Healthcare workers go on strike across Turkey, hospital halls remain empty

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The Turkish Medical Association (TTB) went on a one-day strike today (December 15) in protest against the withdrawal of the legislative proposal foreseeing improvements in the employee personal rights of physicians and dentists from the General Assembly of the Parliament. 

With the strike in effect since the early morning hours, no healthcare services are offered in medical institutions, except for emergency services, dialysis, intensive care services and emergency services for children. 

The strike called by the TTB is also supported by the Health and Social Service Laborers Union (SES), Progressive Health Workers Union and General Health and Social Service Branch Public Employees Union.

After the TTB called the strike, both patients and healthcare workers have expressed their support. The hospital halls have remained empty.

The call of the TTB reads: This strike is a warning that we lay claim to our labor and future and the people's right to healthcare. Society should lend an ear to our voice, too; the government should see the words of physicians, healthcare workers and laborers and their power that can change the healthcare system.

Today is the day when we make our shared values, professional struggle, enthusiasm and hopes visible thnaks to the power that we derive from our labor.

Today is the day when we foster solidarity and feel 'your absence on our shoulder' when one of us is missing. Today is the very day when we stand side by side, trust one another and exercise the power of our profession.

TTB Merkez Konseyi Başkanı Prof. Dr. Şebnem Korur Fincancı, Urfa'da hasta ve hasta yakınlarını G(ö)REV'e desteğe çağırdı:

???? G(ö)REV'deyiz çünkü biz sağlık emekçileri tükenirsek, siz sağlık hizmeti alamazsınız. Bugün biz sağlık emekçilerini destekleme gününüzdür.

???? #Grevdeyiz pic.twitter.com/y869GyHeMH

— TürkTabipleriBirliği (@ttborgtr) December 15, 2021

What are the demands? Why a strike?

• "We demand that all laborers of the sector working in heavy and dangerous jobs be given a depreciation of 1 year for every 5 years; we demand that the additional indicators be gradually increased from 3,600 to 7,200. 

• "We want to defend preventive health services.

• "We demand a base salary with which we can make a living and which will also affect the pensions. 

• "We demand an end to working conditions in which we work precariously, are dismissed at unreal excuses and slavery is forced upon us; we want job security.

• "We want an effective law against violence, safe workplaces and healthy working environments.

• "We want a holistic law on occupational diseases in the face of the diseases caused by occupation, especially COVID-19."

(RT/SD)