Two hour general strike in Turkey

[Devrim]

Two hour general strike in Turkey

"They embarked on a slow-down strike. It is absolutely illegal, there is not a single law that permits the strike" was the way that Turkish Prime Minister , Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reacted to the two hour strike on Friday.

Education Minister Hüseyin Çelik threatend legal action not only against teachers who had joined the strike, but against every illegal strike act. He said "We will do what is necessary. Teachers don't have any excuse for staging a slowdown".

The strike against the Governments new social security plans included teachers, airport workers, petrochemical workers train, and bus drivers, and other sectors.

It was the biggest strike in Turkey since 1991.

Further conflict looks inevitable.

Devrim

[AGITprop]

Two hour general strike in Turkey

"They embarked on a slow-down strike. It is absolutely illegal, there is not a single law that permits the strike" was the way that Turkish Prime Minister , Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reacted to the two hour strike on Friday.

Education Minister Hüseyin Çelik threatend legal action not only against teachers who had joined the strike, but against every illegal strike act. He said "We will do what is necessary. Teachers don't have any excuse for staging a slowdown".

The strike against the Governments new social security plans included teachers, airport workers, petrochemical workers train, and bus drivers, and other sectors.

It was the biggest strike in Turkey since 1991.

Further conflict looks inevitable.

Devrim

Very interesting. Who was this organized by, a labour party in particular? Are there any groups involved in this movement currently or was this a spontaneous recent development?

[Devrim]

A couple of links from the Islamicist (the best English language)press:
http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=136350
http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=136464

It was organised by various unions ranging from yellow to revolutionary syndicalist.

Devrim

[PRC-UTE]

Just wondering if you can explain more about why it was only two hours- was that to avoid harsher repression or were too many of the workers unable to afford a longer strike, etc.?

[Devrim]

It is an important question. I don't think that the answer is anything to do with the specific conditions though. The trade unions do things like this everywhere.

Devrim

[Leo]

Just wondering if you can explain more about why it was only two hours- was that to avoid harsher repression or were too many of the workers unable to afford a longer strike, etc.?

No, it's just meant to be a warning strike.

[PRC-UTE]

Thanks for the replies.

Just asking as I have a family member facing a possible upcoming strike, and I know he is hoping to avoid it as he can't afford it and will have to rely on his son's part time job to live off of...

[Devrim]

The longest strike that I was ever involved in was about three and a half weeks. It was difficult, but you cope.

Devrim

[Devrim]

More strikes planned for tomorrow:


Turkey's leading labor groups known as the
Emek (Labor) Platform announced they will launch mass protests against Social Security and Health Insurance draft law, throughout Turkey at 2:00 p.m. on April 1.

Revolutionary Labour Unions Confederation (DISK), Confederation of Public Employees Labour Unions (KESK) Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers & Architects (TMMOB), Turkish Medical Association, and Turkish Dentists Association will launch mass protests throughout Turkey which will begin with a press statement at 2:00 pm on April 1 in front of the Parliament building.

KESK Chairman Ismail Hakkı Tombul held a press conference on Friday and said they would leave their work places at 2:00 p.m. April 1 and launch mass protests. He said they would gather in front of the Parliament's Dikmen gate and make their voices be heard once again.

Tombul said they would also attend the rally organized by the "Health and a Secure Future for All Platform" on April 6 in Istanbul.

Devrim