agreement and to strike. 4C furthermore includes a cut of salaries and severance pay without job guarantee. The workers want to work at public enterprises under the Labour Act instead.
The government on the other hand insists on 4C and has improved the regulation’s conditions, that is to say a raise in wages, extending the duration of employment to eleven months, 22 days of leave and severance pay. (TK/VK)
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05 February 2010, Friday
Tens of thousands of people used their right not to work for one day and supported the struggle of the Tekel workers in a general strike. For Türk-?? President Kumlu it was a successful protest action withstanding the pressure of officials and employers.
Confederations discuss how to proceed
Representatives of the six union confederations that took the joint decision for a general strike will meet today (5 February) at the Public Workers Unions Confederation to discuss how to proceed after yesterday’s major protest action. Members of the Civil Servants Unions Confederation (MEMUR-SEN) joined the general strike only to some extent, a considerable part of the members did not participate.
“Successful despite the pressure”
Türk-?? President Kumlu said in an announcement, “The protest action to use our right not to work was a success despite the pressure and the threats of the governorship, the bureaucrats and the employers”. Kumlu added that according to information given by representatives from provinces and districts, Tekel workers were supported by tens of thousands of people.
“The government should get the message”
Kumlu expressed his gratitude to the organizations that took part in the protest action and boosted it with their support. The confederation president argued, “Türk-?? wants the government to understand well the message of this action and to accomplish what is necessary. Türk-?? points out the necessity in respect to the social conscience to solve the workers’ problems as soon as possible”.
Turkish Confederation of Labour Unions (Türk-??), the Hak Workers Union Confederation (Hak-??), the Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions (D?SK), the Civil Servant Unions Confederation (MEMUR-SEN), the Public Workers Unions Confederation of Turkey (KAMU-SEN) and the Confederation of Trade Unions of Public Employees (KESK) decided for a general strike because of the government’s insistence to employ the workers of the recently closed down Tekel leaf tobacco factory as “temporary personnel”.
Erdo?an did not get the message
In the course of a press conference in Ankara Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdo?an described the general strike as “unjust” and “ideological”. He signalized that the government is not going to change its position. Previously, the government stuck to the “temporary employment” model and had suggested to improve the regulation’s conditions.
Government mislead the public
Erdo?an mislead the public by claiming the resistance of the Tekel workers to be “illegal” and an “occupation”. He pronounced that the government is going to intervene against the workers in front of the Türk-?? head office by the end of this month.
The Ankara Governor Kemal Önal threatened civil servants right before the general strike with a writing stating that the protest action was “illegal” and participants would have to face consequences.
KESK Legal Advisor Oya Ayd?n gave the all-clear and said that both the general strike and the Tekel workers’ resistance in Ankara were in line with the law. Ayd?n told bianet that Turkey was convicted by the European Court of Human Rights for similar incidents in the past and also referred to the Constitution.
Enormous support all over the country
In Istanbul, 15,000 people demonstrated for the interests of the Tekel workers on the European side only, another couple of thousand people gathered on the Anatolian side in Kad?köy. KESK President Semi Evren and D?SK President Süleyman Çelebi called the Prime Minister to come together with the unions to solve the problems of the workers in respect to unionization rights.
In Ankara, Office Workers Union (BES) members employed at the State Council and Anatolian Agency (AA) workers stopped working as well. Union members, members and executives of political parties, staff of magazines and non-governmental organizations showed their solidarity with the Tekel workers.
In Izmir, public bus service was out of service till 2.00 pm. Public service was temporarily abandoned. Thousands of protestors gathered at the central Konak Square. Kundakç? from Türk-?? addressed the Prime Minister: “If you take down our sings, we will take down AKP’s signs”; Tekel worker ?engül pronounced, “We struggle for the future of our children”.
Further protest actions were carried out in major cities all over the country such as Sakarya and Tekirda? in the north-west, Zonguldak, Samsun and Rize spanning from the western to the eastern tip of the Black Sea coast, Amasya and Tokat in central Anatolia, Denizli and Didim in the southern Aegean region, Mersin at the southern tip of the Mediterranean Sea and Batman in the south-east of the country.
450 TEKEL workers agreed to a 4C transfer
According to data given by the Ministry of Labour, 450 Tekel workers agreed to a transfer under the 4C regulation. The government data shows more than 8,000 workers in the context of the Tekel leaf tobacco factory. The data furthermore revealed that as of the present day 6,120 workers have taken their severance pay.
Cabinet took official decision
The cabinet’s latest decision regarding “temporary personnel” employment in public enterprises was published in the Offical Gazette on the day of the general strike.
This year a total of 36,215 workers are assigned to 18 ministries, two general directorates and several universities to work under the 4C regulation of the Civil Servants Act.
