Arrested Airport Workers: Real Culprits are Bosses Condemning Us to Inhumane Conditions

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The arrested 3rd Airport workers have sent a letter from prison and extended their thanks to everyone who has supported them.

In the wake of a protest that was staged by the workers working in the construction of the 3rd Airport in İstanbul due to bad working conditions and occupational homicides, an operation was conducted on September 15 and 405 workers were taken into custody.

On September 19, 24 workers, a majority of whom are members of the Construction Workers Union (İnşaat-İş) and Progressive Construction Workers Union (Dev-Yapı-İş), were arrested on charges of "resisting the fulfilment of duty", "violating the freedom to work and labor", "damaging public property" and "attending meetings and marches with weapons, etc." by the Gaziosmanpaşa 2nd Penal Court of Peace.

On the website of İnşaat-İş, the arrested workers sent the following message, published under the signature of "construction workers and İnşaat-İş representatives arrested in the construction site of the 3rd Airport":

"Construction workers are not slaves"

"Our most humane demands were attempted to be oppressed by brutal force. We were taken into custody at midnight with the doors of our dormitories being broken down. We were interrogated at the security building of the IGA (employer company), battered and subjected to swear words and insults. We were tried and put into prison in an unlawful manner just because we demanded to live humanely and work humanely.

"We do not think in any way that we are guilty. Demanding rights is not a crime. The real culprits are the bosses at the IGA, who have condemned us workers to inhumane working conditions.

"We are calling out to public: Do not worry about us, we are in a good mood and in high spirits. We are sending our greetings to all friends who have heard our voices and supported us. Construction workers are not slaves!" (PT/SD)