Giant labor union Turk-Is warns of protests amid economic struggles

The Confederation of Turkish Labor Unions’ (Türk-Iş) Deputy Chair Ramazan Agar warned of upcoming protests, stating that workers are bearing the brunt of economic hardships. Speaking at a meeting in Diyarbakir, Agar emphasized that if negotiations fail to resolve these issues, the workers will take to the streets.

Agar participated in discussions addressing high inflation, minimum wage, tax justice, and severance pay. He asserted, “We need to heat up the squares. If these issues can’t be resolved through negotiation at the table, they will spill onto the streets. Our hope is that everything can be settled through dialogue. Workers, including those in the public sector with union representation, are unhappy. There has always been a happy minority in Turkey, but we are the ones who suffer. We contribute to the economy and do all the public work. We work with our sweat, but we don’t get what we deserve—that’s why our outcry is our demand.”

Continuing, Agar said, “As Turk-Is, we are fighting for workers and retirees to live in dignified conditions. We are advocating for the rights of employees and retirees. We know the true inflation on the streets, and we are voicing the demands of all workers, especially our members.”