At MarBit textile corporation in Yüreğir, Adana, where nearly 300 workers work, the boss took the earthquake as an opportunity to usurp the workers’ compensation. The workers who protested in front of the workshop under the leadership of BİRTEK-SEN announced that they would not give peace to the boss without getting their compensation.
At MarBit Konfeksiyon textile factory in Yüreğir, Adana, where nearly 300 workers work, the boss took the earthquake as an opportunity to usurp the workers’ compensation. The boss, who gave the workers two weeks off after the earthquake, said the workshop would close permanently when they returned to work.
However, workers were offered money far below their rights as compensation. Workers reacted to the boss who offered only 8 thousand liras (around 400 USD) to an 8-year employee and 9 thousand liras to a 9-year employee. The workers, who said ‘The bosses are turning the earthquake into an opportunity,’ protested with their union BİRTEK-SEN in front of the workshop. The workers expressed that they were willing to fight for their compensation in the rally.
BİRTEK-SEN Union Chairman Mehmet Türkmen took the floor at the protest. Türkmen stated that many bosses took the opportunity of the earthquake to steal from the workers and that they were in solidarity with the earthquake victims, and that they were in a struggle against opportunistic bosses everywhere.
“Is the violence of the state only for the poor? Bosses are the real predators.”
Türkmen reminded that in the first days of the earthquake, those who tried to get excess supplies with the fear that help would not come were declared ‘looters,’ beaten and punished, and stated that the bosses were the real looters. Türkmen said:
Is the power of this state enough only for the poor? These bosses are the real predators. Is it not looting to take the compensation and savings of nearly 300 workers, perhaps 15 million TL in total? No one is stopping them. But we, together with our fellow workers, will not let go of these looters. Together with our fellow workers, we will not give them peace of mind anywhere until we get their rights.
MB Sendika.Org News