Tekel Workers Have Final Say for End of Resistance

In a joint decision, the Turkish Confederation of Labour Unions (Türk-İş), the Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions (DİSK), 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 Gıda-İş). 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-İş 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 71^st 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)