Imprisoned Union Head Gökay Çakır Sends Message to Miners from Jail: 'Never Let Anyone Take Your Rights'

Gökay Çakır, the President of the Independent Mine Workers' Union, has sent a powerful message from his prison cell, urging miners and workers across Turkey to remain united and vigilant in defending their rights. Detained following an operation at the union's headquarters in Soma, Çakır penned a letter from Manisa Akhisar T Type Prison, addressing the broader working class.

"Greetings to all workers, we are fighting for them," Çakır wrote, acknowledging the sacrifices made by union leaders. "We union leaders may end up in prison, friends, but you must never let anyone take your rights. Keep your heads held high at work, just as you do at home."

The union leader stressed the fundamental role of labor in society, asserting that the existence of employers, unions, local officials, and even national leaders is contingent upon the workforce. "If you are not there, the boss won't be there, the union won't be there, the mayor won't be there, the deputy won't be there, the president won't be there," he stated, highlighting the collective power of the working class.

Çakır concluded his message with a fervent call for solidarity. "Therefore, never break your unity and togetherness," he implored. His words resonate with a history of labor struggles in Turkey, particularly in the mining sector, where worker safety and rights have been contentious issues. The message serves as a rallying cry for continued activism and a reminder of the essential contribution of workers to the nation's economy and social fabric.