Çankaya District Directorate of National Education workers decide to strike

Çankaya District Directorate of National Education employees, who have launched a joint struggle against the failure to provide occupational health and safety measures in their building, have gone on strike and held a press conference.

According to the report on Sendika.org, Osman Selçuk, the Çankaya Branch President of Eğitim-Bir Sen, emphasized that they would not take a step back until their problems are resolved, stating, "Those who do not take action when the safety of employees is at stake are committing a legal offense. Those who claim to value public employees must take the demands of the Çankaya District Directorate of National Education staff into account."

The statement made in front of the Çankaya District Directorate of National Education was attended by executives and members of Eğitim-Bir Sen, Eğitim-İş, Eğitim-Sen, Türk Eğitim-Sen, and Koop-İş, as well as EMEP Istanbul MP İskender Bayhan and CHP Deputy Chairman Suat Özçağdaş.

Eğitim-Bir Sen Çankaya Branch President Osman Selçuk stated that a total of 194 people work at the District Directorate of National Education. Selçuk said, "We provide services to 254 official schools and their 9 thousand 142 personnel, 453 private schools and their 15 thousand 739 personnel, as well as private courses, motor vehicle driving courses, private education and rehabilitation centers, and a total of 4 thousand 442 personnel working under them."

"THE BUILDING DOES NOT COMPLY WITH OHS LEGISLATION"

Stating that the Çankaya District Directorate of National Education building in the Saraçoğlu neighborhood was moved in December 2021 to the current building, which had been vacated by TÜİK on the grounds that it was not earthquake-resistant and had slippage in its foundation, Selçuk said, "This building, which was left idle for years, is nothing more than an apartment building in a neighborhood, far from the center. It is also kilometers away from the district governor's office, which is the district's administrative authority. Since the building was previously used as a guesthouse, it does not meet the physical needs of the District Directorate of National Education. Fire escape entrances have been turned into rooms. Electrical and water installations are old and constantly breaking down. The toilets are not suitable for use. Since there is no elevator, disabled employees and disabled citizens receiving services experience difficulties. There are no toilets suitable for use by disabled employees and citizens. The building does not meet hygiene conditions. The building does not comply with Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) legislation No. 6331." Furthermore, emphasizing that the district staff commute to work by changing at least two vehicles from places like Elmadağ to Keçiören and Sincan to Eryaman, Selçuk stated that this places an additional financial burden on employees who are already struggling to make ends meet, as well as a burden in terms of time spent on transportation.

"THIS PROBLEM MUST BE SOLVED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE"

"It is incomprehensible that our Çankaya District Directorate of National Education building is left in this state while the reality of earthquakes is right before our eyes," said Selçuk, asking whether the ministry would take precautions before something happens to the employees. Stating that the state is responsible for the safety of the personnel providing public services and the citizens receiving them, Selçuk said, "Being forced to provide services in a workplace that is not earthquake-resistant, insensitive to disabled personnel and citizens, has rotten installations, where employees have to wash their cups in toilets, and where fire escape entrances have been turned into rooms has finally exhausted the patience of the Çankaya District Directorate of National Education staff. The necessary correspondence regarding the building has been carried out by the District Director of National Education, and the steps taken to solve the problem have resulted in negative outcomes every time. Despite many public buildings standing empty in Kızılay, we, as employees who are treated like stepchildren, are calling out once again. Those who allocate an earthquake-vulnerable building for public service must solve this problem as soon as possible."

"WE INVITE OUR MINISTER TO OUR DISTRICT NATIONAL EDUCATION BUILDING"

Emphasizing that they will not take a step back until the problems are resolved, Selçuk said, "In accordance with the joint decision we made with 5 unions, we went on strike today so that this negligence, which could result in the deaths of hundreds of people, is known to the public and so that all authorities find a solution as soon as possible. We declare that we, as all employees, will continue our struggle until a building suitable for humane working conditions and worthy of the Çankaya District Directorate of National Education is provided. Those who do not take action when the safety of employees is at stake are committing a legal offense. Those who claim to value public employees must take the demands of the Çankaya District Directorate of National Education staff into account. We want our Minister to hold meetings with us education workers as well. We invite our Minister to our District National Education building."