Things we've learned from the Tekel workers

The resistance of workers from the former state-owned alcohol and tobacco monopoly, or Tekel, has continued for about two months. Now they are on an indefinite hunger strike. Some may die in the end.

Of the strikers’ actions, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said, “This is their decision.” Human life is so cheap.

No matter how hard the government tries to end the strike, no matter how seriously it threatens and says, “If it is not ended by the end of the month, we’ll send in security forces,” the strike does not seem to come to an end. The Tekel workers are struggling for their lives, for their bread and butter.

Their resistance will be a turning point for Turkey for different reasons. With tremendous public support, the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP’s, neo-liberal politics are being questioned for the first time. The AKP’s class structure has come into view. The real contradiction between the AKP government and the working class, as well as the poor, has revealed itself. It has been seen that the government’s understanding based on service and amity has nothing to do with social justice.

As a matter of fact, the AKP’s neo-liberal politics have contributed to poverty. In order to understand this, the strike of Tekel workers was not necessary. The government’s minimum-wage policy to lower labor costs, rather than better living conditions, or its stance against labor unions, which is criticized by the European Union, are a few of the many indicators of that.

In addition to Turkey’s unique conditions, such as the Sept. 12 military coup’s blow against labor unions, the increase in the number of illegal workers and the drop in the number of union members, neo-liberal policies as a result of globalization have given birth to an understanding that conflict among classes is over and identity politics is what’s valid. But such an understanding has proven to be wrong, thanks to the Tekel strike. As seen in the strike, the conflict of classes intersects with identity demands. Tekel workers include Kurds, Alevis and women wearing headscarves.

In reality, classes do, potentially, exist. The problem is the settlement of class awareness and how it could be achieved. Past experiences show that the most critical element of class awareness is the conflict of classes. The Tekel strike is important in this regard.

The function of identity politics shouldn’t be denied either. Recognition of identities is a real demand. In a democratic society, none can be overlooked. But in a democratic society, attention should also be paid to the demands of classes and demands of equality. Identity and social-justice demands are not in contradiction; they are complementary. They are parts of the same whole.

A Kurd joining the Tekel strike wants to earn a living and asks for recognition of his Kurdish identity. A Kurdish Tekel worker wants to live in a society that is more egalitarian and fair in both aspects. The problem is that the government’s policies do not answer to bread-and-butter demand and fall short of meeting identity demands as well.

Democracy today consists of social justice, equality and citizenship rights as much as pluralism.

In a country failing to bring in social justice, it is impossible to talk about democracy. What benefits can democracy provide for workers? In a country such as Turkey, where inequalities dominate, freedoms do not mean too much. The only real freedom for Tekel workers who are unable to earn a living is to die in a hunger strike. Power rules a social order based on inequality, not individual rights.

The citizenship concept is closely related to equality. Participation of individuals in society as equal citizens depends on the elimination of poverty. For that, doors to struggle against inequality should remain open to civil servants, workers and all laborers.

If we long for a more democratic, equalitarian Turkey where workers do not have to go on hunger strikes, we should support the strike of Tekel workers. A government loyal to democracy has to hear this voice.

* Rıza Türmen is a columnist for daily Milliyet, in which this piece appeared Monday. It was translated into English by the Daily News staff.