As worker protests continue in Başpınar, Antep, the Gaziantep Governor’s Office has imposed a 15-day ban on demonstrations and events across the city. Workers, who had gone on strike demanding better working conditions and fair wages, now face legal restrictions aimed at curbing their resistance.
Workers Fighting Against Harsh Conditions
With the start of the wage adjustment period, workers in Antep have been protesting against what they describe as “slave-like” conditions for days. Their actions have spread from factory to factory, uniting workers across industries in their fight for justice.
However, government-imposed bans—often backed by presidential decrees—seek to break these movements, preventing workers from exercising their right to strike and demand fair treatment.
State and Employers United Against Workers
While workers struggle for their rights, factory owners in Başpınar continue to grow with the help of government support, tax exemptions, and financial incentives. Every time workers stand up to demand their rights, business owners and state authorities join forces to suppress their resistance.
Union Leader Condemns the Ban
Since the beginning of the protests, Mehmet Türkmen, President of the United Textile, Weaving, and Leather Workers’ Union (BİRTEK-SEN), has been actively supporting the workers. He strongly condemned the governor’s decision, calling it unlawful.
“You trample on the law, the constitution, the right to strike, and the freedom to seek justice for one’s livelihood… The very laws you are supposed to uphold—have you become so blinded that you are willing to commit crimes against workers and the public at the behest of business owners?” he asked.
As tensions rise in Antep, workers remain determined to continue their struggle despite the bans, proving that their fight for fair wages and dignified working conditions is far from over.
