WORKERS CAMPAIGN AGAINST LAY-OFFS

Participants of the campaign are the socialist political forces of Freedom and Solidarity Party (ÖDP), Labor Party (EMEP), Socialist Labor Movement (SHE), Socialist Republic Collective, Socialist Party, 'Ürün' (Product) Socialist Journal, Workers Brotherhood Party (İKP), Socialist Solidarity Platform and the Revolutionary Worker Party Initiative. Furthermore, syndicates affiliated with the Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions (DİSK), the Turkey Worker Syndicates Confederation and the Confederation of Trade Unions of Public Employees (KESK) are involved in the campaign. They will start in September to collect signatures in many cities all around Turkey for the next three months.

İKP chair Prof. Zeki Kılıçarslan talked to Bianet about the campaign:

"Our request is a law for banning layoffs. We will collect signatures all over Turkey for this demand and submit them to the parliament. We also request work for the unemployed. On the other hand we are aiming to run a campaign where all elements of the labor movement will be able to act in a combined move."  

The campaign will be introduced to the public in the coming days. Kılıçarslan explained why he sees the need for such a campaign:

"People are being laid off under the pretense of the economic crisis and left unemployed. There has always been unemployment anyhow. There has not been a social reaction to that situation yet. The percentage of layoffs and unemployment during the last couple of years has reached a historic peak. That is why we have to show a reaction. Under the conditions of the economic crisis workers and the unemployed must speak with a common voice. This campaign can be a beginning to push forward the 'Ban of Layoff Committee'. (EZÖ/VK)