Greetings of solidarity to TEKEL workers in Turkey

Dear Colleagues,

The demonstration of Tekel workers are still taking place in Ankara in front of Türk-Ä°ÅY Confederation despite the very cold and rainy weather and the situation is going worse. Many workers are hospitalized due to cold weather. The workers have been performing the sit-down
strike for 3 days and nights. They are staying on the streets, lying and sleeping on the freezing
floors to go on the sit-down strike.

Tomorrow they will start the hunger strike which will go on for 3 days. If the government still ignores their demands they will start the "death fast". Here is the link of the latest news ; and here is the link of a news in a national newspaper regarding the visit from European organizations including EFFAT, NGG, VER.DI and IG Metal


Below you can also find the support message of a European Parliamentarian. A group of representatives from EU Parliament, European political parties, trade unions and non governmental organisations are planning to visit Ankara next weekend and they are sending a letter to Prime
Minister and Minister of Labour and social security demanding an appointment to meet and negotiate on the situation of Tekel workers.

We hope to receive your further concrete support and solidarity.

I will keep on informing you for further developments.

Kind Regards,
Burcu Ayan
Tekgida-Ä°s trade union
International Relations Coordinator

Konaklar sok. No:1 4.Levent/Istanbul
Tel: 0090 212 2644996 *113
Fax: 0090 212 2789534

Mail vom 18.01.2010

Greetings of solidarity to TEKEL workers in Turkey

We, the Members of European Parliament of German party DIE LINKE, wish to declare our solidarity with TEKEL workers that are on strike after the disclosure of the enterprise's warehouses had been announced for 2010.

In our point of view, it is not acceptable that Turkish government has, until now, refused to enter into negotiations with the workers' trade union Tek Gýda. In accordance with Turkish law, TEKEL workers ought to be transferred to other public enterprises with full employee benefits.

The brave and resolute protest activities that have been undertaking by TEKEL workers during the last weeks are apparently necessary in order to put emphasis on their legitimate demand. We are deeply convinced that the public articulation of collective and oppositional demands is inseparably connected to the democratic process. When confronted with protest activities, government and other State representatives are asked to give proof a mature democratic attitude and the willingness to fully respect universal human rights.

Given the particular political situation in Turkey , we especially see in the peaceful interaction of Turkish and Kurdish workers and organizations a positive example in times when racist assaults give reason to deep concern.

Therefore, we call on the Turkish government to respect TEKEL workers' protest and to finally engage in negotiations with trade union Tek Gýda.

with greetings of solidarity

Jürgen Klute, MEP, DIE LINKE. on behalf of the Group of the United Left (GUE/NGL) in the European Parliament

Mail vom 15.01.2010

Alle Fotos © von Nick Brauns