Workers from Gebze: Russia's intervention in Ukraine is an intervention that reflects on all of our lives

Dilara KANIK
Hasret Gültekin KOZAN
Gebze

The workers we spoke to at the bus stops in Gebze state that Russia's intervention in Ukraine has affected their lives with price increases.

One of the workers we spoke to  said, “Everyone on the street and in the factory talks about war, of course. As long as Turkey does not stay in the middle, I think it will not be affected. They impose sanctions on Russia, but Western countries buy natural gas from there,” he said. Regarding the successive price increases, the worker said: “The increases are taken as the election approaches, and inflation decreases before the election. After the election, there will be a raise again, inflation will rise. Now let's be here with our state, but that's how it is. I'm working, what can I do? A raise is coming, my income is the minimum wage. If I’m buying two cans of oil a month, I will buy one now. What can I do, but the government can change it.”

"WE ARE PAYING THE PRICE LIKE THE WORLD"

A worker working in the automotive supply industry said, “This is a situation that affects all countries. Of course, Russia has its own excuses, and Western countries also have, but no matter what, the war affects innocent people. I don't want war anywhere in the world. We have commercial relations with Ukraine, we see the effects. "We are paying the price of this war, just like the rest of the world," he said. When we asked how it affected them, the worker said, “It is actually an intervention that reflects on our pockets and lives. It affected all of us, there were changes in our working hours in our factory, there were stances. There were problems not only in us, but in every sector," he said.

"EVERYONE IS AWARE THAT THE SITUATION IS NOT GOOD"

“I am against all forms of war, I do not find it right,” said a metal worker. Stating that there was a restriction in production at the factory where he worked, the worker said, “I work in the metal industry, we were immediately impressed. It didn't stop, but it came to a standstill. Since the raw material is not available, they are allowing them to use it, and production has been limited.” The metal worker said, “We can only take mass actions against these problems, we can express our opposition. It is always discussed at work, everyone has their opinion. "Everyone knows that the situation is not getting any better," he said.

"SHOULD WE ALL SHAPE ON THE STREET?"

A female worker working in the automotive supply industry complains about the price increases in this environment. “We want no war, that's what's best for us,” the worker said. When there is war, it reflects on us, the price of everything goes up. 580 lira natural gas arrived. We cannot afford it if only one person in the household is working. We only get by when two or three people work. Everything is getting raise after raise,” she said.

A petrochemical worker woman said, “I wish there were no wars. Children die, pity people. We are really upset. In addition, everything has been raised, we are also affected. The salary has risen, but it's like it never came. What we used to buy for 100 liras, now we can't buy anything. I can't say anything about oil. On the way home, I buy two pieces of food to cook that day, I go to the market, I spend 100 liras. My wife and son are working and at least we can do something. Do they want us to go out on the street, or should we all take to the streets?” he said.