16 public workers were suspended from duty after a strike on 25 November on the grounds of "inhibiting the freedom of the passengers ". A further 30 workers were suspended shortly after because they supported their 16 suspended colleagues by continuing the strike. 16 railway workers have been returned to work yesterday and the day before (20/21 December).
United Transportation Workers Union (BTS) Chairman Yunus Akıl said that meetings for the return of the remaining 30 workers are still continuing with the State Railways of the Turkish Republic (TCDD).
Union Istanbul Branch Chairman Hasan Bektaş claimed, "It is not enough to return the workers to work, the interrogations must be stopped".
At the same time, Confederation of Trade Unions of Public Employees (KESK) Chairman Sami Evren demanded the return of all suspended railway workers. In his speech at a demonstration in Ankara he warned the government, "We are up for a larger protest action".
Workers demonstrated against suspensions made by TCDD
KESK and the Public Workers Unions Confederation of Turkey (Kamu-Sen) went on strike on 25 November for their right to strike and to collective agreements. The strike affected the railways in particular since many trains were out of service. The government threatened the workers by applying sanctions, stating that the strike was against the law. Thereupon, 16 railway workers had been suspended.
As a reaction to the suspension an in order to support their colleagues, the railway workers went on strike again on 16 December.
The police intervened against the demonstrators at Istanbul's centrally located Haydarpaşa station and arrested numerous people, among them also union leaders. These workers were released later on. TCDD suspended another 30 workers that had participated in the protest action.
Akıl from BTS said that the workers' return was a result of the second strike on 16 December. "This was the first solidarity strike carried out by public employees in Turkey. If necessary, we will demonstrate our determination and our power again", Akıl declared.
"Railway workers should return to work"
Union members made a press release in front of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM).
Evren, who participated in the demonstration himself, announced: "A duty is allocated to us here: to carry out this struggle altogether and to ensure an organized struggle. We have to stand together against this injustice. We are warning the government, we are ready for a much bigger protest action than the one on 25 November".
Akıl from BTS argued, "The political power insists on taking the transportation employees to account for 2 million public employees that went on strike and put public life to a standstill on 25 November. If our strike was indeed against the law, then 2 million public employees had to be suspended from work. If this is not the case, our colleagues have to be returned to work immediately". (BÇ)
Sources: memurlar.net and Özgür Radio.
