MEDİNE MAMEDOĞLU

Amed- Rallies will be held on May 1 in Kurdistan’s Êlih (Batman) and Wan (Van) cities to celebrate the International Workers’ Day with the participation of people from all Kurdish cities. People from nine cities will gather at Turgut Özal Junction in Êlih and march to 8 March Women's Park to hold the rally.

NuJINHA spoke to Elif Turan, president of the Diyarbakır Medical Chamber (Turkish: Diyarbakır Tabip Odası, DTO) about the rally.

As every year, we will take to the streets on May 1 with thousands to voice the demands of workers, Elif Turan told us. “We call on all laborers to participate in the rally against exploitation and poverty.”

‘This system does not allow workers to take a breath’

Elif Turan emphasized that they, as workers, would take to the streets to say “No” to the plundering and exploitative system.

“The working conditions of all workers have been deteriorating in the country due to the deepening poverty and economic crisis. All workers suffer from poor working conditions. Health workers are subjected to violence and have to work 24 hours a day. Every day, workers die at workplaces every day. We will take to the streets on May 1 to demand better working conditions and a secure future. The burden on workers is increasing every day. We should say ‘No’ to this. Workers across Turkey make great efforts to earn a living for their families because this system does not allow them to take a breath.”

‘Children, women and refugees are seen as cheap labor’

Pointing out that workers and laborers have to pay high taxes, Elif Turan said:

“Workers and laborers should not pay the price of this economic crisis. The poverty line rises every day. This affects both children and women. Recently, the number of child workers has increased. Children have to drop out of school to support their families. The rate of unemployment among women is on rise and women have to work unregistered with low wages. Children, women and refugees are seen as cheap labor.”

Call for participation in the rally

Workers, who work more but earn less, will change this system, Efif Turan added. “We will change this system. We will participate in the rally to voice our demands. We call on all workers to participate in the rally to voice their demands on May 1. All workers should unite to ‘No’ to this plunder,exploitation, poor working conditions and low wages.”