Workers of TEKEL, former monopoly holder for alcoholic beverages and tobacco products, decided to continue their protest actions regarding the protection of personal employers rights. 11,000 workers from about 40 TEKEL work places in 27 provinces were called to make their vote. The ballot organized by the Tobacco, Alcoholic Beverages and Food Subsidiary Workers Union of Turkey (Tek Gıda-İş), currently 9,265 voted in favour of the resistance.

Workers replied to the Prime Minister with the ballot

With the ballot Tek Gıda-İş reacted to criticism of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan regarding the ongoing resistance of the workers: "The Prime Minister had repeatedly declared that this was an ideological action organized by certain groups and conducted by 300-500 people in Ankara".

Amaç: Government behaves stubbornly towards the workers

Tek Gıda-İş General Secretary Macit Amaç said that 5,000-6,000 people came to Ankara. However, upon the request of  theTurkish Confederation of Labour Unions (Türk-İş) the number of workers participating in the activities has been reduced. Amaç explained, "Our colleagues want to come every day by bus. We prevent them from coming. People believed that this problem could be solved by dialogue. Türk-İş tried to solve this problem by dialogue. The number of people was reduced in this aspect. It seems the government does not want to solve the problem though. Instead of finding a solution they think they use stubbornness as a tool", Amaç argued.

TEKEL Solidarity Group established

At the same time, a group of 44 Turkish artists, journalists and academics established a TEKEL Solidarity Group to support the workers. (EÖ/VK)