KESK: AKP turns precarious work into "normal" practice

The economic crisis in the country stemming from the war policies of the AKP government is getting deeper.

The Confederation of Public Workers Trade Unions (KESK) co-chair Mehmet Bozgeyik evaluated 2019 and 2020 in terms of both public workers and general workers and the deepening of the economic crisis.

Bozgeyik said that the past year was very difficult for workers and added: "We can say that 2019 was a year in which the attacks on our job security have been very heavy."

Bozgeyik continued: "The State of Emergency declared after the coup of 15 July 2016, was used against work, our most basic constitutional rights in Turkey were heavily attack. Then, with the economic crisis in 2019, the attacks increased even more. Many workers were dismissed, factories closed, small tradesmen and industrialists went through a very difficult process. As a result of neo-liberal policies, the AKP has implemented many regulations that will de facto eliminate permanent employment."

Mehmet Bozgeyik said that "with the institutionalization of the regime, job safety began to be forgotten, flexible working hours requested, contract work and performance-based work came to form a new process which we call of legal regulations being implemented."

The government did not answered to the unions' demand for dignified wages, strikes were banned. "We have also faced intensive attacks as to freedom of thought and expression", said KESK co-chair.

What to expect in 2020

The future does not look so bright, said Mehmet Bozgeyik, reminding that the trustees appointed to many HDP-run municipalities also meant new dismissal of workers. "A total of 1700 public workers were dismissed by the trustees assigned by the government to the HDP-run municipalities," said Bozgeyik.

KESK co-chair drew attention to the resistance around the world, and said: "In 2019 we saw workers resisting all over the world. Workers resisted against the climate crisis, unemployment and poverty. Strikes in Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, Argentina and France. and rights struggles continue.

In Turkey we have experience of struggle against the 17-year government of the AKP. KESK will fulfill its responsibilities by developing a peace struggle together with the forces of labor and democracy."