Unions warn of general strike for Tekel workers

As protests by workers from the country’s former state-owned alcohol and tobacco monopoly, or Tekel, continue, union confederations have pledged a general strike if the government fails to meet their demands by Jan. 26.

Thousands of Tekel workers have been protesting in Ankara for more than a month against the privatization of the former monopoly and the government’s refusal to address their concerns regarding a change in their working status.

Some workers have held a sit-down strike in front of the Confederation of Turkish Labor Unions, or Türk-İş, headquarters in the capital, while other workers, including many women, began a hunger strike Tuesday at the same venue.

In response to what is seen as government indifference to the workers’ demands, six union confederations convened Thursday to discuss future plans, including calls for a general strike. The unions announced late Thursday after the meeting that they have decided to go on a general strike if the government does not respond to Tekel workers’ demands by Jan. 26.

If the government does not respond by that time, the confederations will convene again on that date to identify a day for the general strike. The workers also put the hunger strike on hold until Jan. 26 as they await developments. Türk-İş says it will seek different modes of dialogue with the government to try and find a solution before that deadline.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan meanwhile criticized Tekel workers’ protests, saying Friday that there are other groups and protesters among the workers, implying that the Tekel employees had been provoked.