Thousands of of TEKEL workers, a public enterprise producing cigarettes and alcohol, broke through police barricades to gather in the country’s capital, Ankara, to demonstrate for job security. The demonstration was held in front of the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) offices. The management is trying to force the workers into accepting the new […]
Thousands of of TEKEL workers, a public enterprise producing cigarettes and alcohol, broke through police barricades to gather in the country’s capital, Ankara, to demonstrate for job security. The demonstration was held in front of the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) offices.
The management is trying to force the workers into accepting the new rules that would change their permanent status to contractors.
The police erected barricades on th ehighways leading to the capital to prevent the workers reaching Ankara. To stop the workers from even leaving other sities, th epolice closed the highways in Istanbul and stopped the workers at three different road blocks.
Governor bans the demonstration
The government sent large number of police and even tanks to protect the offices of the ruling party. The governor announced yesterday that the march was illegal and would not be tolerated.
The latest news we received comes from Turk-Is, the largest labor confederation. The General Secretary of Turk Is, Mustafa Turkel informed us that in many places across the country the police is stopping the workers from reaching Ankara. However the determination of the workers and their families is overcoming the state’s tactics as the workers find ways to pass the road blocks.
Turkel said they would continue their protests until the demands against privatization are met.
The workers are already at the capital and are demonstrating in front of the AKP. The women workers participation is unusually high in this demonstration organized by the “Food Workers Union.
We will report on further developments.
Sendika.org /Ankara