The decision also reflects the improvements previously proposed to Tekel workers within 4C, namely a maximum work duration of eleven months per year, a maximum of 22 days of paid leave and severance pay. (TK/BÇ/BB/VK)
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Millions of People Stop Work for Tekel Workers
Millions of members of six union confederations join the general strike to support Tekel workers in their struggle for job security and take action against the pressure imposed to the workers. Türk-?? President Kumlu repeated the request to protect the workers’ employee personal rights.
According to a joint decision taken by six union confederations, millions of workers stopped work today (4 February) from 8.00 am to 5.00 pm to support the workers from the closed down Tekel leaf tobacco factory.
Turkish Confederation of Labour Unions (Türk-??), the Hak Workers Union Confederation (Hak-??), the Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions (D?SK), the Civil Servant Unions Confederation (MEMUR-SEN), the Public Workers Unions Confederation of Turkey (KAMU-SEN) and the Confederation of Trade Unions of Public Employees (KESK) took the joint decision for a general strike. Reason for this large-scale action is the government’s insistence to employ the workers of the recently closed down Tekel leaf tobacco factory as “temporary personnel”.
“The Tekel workers achievement is an achievement for the Turkish people”
D?SK President Süleyman Çelebi said in a sit-in strike one day before the general strike: “The achievements of the Tekel workers are in fact an achievement for Turkish people. The Tekel workers are Turkey’s conscience. We call everybody who has a conscience to show solidarity to the Tekel workers and join their protest”.
“The government should not miss this opportunity”
KAMU-SEN General Director Aky?ld?z announced in a press conference on Wednesday (3 February) that the general strike is a serious warning and that the government should not miss out on this opportunity.
“This system means lack of security, lack of severance pay, lack of unionization and poorly paid workers who can be laid off at any time. Even for civil servants security is being eliminated. Finally, workers have started to wake up – the work power that was oppressed for years, that was despised and still showed patience and common sense. Thus, it is no surprise that the Prime Minister is accused of using the workers with a malevolent attitude towards the unions”.
“We are on strike; we will show the workers’ determination”
KESK declared: “The political power acted on the assumption that nobody would advocate for the Tekel workers who were carelessly made redundant. Tekel workers lighted a torch to enlighten the darkness of years. We will not have that torch extinguished. We will show the workers’ determination once more with the solidarity strike on 4 February”.
The Contemporary Lawers’ Association (ÇHD), the Turkish Medical Association (TTB) and the Turkey Union of Chambers of Architects and Engineers (TMMOB) declared their support for the strike.
“4C is not the issue”
In a speech in the morning of 4 February in front of the Türk-?? building in Ankara, Türk-?? President Mustafa Kumlu called Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdo?an to pay the Tekel workers a visit:
“Please come here and see what is happening. See the way of life of the Tekel workers and listen to them for once. Witness their determination – and I promise you that we will welcome you with a warm applause”.
Kumlu reiterated that the actual issue is not 4C but the request to protect the workers’ employee personal rights and transfer the workers to public enterprises with their former status.
Country-wide support
The general strike gushes like a flood of solidarity through the whole country, protest actions are being organized all over Turkey.
In Istanbul, two protest marches with thousands of participants are on their way to meet at Saraçhane Park on the European side. D?SK members from several districts are meeting in Kad?köy on the Anatolian side of the city.
Supporters in Ankara met for a protest march approaching the meeting point from three different directions to continue together. The demonstration culminated in the speech made by Türk-?? president Kumlu.
Further protest actions are being carried out in major cities of the country such as ?zmir, Adana, Diyarbak?r and Antakya. (TK/BÇ/VK)
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16 February 2010, Tuesday
“World-wide Action” for TEKEL Workers
The International Unions Confederation, umbrella organization of unions in 155 countries, will organize a world-wide action for the rights of Turkish Tekel workers. The Europe Unions Confederation urged the government to start talks on transferring the workers under protection of their rights immediately.
The International Unions Confederation (ITUC) organizes an international day of action for Tekel workers who have been carrying on with their resistance in the Turkish capital of Ankara for 64 days.
The Turkish Confederation of Labour Unions (Türk-??) informed bianet that ITUC replied in writing to a call for solidarity from Türk-??. According to the response, the confederation is going to organize a world-wide day of action for the Tekel workers in the coming week.
ITUC is the umbrella organization for approximately 175 million workers and 311 national organizations from 155 countries and regions.
In addition, the Europe Unions Confederation (ETUC) is going to publish a bulletin, urging the government to start talks as soon as possible in order to transfer the Tekel workers to public enterprises under protection of their rights. “ETUC supports these workers who struggle for their most basic needs and for a humane life in return for humane work”, the organization declared. ETUC sent a special advisor to Ankara last week.
The Tekel workers resist against working under the 4C regulation which would deprive them from their right to collective agreement and to strike. 4C furthermore includes a cut of salaries and severance pay without job guarantee. The workers want to work at public enterprises under the Labour Act instead.
The government on the other hand insists on 4C and has improved the regulation’s conditions, that is to say a raise in wages, extending the duration of employment to eleven months, 22 days of leave and severance pay. (EY/TK/VK)