'It is about time that a worker is elected an MP'

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Erhan İmralı is a worker, born in 1981 in Bursa. 

In 2016 he was dismissed from the Oyak/Renault automobile factory where he had worked for nine years after participating in the wave of  industrial actions in 2015 known as the "metal storm." 

For a long period, he was not able to find a job and since 2018 he is growing mushrooms in the village of his family in Mudanya, Bursa. 

One of the labor leaders of the "Metal Storm" in the Renault factory in Bursa is a candidate for MP in the electoral district No. 1 in Bursa in the third rank.

İmralı started to work in the Oyak Renault factory in 2007. He worked there for nine years. After the actions of 2015 he continued to work at the factory for one more year but was dismissed on February 29, 2016. 

He continued to participate in the actions held by the United Metal Workers Union (Birleşik Metal-İş) for nearly one year. Like many of his friends, his names were included on a black list so he was not able to find a job in the period that followed. 

He moved to the village of his mother and father in Mudanya, Bursa. He set up a few tents and started to grow oyster mushrooms in them. İmralı who has a three year old daughter named Vera says, "You have to make your living one way or another. Since I was not able to find a job in a factory, I started working here."

bianet interviewed Erhan İmralı who is now running for MP in the May 14 elections. Below are our questions and his answers:

Can you tell us about the Bursa Renault strike? What kind of an experience was it for you?

"We had the same problems at the factory for many years. The working conditions were difficult, our rest times were very limited. We were not able to take our leaves properly.

You know the factories generally wish to operate with the minimum number of people in order to have more profit. This is why there is noone to back you up. When you have a problem there is noone to work instead of you and you are held responsible for this. Generally the union was keeping silent in the face of such problems. Therefore we wanted to have a trade union that will defend our rights at the factory instead of fighting with the employer alone."

All at the factory learnt about this, it has spread fast by bush telegraph. Our purpose was to change our trade union at first, but then the action developed and we lived the "Metal Storm" period. 

How was it on your side?

I had not been in any industrial action or any kind of protest before. I had always worked in standard jobs. You get used to things after so many years. 

Of course it feels good when you stand up and demand your rights. What you are asking for is not illegal and you see that it is possible for you to obtain it. You say that now I have to be in this and you take action. I was very happy in that period. 

Why are you now a candidate from the TİP lists? 

The main reason is the performance that TİP showed in the parliament. I believe that this is true for many people. Because people want to see that some people are revolting, shouting and demandingtheir rights. This made many people feel good. I see and hear from my friends that even people who have a rightist political stance liked it."

We were discussing who to vote to and voting for TİP was what was on our minds, with many of our friends. I received a phone call exactly at that stage which was a surprise for me. They told me that they wanted to nominate a worker for MP in Bursa.  

They wanted the workers to tell about their problems in the Parliament themselves. And I also believe that it is about time that a worker is elected an MP. 

Anything you would like to add?

We did, and we should continue to struggle, just like the time we have struggled between 2015-2016. We were waging that struggle for ourselves and for our children. We also have to think about the future for our children. Our friends working in the factory, they also have children. 

Maybe we are over 40 now, but we have to think about the future for our children and for the youth. 



(TY/PE)