Ahmet AKARSU
Olcay SAL
Kayseri

In Kayseri, workers from the metalwork field call themselves "the ones who cannot lock down" after the decision of a "full lockdown". "Why doesn’t the full lockdown apply for the workers?" the metal workers from Kayseri ask, "we work overtime in this process, let alone locking down completely".

THEY WORKED ON MAY DAY

"We keep working," he said. There is no full lockdown when it comes to workers. Workers always work, and since they are the lowest echelons of society, no one hears their voice. That's how it is. If workers cannot unite, we will have to work more, we will be oppressed more."

A Simfer worker said: "It's like people are going to eat fridges, ovens and stoves at home as there’s no food. I can’t comprehend this so-called lockdown. We're working more. The shifts are getting longer. At our factory, the workers know everything, but no one knows what to do or how to do it. We even worked on May Day. We worked until 9 pm in the evening the day before."

"WE WON’T LEAVE OUR HOMES IF WE ARE PAID THE FULL WAGE"

A Kumtel worker said, "The production goes at full speed. The lockdown doesn't involve the workers. The bosses want to make us work more because they worship money. But  nothing’s going to happen when there is a climate of fear and the workers do not raise their voices in Kumtel."

A Femas worker said "Production is busier these days, we’re doing more overtime. I don't think anyone else understands the workers but the workers themselves."

A metal worker who is a member of the Özçelik-Is Union said: "The workers did not have money in their pockets in the first place. The trouble was huge, but now it got even bigger. The economic crisis became more palpable with the pandemic. The country is going down. Unemployment is very high, inflation is very high. As such, the workers are forced to work. For example, whoever is eligible for the unemployment fund let them use it; how much of my wages I get from short work, the government should give me the rest. The bosses should not use worker’s unemployment fund. We will stay at home with our families and not leave only if our wages are paid fully."