Belediye-İş Union Holds General Assembly: 'Workers Will Empower Those Who Stand for Secularism and Justice'

The 13th Ordinary General Assembly of the Belediye-İş Union, held in Ankara, was a vibrant display of workers' solidarity and a clear call for political change. The event, marked by passionate slogans and strong rhetoric, underscored the deep dissatisfaction among union members with the current political climate and economic policies.

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Kahrolsun ABD emperyalizmi yaşasın bağımsız Türkiye

Union leader Nihat Yurdakul's address was particularly fiery, not only celebrating Mother's Day but also launching a scathing critique of both "US imperialism" and the domestic "AKP" government. His assertion that "their lackeys in our country" must be held accountable, and that the damage inflicted by the current administration will take "50 years to fix" for future generations, resonated deeply with the attendees. Yurdakul's condemnation of the "narcotic" description of the Republic by Memur Sen Chairman Ali Yalçın further highlighted the ideological divides within the labor movement.

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Onlar çıkarları için her şeyi yapıyorlar. Çıkarları için 165 çocuğu bir bombayla yok ediyorlar. Ülkemizde onların uşaklığını yapanlara hesap sormayacak mıyız?

The call for workers to reject partisanship and instead stand against injustice, supporting those who champion secularism and justice, was a central theme. The demand for a TÜRK-İŞ leadership that is "turned towards the worker" and the broader appeal for unity among TÜRK-İŞ, DİSK, and HAK-İŞ signal a desire for a more robust and unified labor front. The solidarity expressed with imprisoned mayors, including Ekrem İmamoğlu, further emphasized the political undertones of the assembly.

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Bizim çocuklarımız, torunlarımız bunların yarattığı hasarı 50 yılda düzeltemezler

From our perspective at Cumhuriyet, this assembly is more than just a union meeting; it's a microcosm of the broader political struggle in Turkey. While Western media might focus on the "anti-government" slogans, we see it as a fundamental assertion of workers' rights and a demand for a return to the secular, democratic principles upon which the Republic was founded. The energy and commitment displayed here are a testament to the enduring spirit of the working class in Turkey, who are determined to shape their own future and hold those in power accountable.

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İşçi sınıfının taraf olacağı yer haksızlık yapanın karşısı, haksızlığa uğrayanın yanı. İşçi sınıfı; laiklikten, adaletten yana olanı iktidar yapacak. Bunları yapmayanı da 25 yıldır iktidarda tutmayacak