Occupation of factory by workers enters 12th day
Occupation of factory by workers enters 12th day
Workers of the factory Bekaert have occupied the factory 12 days ago. Twelve days on the action gained more and more support. The action is supported by the workers' families, executives of the DISK (Confederation of Revolutionary Trade Unions) and United Metal Workers' Union as well as Maslak workers who have started a march from Düzce to Istanbul in the recent days on the grounds of their dismissal.
The action of 400 workers, who lock themselves up in the Bekaert Metal Factory of Sabanci Group in Kocaeli to support nine colleagues dismissed on May 4, continues on the 12th day with the message that the action will not be ended unless nine colleagues are brought back to work. While the workers are supported by their families with banners and applauses, about 400 hundred workers chanted slogans “Long live class solidarity”.
The action was also supported by DISK Secretary General Tayfun Görgün and board members, United Metal Workers' Union’s President Adnan Serdaroðlu and Maslak workers who had been dismissed for being members of a union.
Noting that the Confederation of Revolutionary Trade Unions have taken place within the struggle for 65 years and never made any concessions, United Metal Workers' Union’s President Adnan Serdaroðlu yesterday at the gates of the factory said the followings; "During our 65-year history, we never resigned ourselves to the powers or employers. Right now, workers are subjected to attacks in all areas. This is not a short-term struggle. A far-reaching suppression operation has been launched against DISK. We will never resign and we will fight till the end. Employers are trying to tweak our nose but they forget something; we didn’t refrain from even the supreme generals during the period of military coup. Will you tweak our nose while even they couldn’t achieve this? Our union is ready for everything. Let the employer give the decision.”
Serdaroglu’s speech was followed by DISK Secretary General Tayfun Görgün who started his words saying that the existing political power in Turkey legitimates unquestioned dismissals. Remarking that workers are forced to work under outworn and unsecured conditions, Görgün spoke as follows; “The laws of the 12 September repressive regime are still in effect. Still unsecured, the workers are confined to a few words getting out from the employers’ lips. Against all this illegality, our struggle will continue until our colleagues are brought back to work.” Serdaroglu ended his speech noting that the working class will no doubt win the victory.
While the action ended with the slogan “unemployed fathers, hunger children”, 20 Maslak workers have taken the road to Istanbul early this morning after spending the night in Kocaeli.
Translation: Berna Ozgencil
The action of 400 workers, who lock themselves up in the Bekaert Metal Factory of Sabanci Group in Kocaeli to support nine colleagues dismissed on May 4, continues on the 12th day with the message that the action will not be ended unless nine colleagues are brought back to work. While the workers are supported by their families with banners and applauses, about 400 hundred workers chanted slogans “Long live class solidarity”.
The action was also supported by DISK Secretary General Tayfun Görgün and board members, United Metal Workers' Union’s President Adnan Serdaroðlu and Maslak workers who had been dismissed for being members of a union.
Noting that the Confederation of Revolutionary Trade Unions have taken place within the struggle for 65 years and never made any concessions, United Metal Workers' Union’s President Adnan Serdaroðlu yesterday at the gates of the factory said the followings; "During our 65-year history, we never resigned ourselves to the powers or employers. Right now, workers are subjected to attacks in all areas. This is not a short-term struggle. A far-reaching suppression operation has been launched against DISK. We will never resign and we will fight till the end. Employers are trying to tweak our nose but they forget something; we didn’t refrain from even the supreme generals during the period of military coup. Will you tweak our nose while even they couldn’t achieve this? Our union is ready for everything. Let the employer give the decision.”
Serdaroglu’s speech was followed by DISK Secretary General Tayfun Görgün who started his words saying that the existing political power in Turkey legitimates unquestioned dismissals. Remarking that workers are forced to work under outworn and unsecured conditions, Görgün spoke as follows; “The laws of the 12 September repressive regime are still in effect. Still unsecured, the workers are confined to a few words getting out from the employers’ lips. Against all this illegality, our struggle will continue until our colleagues are brought back to work.” Serdaroglu ended his speech noting that the working class will no doubt win the victory.
While the action ended with the slogan “unemployed fathers, hunger children”, 20 Maslak workers have taken the road to Istanbul early this morning after spending the night in Kocaeli.
Translation: Berna Ozgencil
