The struggle of Real Market Workers against the fraudulent bankruptcy, extortion of their rights and yellow unionism continues decisively and enthusiastically at Metro stores and Media Markt, a different businness carried out by Metro AG.
Today, the dismissed Real Market workers gathered at Media Markt in Levent/Istanbul, which is at the same time the head office and one of the biggest stores that belong to the company. The executive members and the lawyers of the union accompanied the workers.
Having been informed about the protest to be organized by the workers under the leadership of Nakliyat-İş Union, the company surrounded the entrance of the store with iron barriers in order to prevent the protestors from getting in the store. The shutters were taken down and the security guards were highly alarmed.
Gathering in front of the barriers, the workers issued a press release here. On behalf of the dismissed Real Market Workers, Ahmet Fazıl Şahin pointed out the current situation. Then, some other workers including the dismissed women took the floor and pointed out their determination until the victory of the struggle.
After the speeches of the workers, the president of Nakliyat-İş Union Ali Rıza Küçükosmanoğlu made a short explanation and expressed the reason why they organized such a protest at the head office of Media Markt. He stated that the workers have been dismissed as a result of a fraudulent bankruptcy without getting any compansation and their rights. He also criticized the yellow union Tez-Koop-İş. He stated that the call for international solidarity made by this yellow union was nothing but a real hypocrisy. At the end of his statement, Küçükosmanoğlu enounced that the workers were going to get in the store and protest the injustice they face.
On this call, Real Market Workers and the union leaders forced the barriers and tried to get in the store. Seeing that the workers and union leaders removed the barriers, the police forces attacked the workers and union leaders using tear gas. After a while, the protestors gathered again and protested the police attack shouting their slogans.
As Nakliyat-İş Union, we condemn and protest the police aggression towards Real Market Workers and our union leaders continuing their legitimate struggle non-violently.
In spite of all kinds of prohibition, pressure, barriers, tear gas, high security precautions and State of Emergency conditions, the struggle of Real Market Workers will continue until they regain their rights!
We are workers, we are righteous and we will win!