Statement on the rally of TEKEL workers
Their cause is the cause of us all!
If TEKEL workers overcome, we will all overcome
We shall teach a good lesson to the Justice and Development Party (AKP). We have to teach the reactionary government that it cannot break the resistance of workers by tear gas and police baton, and make the rights and labor of the workers a present to capitalists.
TIt is time to stand by the tobacco workers of TEKEL.
The cause of TEKEL workers is the cause of all workers.
We all know what has happened in TEKEL, the public enterprise of tobacco products production. Although TEKEL was one of the most profitable enterprises of the public sector, it was first downsized, then sold on the pretext that it “makes a loss” on February 2008.
With a tender, which lasted only 17 minutes, British American Tobacco bought TEKEL at a price that is equal to the amount of the profits the enterprise could make only in 4 years.
The British American Tobacco did not buy TEKEL to produce cigarettes. It shut down these factories so as to take over the market of TEKEL in a cheap way. Thereby, it has become a monopoly.
The government is now trying to trick the workers of TEKEL, which has been pillaged and annihilated, in such a way that would annul their entire rights. AKP government is forcing workers to work 10 months and take unpaid leave for 2 months, to work for a wage that is one third of the wage they have been paid hitherto, and to give up their employee rights and bonuses accumulated so far. This is called “regulation 4-C”.
If workers accept regulation 4-C, apart from all these losses they will suffer, they will have to agree on working at any public work in any town that will be determined by the government.
The rally of TEKEL workers ongoing in Ankara is carried out against all these.
The workers have risen against slavery wages and getting laid off for two months of the year. They demand a decent, full-time work in the public sector, and a wage enough to live off.
AKP is attacking on workers
AKP has been the ruling party on its own for the last seven years. TEKEL workers have been aggrieved by AKP government.
The treatment of the government towards TEKEL workers with pepper gas and police baton, and the anti-labor policies it has pursued so far by the government is fully consistent with each other.
Despite the alleged populism of AKP, all steps taken by this party so far have proven that it is on the side of the capitalists. While dancing attendance on imperialism’s and the capitalists’ every wish, AKP cannot offer anything but gibberish when it comes to the demands of workers and the people.
AKP government has been met with great reaction as the dismal outcomes of its so-called reforms, foremost those considering the social security system, have started to be felt by the people. While AKP has acted on the confidence of the high rate of votes it received so far, it is getting into panic especially as it faces the rising organized reactions of the workers, and so reveals its true character. The main reason of the violent attacks on TEKEL workers lies simply at this point.
TEKEL workers are our sisters and brothers
The barbaric attacks on TEKEL workers last week do not only target TEKEL workers; those who attack them and those who take the decision to attack are waging a fight on the whole body of the toiling masses of Turkey.
TEKEL workers are resisting in order for claiming their jobs, their bread and their future. This resistance does not belong to them only, but also to all workers and toiling masses of our country. TEKEL workers have been carrying out the most natural act, rallying in Ankara in order to claim their rights and adopt their labor. They are using their right to resist against a decision that will affect their lives, their children and family directly.
The gains that would be achieved by TEKEL workers today will pave the way for the struggles of thousands of workers, as well as giving start to the action to “stop” the anti-labor policies of the government.
We warn AKP, and we summon all workers to take a stand
From the first day onwards, TKP has been on the side of the resistance full steam ahead, and it will remain so till the end.
We summon AKP government to accept all demands of the workers immediately and unconditionally.
If AKP government does not take such a decision, it has to know that all forces of the working class, the toiling masses, and our patriotic people will stand by the resistance of TEKEL workers.
All progressive and patriotic forces of our country, all workers’ unions and the toiling masses; our task is to foster the joint struggle against AKP by taking a stand in solidarity with TEKEL workers.
We summon Confederation of Revolutionary Workers’ Unions (DİSK), Confederation of Public Employees (KESK), and Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (Türk-İş) to take the steps so as to reinforce the resistance of TEKEL workers. This is not merely an act of solidarity, since the gains or the losses of TEKEL workers will be the gains or the losses of all workers in our country.
We will do everything in our force to support TEKEL workers in the struggle that would pave the way for the entire working class of Turkey.
Now is the time to show the power of the working class!