The demonstration, which originally began in protest of the government, took a different turn, later to be dominated by workers’ protests against Türk-İş head Mustafa Kumlu. Workers called on Kumlu to step down from his post.
Yesterday’s demonstration in Ankara, under the banner “Democracy and Rights Meeting for Bread, Peace and Freedom,” led to workers from unions affiliated with Türk-İş expressing their disagreement with the current board. A group of Türk-İş members, led by Türk-İş Secretary-General Mustafa Türkel, have long been urging the board to call a general strike. Workers from this group appeared on a stage following Kumlu’s speech yesterday and occupied it for some time until they were convinced by other workers to calm down.
Following the end of the demonstration, workers walked to Türk-İş headquarters. Some of the protesters attempted to occupy the building, climbing to the vicinity of the president’s office and shouting, “Kumlu step down.”
Speaking during the demonstration, Kumlu reacted once more to claims that the Tekel protests were politically motivated. “These people are trying to take our bread, the future of our children. Those who claim your struggle is politically motivated are actually trying to cover up their own mistakes.” Kumlu also criticized the government for failing to change a union law which he said weakens the unions’ authority and leaves them with fewer rights.
Having lost their jobs due to factory closures in the wake of the monopoly’s privatization, the employees started a protest in Ankara on Dec. 15, demanding that the government find positions for them with other state institutions or enterprises.
