TKP reacts to Erdoğan's strike ban: 'Pathetic'

The Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) has issued a statement regarding the decision by AKP President Erdoğan to ban the strike that the Birleşik Metal-İş Union, affiliated with DİSK, had begun expanding against MESS, which the union described as a "poverty offer."

In the statement titled "Pathetic strike-banners," it was stated, "Strike bans are unacceptable. Our party will continue its struggle against the ban and will stand with the metal workers." The full statement issued by the TKP is as follows:

“PATHETIC STRIKE-BANNERS”

The strike, which metal workers began at four factories on December 4 and which two more factories joined as of yesterday, has been banned by a presidential decree. Among the banned strikes are those at two more factories that were set to begin in the coming days. Thus, the strike of approximately two thousand members of Birleşik Metal-İş has been banned by a midnight decree.

Behind the ban is MESS, the employers' organization of Turkey's monopoly capital groups, led by the Koç group, of which the businesses that decided to strike are members. The government has banned many strikes in the past in line with the demands of this organization.

There is an anti-worker order in Turkey. This order cannot tolerate organized workers; it does not want workers who seek their rights, speak their minds, organize, or go on strike. In this order, the country's only priority is the massive profits of companies.

It is no coincidence that those who boast, “I brokered peace in Africa, I ensured control in Syria,” are so afraid of the working class. The ban imposed on almost every strike is a sign of the pathetic state of the government and the bosses in the face of the workers.

Strike bans are unacceptable. Our party will continue its struggle against the ban and will stand with the metal workers.

The working class will surely win!”

Kemal Okuyan, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP), also made a post on his X account, referencing Erdoğan's use of "national security" as a justification for the ban, emphasizing that the AKP's security is the security of the bosses. Okuyan's post is as follows:

"The strike ban is justified by a 'national security' threat. As always. The AKP is a frank party. It openly states that the interests of the bosses are a matter of national security. Simplification is good. The security of the people and the security of those at the top are different."

News Source: 12punto