In Turkey, the right of workers to seek justice and demand wage increases has been banned. All forms of worker protests have been prohibited. Earlier detained union leader Mehmet Türkmen of BIRTEK-SEN has now been released.
Over 3,000 workers across 20 workplaces were set to strike, but their action was halted by the Governor of Antep. Notably, two of the affected factories belong to a Member of Parliament from President Erdoğan’s party—a connection that many believe prompted the Erdoğan government to impose the strike ban.
Critics argue that Turkey’s legal system is operating solely in the interests of President Erdoğan and his ruling party, effectively sidelining the rights of the working class.
A Renewed Call for Worker Rights
With the release of Mehmet Türkmen, the struggle for worker rights continues. Workers are calling for:
• Full recognition and acceptance of their demands.
• An end to the bans on strikes.
Furthermore, all trade unions in the United Kingdom are urged to stand in solidarity with BIRTEK-SEN and Turkish workers as the debate over labor rights intensifies.
As the situation develops, the international community is encouraged to remain vigilant and support efforts to safeguard workers’ rights in Turkey.
