Van workers: “We will win all our cases”

The protest of many workers dismissed from the municipalities in Van in front of the DEM Party’s İpekyolu Municipality has been ongoing for about 3 months.

The DEM Party’s Van Metropolitan Municipality and İpekyolu Municipality terminated the contracts of many workers with an SMS sent one day after May 1st, Labor Day. Dismissed workers have been continuously carrying out their protests, led by the HAK-İŞ Van Branch, for approximately 3 months. Some lawsuits filed by the dismissed workers are being concluded in favor of the workers. The workers, who state that each court decision is a precedent for them, hope to win all their cases.

“We are committed to this path”

In statements regarding the issue, Fatih Akdeniz, the President of the Hizmet-İş Union’s Van Branch, noted that the workers’ protests they initiated for those who were dismissed have reached about 3 months. Akdeniz stated that they continue their protests every day from morning until evening, saying, “Our struggle will continue in the tent we have set up in front of the İpekyolu Municipality until our friend returns to their job. We are committed to this path. We are trying to make our voices heard by the relevant authorities and officials. Our lawsuits are ongoing. We have also won some of our lawsuits. There are precedents, and with God’s permission, we will win all our cases.”

“People need bread”

Recalling that false accusations were made against those dismissed under the pretext of budget constraints, labeling them as ‘ATM clerks’, Akdeniz said, “Thank God, it caught the attention of the people of Van. Citizens who are curious about this issue came to learn about the situation. They saw that the people in the tent genuinely need bread. We have sick people among us, including cancer patients. There are those whose children are ill. Come and investigate these matters. After identifying them, let’s make a decision together. We have a call for negotiations, but no one has listened to our call. We will continue our protests even if it takes a year or two.”