KESK Rises Against Trustee Extortion and Unlawful Dismissals in Van

VAN - The Confederation of Public Employees' Trade Unions (KESK) has traveled to the city to support the workers who were unjustly and unlawfully dismissed by the trustee appointed to Van Metropolitan Municipality. KESK Co-Chair Ahmet Karagöz, Secretary General Sevgi Yılmaz and members of the Central Executive Board of the union's work branch met with the aggrieved workers and gave a message of solidarity. The delegation held a march and press statement in the city center together with the executives and members of KESK Van Regional Branches to condemn the dismissals and react to the trustee administration.

The Trustee Administration Plays with Laborers' Bread

After the slaughter of workers in the Metropolitan Municipality of Van, there was a great reaction among trade union organizations and laborers in the city. The visit of the KESK delegation was one of the most concrete indicators of this reaction. The delegation first met with the dismissed workers one by one and received information about their grievances and the legal process. Union leaders emphasized that all kinds of legal and union support will be given to the workers and that they are not alone in this process.

After the talks, branch managers and members of KESK-affiliated unions in Van gathered with banners and marched in the city center. Chanting slogans such as "Trustees Will Go, Workers Will Come!", "We are Workers, We are Right, We Will Win!", the group stated that the dismissals were made on political and ideological grounds and shouted that these practices were hostile to labor.

Press Statement Condemns Lawlessness

Speaking at the press statement after the march, KESK Co-Chair Ahmet Karagöz said that the appointment of a trustee to the Van Metropolitan Municipality was itself an act of lawlessness, and that this lawlessness was deepened by the slaughter of workers. Karagöz said, "The main duty of municipalities is to serve the people. However, instead of serving the people, the trustee administration in Van unlawfully dismisses unionized, organized and conscious workers by usurping the elected will of the people. This is not only a labor case, but also a crime against democracy, law and labor."

Karagöz continued his statement as follows: "With these dismissals, union rights are disregarded and the pressure on laborers is increased. As KESK, we never accept this trustee usurpation and unjust dismissals. Our demand is clear and unambiguous: All unlawfully dismissed workers must be reinstated immediately. In this process, we will use all legal means and continue to raise our struggle on the streets and in the fields."

General Secretary Sevgi Yılmaz said in her speech, "This situation in Van is a reflection of the trustee administrations in different regions of Turkey. We will fight to the end against this mentality that plays with the bread of laborers and usurps union rights. Like the Women's Commission of the Hava-İş Union, which says 'silence is acceptance', we, as KESK, will not remain silent against these unlawful acts. Today, here in Van, we are raising the strongest voice of this resistance. This is our stance and this struggle is a struggle for law and democracy."

Emphasizing Determination to Fight

At the end of the press release, the dismissed workers also took the floor to explain their victimization and expressed their appreciation for the union's support. After the protest, KESK delegation held a detailed planning meeting with the workers about union organizing and the legal process and determined the road map of the struggle. KESK gave the message that it will continue its struggle in Van until these unlawful acts are ended and the workers are reinstated