ENGLISH (27-28.02.2008) Thousands of dockyard workers went to strike on the 27th-28th of February, despite heavy police repression. The strike, called by DISK/Limter-Is union, came after 18 deaths of workers in 8 months. The incidents -called as 'work accidents' by the bosses and 'work homicides' by the labor union- created a wave of anger among the dockyard workers. The death toll counts 83, since 2000.

Tuzla: Symbol of capitalist exploitation

Tuzla dockyards, the heart of Turkey's shipmaking business, was paralysed by the de-facto worker strike today. This had been a historic success of the working class; since it is the first strike done in a largely fragmented, sub-contracted region. Tuzla dockyards are a symbol of capitalist barbarism; where great portion of the workers are unregistered, many workers die because of so-called 'work accidents' and exploitation has no legal limits. Even the death of many workers remains unregistered, since the bosses pay 'blood money' to the poor and desperate worker families to silence them. Thus, many of their crimes remains secret.

Union leaders tortured and arrested

The tension grew in the dockyards region, since last August. 18 workers had died (or, better to say, 'killed', since these deaths are inevitable results of the barbaric working conditions) in 8 months. Especially after the global financial crisis which began in January, worker deaths increased dramatically. Each day new workers were wounded or died.

Limter-Is union called for a “de-facto strike” in the region for the 27th and 28th of February, to stop these work homicides and to show the workers' strength to the bosses. The strike was to begin at 6 o'clock in the morning and to last for 48 hours. The state exposed its' enmity to the workers and its' engagement to the ruthless capitalists by attacking the workers in the deluge hours of the first day. The brutal police attack came while the Limter-Is union leaders cut off the main road leading to the dockyards to call for the workers not to work today.

Totally 75 workers and unionists were arrested, heavily beaten and tortured by the police. The detained included the President of the Limter Is union Cem Dinc, its' General Secretary Kamber Saygili and its' Vice-President Hakki Demiral. Many other unionists from different unions who came for solidarity was also arrested.

Worker resistance overcomes

But the spark could not be distinguished. 500 workers gathered in the Aydintepe train station and began marching the strike place. The number grew rapidly and finally, in the noon time there was around 5 thousand workers who left their jobs to join the strike. Also there was an outstanding level of class solidarity with participation from all of the biggest labor confederations, unions and Professional organizations.

The work in the yard was stopped by around %70 participation to the strike. The dockyards could not fulfill their contracts to hand over the ships. The workers demanded the immediate release of their union leaders and friends, and in the afternoon, around 4 o'clock, the 75 detainees were released from the police station. The Labor Minister of the neoliberal AKP government, Faruk Celik attacked the workers publicly, stating that “There is no meaning of these actions, while the Ministry had already began inspections and controls in the region.” Labor unions and proggressive institutions condemned this statement, claiming that “control and inspection will not solve the problem, but it is a tool to create illusion. The only way to stop the work homicides is labor union organization in the dockyards.” The Ministry had always collaborated with the dockyard bosses, saying that it is a very important sector for Turkey's exports. They had closed their eyes to worker deaths, since dockyards provide large dollar income to the economy. Only after the struggle of the Limter-Is union, and after the serial-deaths of many workers, the Ministry was forced to 'partially stop production' in three dockyard companies.

Bosses had to recognize the union

The second day of the strike was also under heavy police existance. The workers spent all the night in the dockyard, heating themselves with the fire. In the morning, again thousands of workers gathered in the strike place. The bosses’ organization, GISBIR, had to recognize the Limter-Is union and to negotiate with the union leaders. The union presented its’ demands to the bosses’ association, and the boss spokesman told the demands are “positive and acceptable”, but he wanted time to discuss this proposal among the bosses. DISK and Limter Is gave “onu week’s time” to the bosses.

The strike finished at 11 o’clock, after these promises of the bosses. But Limter-Is union made the statement that, “The matter had not finished. If our demands should not be accepted, we will continue the struggle.”

Call for international solidarity

The Limter-Is union called for “International solidarity and condemnation of the proimperialist neoliberal AKP government and the dockyard bosses.” You can send your messages to the e-mail addres of the Labour Ministry (basin@csgb.gov.tr) addressed to Mr. Faruk Celik and to the dockyard bosses' organization GISBIR (gisbir@superonline.com) addressed to Mr. Murat Bayrak. Also please send one copy of the e-mails to varyos@ttmail.com. Photos of the day Please click

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