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19 October 2009
The protest March in support of the dismissed Kent-As workers
is now drawing to a close. After more than 30 days of marching, covering close
to 600km, the workers plan to occupy a square in Ankara until such time as they
get their jobs back.
Despite an attempt by the police to try and ban the march, the
workers covered around 20km a day walking along the side of the motorway which
links Izmir to Ankara.
PSI European Secretary, Jürgen Buxbaum, joined the march on
October 10th and spoke on behalf of PSI and the EPSU expressing solidarity and
support with the workers.
The March was joined at times by members of support groups and
other unions, as well as some political parties and many passersby expressed
their sympathy and support for the protesters.
 View
photos of the march
22 September 2009
Turkish municipal workers march 500km in protest of dismissals
In April this year, 276 workers were dismissed from KENT-AS, a municipal corporation belonging to the Karsiyaka municipality in Izmir. The municipality then proceeded to contract out the municipal services.
The dismissed workers, all members of Genel-Is, PSI's affiliate in Turkey, resisted the dismissals for more than 130 days but were finally forcefully
removed from the workplace by local police forces.
The workers and Genel-Is leadership have embarked on a long protest march from Izmir to Ankara covering more than 500km.
The march began on 16 September and is planned to last around 30 days covering around 20km per day.
PSI has sent a message of solidarity and support to Genel-Is and calls on its affiliates and the international community to send similar messages of support.
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You can send this online by filling in the boxes and clicking "submit" below.
View
PSI's letter
Download
model
letter
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Message of support
Erol Ekici
President of Genel-Is
Ankara
Turkey
Fax: (+312)3091046
E-mail: basin@genel-is.org.tr
Dear Colleague,
Support for KENT-AS workers
[Name], [organisation], is writing to express support and solidarity
in your struggle to protect the jobs of the workers of KENT-AS, a municipal
corporation in Karisyaka, Izmir.
[Name], [organisation],was dismayed to learn of the dismissal of 276
workers following the contracting out of the municipal services previously
provided by KENT-AS.
We hope that your protest march from Izmir to Ankara, which began on 16
September 2009, is able to proceed free from violence or other interference from
the Turkish authorities. We wish success to all the participants in the march
and pledge our support as you continue to defend the jobs and rights of the
workers of KENT-AS.
In Solidarity,
Name
Organisation
Country
_____________________________________________
Fill in the boxes below to send this letter of protest
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