Workers on strike today

Union confederations are holding a one-day strike in order to display solidarity with employees of Tekel, Turkey’s former Tobacco and Alcohol monopoly. The nationwide strike is anticipated to disrupt services.

The strike, which is being held under the directives of unions, TÜRK-İŞ, HAK-İŞ, DİSK, MEMUR-SEN, TÜRKİYE KAMU-SEN and KESK, is expected to negatively affect daily life.  

Meanwhile, after 51 days of demonstrations by Tekel workers, three workers who were participating in the hunger strike had to be taken to the hospital.  

While the situation involving Tekel workers has brought the unions and the government against each other, as of yesterday the, number of Tekel laborers who have decided to apply for the 4-C status, which involves temporary placement in other public institutions, has gone up to 420. The improvement of conditions in the 4-C Article, which came as a result of recent deliberations with the government upon a directive by Prime Minister Erdogan, is suspected to have been influential. Approximately 8,300 additional workers are expected to also sign on to 4-C status.