Workers protest Turkish government in mass rally

Workers from around Turkey protested the government's labour policies and called for general strike at a mass rally in Ankara on Sunday.

A large group of workers from all corners of Turkey poured into the Sihhiye square in Ankara for the "Democracy and Rights" mass rally organised by Turkey's largest federation of labour unions, TURK-IS.

Major labour and trade unions like DISK, KESK, TMMOB and TTB, political parties, civil organizations and student groups also participated in the mass rally organised to extend support to firemen who are opposing the privatization of fire department Istanbul, sugar workers opposing the shutting down of the sugar factories, and workers from the privatised TEKEL (Monopoly) factories who have been struggling for 34 days in Ankara to secure a transfer to other public institutions along with their employee rights.

TURK-IS Chairman Mustafa Kumlu addressed the protestors during the rally.

Protestors often chanted slogans calling for general strike.

TEKEL workers who were expecting Kumlu to declare a general strike, gathered in frustration around the platform after Kumlu finished his speech.

A group of Tekel workers got on the platform, chanted slogans calling Kumlu to declare general strike.

After the mass rally, representatives of labour unions and civil organizations which participated in the rally visited the Tekel workers who have been on a sit-down strike in front Turk-Is HQ.

/World Bulletin/