Student Workers Exploited and Sacked

About 1,400 students protested at Anadoulu University to prevent the lay-off of student employees.

The university administration prepared for laying off approximately 1,000 students on 14 November, applying regulations issued by the Higher Education Council (YÖK).

In the course of their struggle against the dismissals, the student employees also established the website isimizgeriistiyoruz.org, meaning 'we want our jobs back'.

Working hours for the remaining students will be decreased by half and their salaries will be reduced accordingly. Moreover, the students lose their right to a free meal in the university's canteen.

The reason for this is one article of YÖK's regulation on "Higher Education Institutions Part-Time Students Work Procedures and Bases".

No job after 4 years of studying, limited insurance, overtime not recognized

According to the new regulation enforced on 1 September this year, one of the conditions to be employed as a student worker is "to be educated within the normal schooling and education time". This means that students studying at university for more than 4 years cannot work within the university any further.

The total working time per week is limited to 15 hours.

The maximum hourly wage is one fourth of the gross minimum wage. This means 174 Turkish Lira (approximately € 80) per months until the end of 2009.

If required by the supervisor, the student has to work under open conditions such as on weekends, at nights and on public holidays. The students are not considered as "workers".

For their social security only accidents while on duty and occupational diseases are implemented.

"After the writing from YÖK we lay off students"

Secretary General of the rectorate Güven Tuncer talked to bianet and confirmed the dismissals:

"Two thirds of the students will stop working due to the normal period of education. The remaining students will have their working hours decreased from 30 to 15 hours. All universities connected to YÖK are obliged to implement the regulation. However, the Anadolu University Faculty of the Open University has more than 1 million students and employs a very large number of student workers. It is impossible to transfer the laid-off students to another position or another company", Tuncer said.

Students step up against exploitation

The students are protesting since 9 November and demand the following:

- cessation of lay-offs

- grant full rights of social security and alimentation

- payment of un-paid overtime

- No cut-offs under the pretence of decreasing working hours

"How can we live on 200 lira?"

A student who preferred to remain anonymous talked to bianet about her/his personal situation. The student worked at the university for 3 years and said, "Working students do not benefit from scholarships either. They expect us to live on a monthly income of 200 lira (€ 80). Since we appear insured in the places we worked we cannot have additional jobs. We call the unions and the local media for more support".

"They made us work unpaid overtime and sacked us"

Onurhan Demirkol explained how he and 8 friends of him were made redundant 4 months ago:

"When we worked in the media centre they suddenly told us that there was no need for us anymore and sacked us. We had to work 30 hours but worked 50 hours without being paid for the overtime. This instant dismissal after 3.5 years had an impact on my life". (TK/VK)