March 21 2006 The Confederation of Progressive Labor Unions – DISK- announced in a press statement released today the beginning of the referendum which DISK and other organizations concerned about healthcare are organizing on Social Security (SS) and General Health Insurance (GSS) Proposal and called for public participation. Tayfun Görgün, speaking on behalf of DISK […]
March 21 2006
The Confederation of Progressive Labor Unions – DISK- announced in a press statement released today the beginning of the referendum which DISK and other organizations concerned about healthcare are organizing on Social Security (SS) and General Health Insurance (GSS) Proposal and called for public participation.
Tayfun Görgün, speaking on behalf of DISK and other supporting organizations explained that, if implemented, the SS and GSS bill would effect everyone’s present and future healthcare by eliminating free healthcare; so, they believed that the public should have a voice in the decision-making and decided to hold a referendum.
Referendum Is Being Held to Show Public’s Position on Health care Proposal
A statement released by DISK, KESK (public employees) and TTB (Association of Physicians) said that no government had the right to enact a bill that would also concern future generations, on behalf of the people, by itself and arbitrarily. Such an important decision could not be left to 550 representatives elected for 5 years. The decision making and the responsibility for it should be shared. There should be a referendum on the Social Security and General Health Insurance proposal.
Everybody Eligible to Vote for the Referendum
Every Turkish citizen, regardless of age, will be able to vote in the week starting on March 27 at polls located all over and also electronically.
Support for the referendum is growing. Many organizations, including the People’s House, have already joined the campaign. People’s House declared in a statement its support for the referendum and said, “The AKP (ruling party) government by implementing neo-liberal policies is pushing our working people to poverty and misery. In neighborhoods where we are active, we observe daily the decline in education and healthcare. Students who can’t go to school because of poverty and sick people who can’t afford treatment have become commonplace.
As People’s House, we want to continue our resistance to the seizure of our rights by working for and contributing to the referendum process.”
People’s House will help the campaign by setting up polls, informing the people and distributing leaflets, placards and organizing meetings and rallies.
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