13 January 2010 / TODAY’S ZAMAN, ANKARA
As the first wave of demonstrations by workers who were laid off in the privatization of Tekel, Turkey’s alcohol and tobacco monopoly, is ending today without any prospect of resolution, a second wave is set to start on Friday, during which protestors have plans to hold a hunger strike, the Anka news agency has said.
After a countrywide referendum conducted last week among workers resulted in a decision to continue the protest, then on its 24th day, the Tobacco Beverage Food Workers’ Union (TEKGIDA-İŞ) called on workers employed in Tekel workplaces across the country to join the strike in Ankara starting on Friday. According to the plan, the workers will have a sit-in for the first three days. If a solution is not reached, workers will continue their protest by holding a hunger strike for three days and will eventually forego all food and water. The second wave of demonstrations is expected to be participated in by more workers and will be tougher compared to the first wave, which started on Dec. 15 and lasted for a month.
