After losing their jobs following the sale of Tekel to British American Tobacco, workers from across the country commenced a protest against the government. The government offered the workers employment elsewhere but only on 11-month renewable contracts under Article 4/C of Law No. 657. The workers, however, insisted that the government provide permanent jobs for them in other public institutions while preserving their existing employment rights.
Members from unions affiliated with the four labor confederations, the Confederation of Turkish Labor Unions (Türk-İş), the Confederation of Revolutionary Workers’ Unions (DİSK), the Turkish Public Workers’ Labor Union (Kamu-Sen) and the Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions (KESK), held a two-hour sit-down strike Saturday.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the demonstration in Ankara on Saturday, KESK Secretary-General Emirali Şimşek said labor unions throughout the country are ready to stand against any attempt to deprive Tekel workers of their rights and condemned the government for “threatening” the workers. Noting that the Tekel workers disapproved of the 4/C offer, Şimşek called on the government to move past that proposal. He said some of his union members would join the Tekel workers, who have continued their protest in tents for the past 76 days, and stay with them for three days. “We will stay here to confront any possible attempt to remove the tents.” The government had given the Tekel workers until the end of February to finish their protest on one of Ankara’s busiest streets, Sakarya Avenue. Meanwhile, speaking to reporters on Saturday, Ankara Governor Kemal Önal said they expected to see a “favorable result” within the next two days. “This protest is going to be concluded one way or another. We hope to reach a compromise with common sense.”
Meanwhile 18 Tekel employees who were arrested for illegally protesting in front of Justice and Development Party (AK Party) headquarters in Ankara last Friday were released yesterday.
In other news related to the Tekel issue, the Anatolia news agency reported on Saturday that Tekel workers were preparing to take the issue to the European Court of Human Rights. Led by the four labor confederations, Tekel workers have already filed lawsuits in the Council of State, demanding that the 4/C program be annulled.
Labor Minister Ömer Dinçer said on Saturday that the government will accept Tekel workers’ applications to switch to the 4/C program through tomorrow and called on workers to hurry to avoid missing the opportunity to take advantage of 4/C. Mentioning the confederations’ demand from the Council of State to abolish the 4/C program, Dinçer said the workers should ask the confederations for a job guarantee, adding that the government did not want them to remain unemployed any longer. Recalling that some 2,600 out of 8,247 dismissed Tekel workers have applied for 4/C benefits so far, the minister reiterated that there is still a chance for the remaining workers to do so.
