Eğitim-İş demands justice following attack on teacher

In an incident in Osmaniye, Barış Demir, a member of the Eğitim-İş union, was attacked by his colleague, teacher Mehmet Ağcadağ, in the schoolyard in front of his students while visiting the Abdurrahman Keskiner Fine Arts High School for official procedures. In addition to the physical assault, Demir was also subjected to severe insults and profanity directed at his family.

In a statement made in front of the Provincial Directorate of National Education, Eğitim-İş Osmaniye Branch President Adem Yücel stated that after an administrative investigation, the attacking teacher was only given a salary deduction penalty, and that the inspectors' recommendation for a "change of duty location" has been ignored by the administration to date. Yücel expressed that this attitude has deeply wounded the public conscience.

Yücel further stated that the teacher involved in the attack had previously faced numerous disciplinary proceedings due to indiscipline and disrespect toward superiors, but that only a fraction of these had been implemented. He emphasized that despite previous decisions for a change of duty location, those decisions were not carried out, and the administrative investigation opened against him is still ongoing.

"By what powers and in exchange for what debt is this individual being protected—a person who was recommended for a change of duty location in two separate investigations, whose record is full of disciplinary penalties, and who finally had the audacity to attack an education worker in front of his students? Is the reason Mehmet Ağcadağ has not been punished the fact that he previously served in the Eğitim-Bir-Sen Osmaniye administration, that his wife was an AKP parliamentary candidate nominee, and that he can refer to local government representatives and bureaucrats as 'my childhood friend, my buddy'?" Yücel asked, alleging that political relationships and union connections are influencing disciplinary processes.

On the other hand, Yücel argued that although the temporary assignment of his union member Barış Demir had ended, he was not reinstated to his primary position, and that the administration exerted indirect pressure on Demir by claiming there was no vacancy at the school, effectively telling him, "If you don't want to stay in the same place as the attacker, extend your assignment."

Furthermore, Yücel stated that the attacking teacher accused a student who witnessed the event of "perjury" and demanded that the student be referred to the disciplinary board, noting that these events cast a shadow over fair processes.

"INJUSTICE AND OPPRESSION IN INSTITUTIONS ARE UNACCEPTABLE"

Yücel included the following statements in his announcement:

"Educational institutions are not places where anyone can engage in political influence peddling or lay down the law through bullying. The decision for a change of duty location, which is confirmed by inspector reports, must be implemented immediately without bowing to political pressure!

The safety of education workers must be ensured without any ifs or buts, and our student who acted as a witness must be protected from these ugly pressures. Legal action must be initiated against administrative officials who prepare the ground for such attacks by failing to implement change-of-duty decisions, thereby committing the crime of neglect and abuse of office.

We will not surrender any of our members or students to the hands of incompetent administrators and bullies who rely on political circles. We announce to the public that we will use all fair, administrative, and democratic means of struggle to the end, with determination, against violence directed at education workers and political favoritism."