Major protest by DİSK in Ankara: 'Enough is enough, we cannot make ends meet'

The Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey (DİSK) held a protest in Ankara with the slogan "Enough is enough, we cannot make ends meet."

DİSK Central Anatolia Regional Representative Birgül Kaya stated, "We want justice in income, taxation, and in the country. With the opening of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey on October 1, we want a tax justice law to be passed by the Assembly unanimously."

Making a statement on behalf of the union, DİSK Central Anatolia Regional Representative Birgül Kaya said the following:

"Enough is enough, we cannot make ends meet. We are being crushed under the burden of relentless price hikes and unjust taxes. While workers, laborers, and retirees are fighting for survival, some are adding wealth to their wealth. They take from us and give to the bosses; they transfer resources from the pockets of the poor to the coffers of the rich. They steal from the people's tables and grow the bank accounts of capital. We are the ones who produce all the values and beauties of our country. We do not deserve this injustice. As the economic crisis deepens and we struggle with low incomes, we pay high taxes. While the government transfers public resources to a handful of capital holders, adding to their wealth through tax amnesties and incentives, our labor, our rights, and our sweat are being disregarded.''

''The situation has become unbearable. As we remain silent, injustice grows; they reach further into our pockets, our bread, and our rights. Now is not the time to fight for survival alone, but to grow the struggle for bread and justice together. We want justice in income, taxation, and in the country. We want all wages, especially the minimum wage, to be increased. For this, we want all obstacles to unionization, collective bargaining, and the right to strike to be removed.''

''We want justice in retirement, justice for retirees, and a humane life. We demand that the lowest pension be raised to at least the level of the minimum wage and that all pensions be increased at the same rate. With the opening of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey on October 1, we want a tax justice law to be passed by the Assembly unanimously. We want an end to all forms of precarious employment. We warn those who attempt to touch severance pay once again: the price will be heavy. Yes, the situation has become unbearable. To end the loss of income and injustices we are experiencing, to hold those who take from the worker and give to the boss accountable, to change this order that makes the poor poorer and the rich richer, and to win the humane life we deserve, we are meeting in squares all across Turkey. The duty that falls to all of us is to grow this struggle. The duty that falls to all of us is to bring our neighbors, all workers—unionized or not—laborers, retirees, and all our class brothers and sisters to the squares. We will win by resisting."