Members of the United Transport Workers Union (BTS) and the Press, Publications, Communication and Postal Workers Union (HABER-SEN), affiliated to the Confederation of Public Employees' Trade Unions (KESK), are marching to Ankara demanding an end to the dismissals and exiles of their colleagues. After Amed, Malatya and Izmir yesterday, the march kicked off from Istanbul and Zonguldak today.

 'WE WON'T SURRENDER TO THE DARKNESS!'

BTS and HABER-SEN members made a press statement in front of the General Directorate of Istanbul Post and Telegraph Organization (PTT) in Sirkeci and started the Ankara march. HABER-SEN Women's Secretary Ayşe Noyan Koluman read out the statement.

Stating that they are heading for Ankara from all over the country, Koluman said: "In the face of the oppression against the members, managers and representatives of our unions operating in the institutions of the same ministry, we urge the government to stop these discriminatory and unlawful practices and we emphasize that we do not remain silent. The government favors political affinity and eliminates merit in public careers.

'OUR RESISTANCE MADE THE GOVERNMENT UNCOMFORTABLE’

The statement said that the exams for public offices are unlawful and this creates inequality within the institution. "While anti-democratic practices are increasing under pandemic conditions, we are not even allowed to organize actions and events to seek our rights, and even sharing our events on social media is seen as a threat, investigations are opened, we are punished."

'AKP PUTTING PRESSURE ON THOSE WHO DO NOT OBEY'

“The AKP government, which sees dismissals from public offices as a weapon, silences and suppresses those who do not obey themselves and who are in favor of peace, democracy, human rights, union rights and freedoms. Dismissal decisions are made against our directors and members without any evidence or justification.”

‘WE WILL BE IN ANKARA ON FEBRUARY 4’

The statement continued, “If you think that you will intimidate us through these unfair and unlawful decisions and practices, you are wrong. We did not hold back from the struggle against all these pressures, and we will not. Today, we are going to Ankara from all four points of our country to make our voices heard. We will be in Ankara on February 4th. It should be well known that we will stop these illegal practices against our members and executives through our actual, legitimate and legal struggle.”

HDP: WE ARE WITH YOU UNTIL THE END

After the statement made here, the crowd moved to Haydarpaşa Train Station in Kadıköy where the police did not allow the planned press statement. Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) MP Musa Piroğlu joined the group here to express the solidarity of his party, saying, “You are doing the most honorable job in this country, and whoever does an honorable job and defends his rights is faced with force like now. We have been experiencing this for days. The government is trying to stop those who seek their rights by force. We are strong, we will win, we are with you until the end.”

After the press releases at PTT Regional Directorate of Kocaeli, Sakarya Turkey State Railways (TCDD) and Düzce PTT Regional Directorate, the unionists will arrive in Ankara tomorrow and will make a press release there.