KESK members attacked by police in Ankara

KESK members were attacked by the police during a press statement near the Labor Ministry.

Confederation of Public Workers Unions (KESK) members held a march from four locations to Ankara before the Collective Labor Agreement (TIS) was signed.

The confederation was to hold a press statement near the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Services where the discussions for the 5th term TIS would begin. The police didn’t permit the statement and attacked the crowd with pepper spray and batons.

KESK Central Executive Committee Member Ilhan Yigit, Haber Sen Secretary General Burak Ustaoğlu, SES Women’s Secretary Selma Atabey, Tarim Orkan-Sen union Chairperson Hamit Kurt and several other KESK members were detained. Workers started to march to Kizilay chanting slogans.

GÜRBÜZ: THIS IS A SHAME FOR THE MEETINGS TOO

During the police attack outside, KESK Secretary General Ramazan Gürbüz was in the meeting for the TIS discussions and protested the incident. Gürbüz said: “Right now, KESK members are attacked by the police outside. We came here to voice our demands, our members did the same. They are not allowed. That is a shame for this meeting as well. This is a most democratic right, there shouldn’t have been an intervention.”

MEMUR-SEN PROVOCATION

The pro-government Memur Sen’s representatives said, “If you are to make a statement do it outside, this is not the place to read a press statement,” in an attempt to provoke the KESK chair. Tensions run high in the meeting hall.