The fight against the pandemic is put on the workers' shoulders and left at bosses' mercy

Banu Tuna, the spokesperson of Istanbul Platform of Workers' Trade Union Branches said that the responsibility of ending the pandemic has been put on the shoulders of the workers and left at the mercy of their employers.

"If you leave the responsibility of fighting the virus down to the workers, you will not be able to end this pandemic.”

Istanbul has one of the highest rates of covid cases and deaths amongst cities. The Istanbul Medical Association reported that due to the insufficiency of the precautions being taken, there has been a rise in the death toll.

The health ministry’s app “Hayat eve sigar” reflects that a big number of the covid cases appear to be in working class neighbourhoods. According to the Workers' Health and Safety Council (ISIG) data shows that since the coronavirus outbreak on the 11th of March, a minimum of 325 workers have lost their lives.

Banu Tuna from the Istanbul Platform of Workers' Trade Union Branches made evaluations regarding the coronavirus cases at work places and the lack of precautions being taken to avoid them.

WORKERS ARE UNDER THREAT

Tuna expressed that it had been possible to track exact numbers of covid cases up until now, but with the rapid spread of the virus it is becoming harder to track the data.

“Amongst the 22 business lines our unions are organisrd, every single work place has had cases of coronavirus. Today, in Istanbul there are 533 thousand 675 workplaces. There have been coronavirus cases in every single one of these/there still is. In Istanbul, there are 4 million 137 thousand 618 recorded workers. Approximately another 1.3 million who are working unrecorded. In total, 5.5 million workers are under threat” she said.

THE PRECAUTIONS BEING TAKEN ARE INADEQUATE

With the outbreak, some sectors have transitioned into working from home, where some businesses that could not take this precaution fought the virus with face masks and hand sanitisers.

Tuna underlined that the precautions being taken by the employers were not enough and that the government had left the fight against the virus down to the workers and at the mercy of their employers. Tuna commented, “If you allow non essential workplaces to continue running, you cannot prevent the virus from spreading. If you leave the responsibility of fighting the virus down to the workers, you will not be able to get ahead of it.”

WORKING CLASS ON THE RISK MAP

Tuna reminds that when the virus first emerged, it was argued that the pandemic equally affected the workers and employers and the reasoning for this was that the first reported cases were people who had travelled from abroad. “Some never returned from their summerhouses, those with the financial means left their neighbourhoods and moved to less risky areas. 40% of the cases are seen in areas of Istanbul where the people had no choice but go to work. The overcrowded public transport is used only by the working class. Working class neighbourhoods are red all over on the risk map. If this isn’t slaughter then what is?” she asked.

THE EQUIPMENTS ARE BEYOND REACH

Employees at workplaces with no union are unable to obtain protective equipment, reported Tuna. She emphasised that paving the way for unionizations at workplaces will benefit the fight against the virus. The precautions that are needed will be determined as the workers unite, underlined Tuna, which can only be achieved by organising and objecting.

WORKERS NEED TO BE TESTED REGULARLY

Tuna listed the precautions they have repeatedly requested below:

All factories and workers should be tested for covid-19 on a regular basis. Where there are covid-19 cases, isolation should be put into place effectively.

The number of transport services provided for workers should be increased and the workers should be supplied with a sufficient amount of protective equipment.

The obstacles against unionization should be abolished and those who prevent this should be punished.

Covid -19 should be considered a working class illness and legal arrangements should be put in place.

All workers should be given a pay rise. The health needs of the workers must be met free of cost.

Taxes for basic consumptions such as electric and gas should be abolished for workers.

Taxes on the minimum wage should be abolished.

Paid leave for all workers, except for the essential sectors. Practices for the disadvantage of workers such as short hour contracts, working from home, casual work, unpaid leave etc. must end. (EVRENSEL DAILY)