300 Workers Halt Work at İstanbul Airport in Protest of an Occupational Homicide

* Photo: İstanbul Airport workers / Daily Evrensel

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18-year-old Mehmet Aydın, a contracted worker working at the new İstanbul Airport, fell down an elevator shaft and lost his life yesterday (October 31).

Following this occupational homicide, around 300 of his colleagues at the construction site of the airport have halted work in protest.

The workers did not go to their places of duty in the morning today and gathered in the dining hall. Halting work to protest the occupational homicide of Aydın, the workers have announced that they will not start working again until the necessary measures are taken.

'Safety measures are not taken'

Indicating that the necessary safety measures are not taken at the construction site, the protesting workers have also stated that the elevator shaft along the working trail is not closed and fixed, they are working overtime, there is no lighting or light on the walking trails and they have to walk with the flash of their mobile phones.

Preparing to get engaged at the weekend, deceased worker Aydın reportedly opened the door of the elevator shaft, thinking that it was the door of the stairs, and fell down the elevator shaft.

'We will not start working'

Workers have announced that they will not start working if the necessary measures are not taken until November 4.

"We are working under bad conditions even in this weather. It is very cold and neither the subcontractor, nor the main company has distributed us a coat", the workers have indicated further.

The deceased body of Mehmet Aydın was sent to his hometown Gürpınar in Van this morning. (HA/SD)

* News source: Daily Evrensel