Labour Movement in Turkey [15 February - 15 March]

Economic crisis, imperialist war, growing unemployment and the high cost of living... Social problems are affecting the workers more and more deeply. In many workplaces, workers keep struggling against low wages and poor working conditions.

• At PAS South plastics factory in Çerkezköy, 13 workers were dismissed because they got unionised. Dismissed workers, mostly women, started picketing in front of the factory with assistance of their union Petrol-İş.
• Another resistance keeps going in front of Krom Evye factory in Esenyurt, Istanbul. Five workers, who joined Birleşik Metal-İş Union, were dismissed. They are picketing in front of the factory.
• On March 4, DİSK (Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey), KESK (Confederation of Public Employees’ Trade Unions), TMMOB (Union Of Chambers Of Turkish Engineers And Architects) and TTB (Turkish Medical Association) made a joint press statement titled “No to War, Peace Now” in Kadıköy Square, İstanbul. Various democratic mass organizations including UID-DER attended the event in support.
• March 8, International Working Women's Day was celebrated in workplaces, squares and picket lines. On March 6, thousands of working women marched to Kadıköy Square, chanting “We heighten our struggle against poverty, violence and exploitation!”
• Resisting women workers held March 8 events in front of the Pas South and Farplas factories. In Tekirdağ, officials and members from Petrol-İş union participated in the event. In Gebze, women workers from DİSK attended the event. Participating in both events, UID-DER Women's Committee supported the resistant women workers.
• Despite crackdowns and police barricades, thousands of women in Istanbul, Izmir and Ankara came together and shouted out their demands.
• On 14 March Medicine Day and the following day, health workers went on strike to draw attention to the growing problems in the health system. Health workers called out: “We are not going anywhere, we are here! We will get what we deserve!”