EMEP Chair Ercüment Akdeniz met with Baldur workers and their children

Labour Party leader Ercüment Akdeniz and members of ​EMEP Kocaeli branch, came together with Baldur workers and their children at the end of their campaign.

The Kocaeli branch of Labour Party and the president of the Labour party Ercument Akdeniz met with the workers and children of Baldur workers who have been on strike for 257 days demanding their basic rights.

Labour Party (EMEP) leader Ercüment Akdeniz read chapters from Nazım Hikmet's book titled Tales from La Fontaine, to the children of striking workers.

Akdeniz said to the children; "If there were to be awards for the best father this year, it would be given to your fathers". He continued his speech by saying; ‘’I'm sure they're very powerful because of you. When your fathers regurn home, they think about what their wives and children will say. Knowing that they have your support makes them stronger. Children, we will definitely win this struggle”, he said.

The children also read chapters from Nazim Hikmet’s book. At the end of the readings, Ercument Akdeniz gifted the book to 7 years old Mira.

Addressing Baldur workers at the strike site, Ercüment Akdeniz said, "I remember the first day we put up the this banner here together. We said we are embarking on a long journey. 257 days is not a short time. Snow has passed, winter has passed, the heat of the summer has passed, dusty soil has passed, and you have brought the strike to this day. Meanwhile, in Gebze, Kocaeli, Thrace, other parts of the country, there were those who went on strike and resisted after seeing yours. Those strikes and resistance campaigns have all came to an end either through reaching a deal or being broken down. Some are still ongoing. Baldur workers have continued to hold this flag up high for 257 days. Despite all the pressures and attempts at trying to buy out people, to get them to give in, Buldur workers have continued their struggle for bread’’.

"IF THEY HAVE PARTIES, WORKERS HAVE LABOUR PARTY"

Akdeniz further said, "Once again, I appeal to the people of Gebze, Kocaeli and Turkey, this solidarity shown is very important but not enough, hence we must cherish the Baldur strike’’.

‘’If Baldur bosses have the backing of other bosses, if they trust the government, let them know that Gebze workers are behind Baldur workers. If they have parties, the workers have the Labour Party, we will never stop the strike, said Akdeniz".

‘’The schools have reopened today. The cost of one pencil was 1 Lira, this year it has gone up to 2.5 Lira. School uniforms are burning the pockets of families. We propose that the children of workers should be given social security. Just like free books, all other stationary and essential items, should be offered to the children of workers free of charge. We must raise such a struggle together demanding for these rights”.

Akdeniz continued his speech by saying, “The government has announced the fake TUIK (The Turkish Statistical Institute) data and the growth figures. What good does this growth bring to the workers? What good is it to a Baldur worker? Now there are contracts in the metals business. There are factories that make 300 percent, 1500 percent, but none of these profits goes into the pockets of the workers. There is no growth for the workers or for the poor. We call on you to join forces. Workers and labourers, especially striking workers, must be the centre of this unity of power. It is difficult to reach a conclusion with separate struggles in separate factories, the whole working class of this country must unite to create the social opposition that forms the power of an engine."

"A STRUGGLE MUST BE CREATED WITH THE WORKING CLASS AS ITS ENGINE’’

"A struggle needs to be created where the engine is the working class," Akdeniz said. The elections will come, and they will go. This system will not change until the working classes are on the political stage punching their fists on the table. You fought for this strike, and you should be at the centre of politics. The Labour Party would continue to stand beside you. Baldur workers' strike from the Anatolian side of Istanbul to Gebze, belkalper workers' strike towards Thrace and a strike of Adkoturk workers. At these two ends, we explain the importance of this strike to the people of Istanbul and Kocaeli and call for solidarity. Rest assured friends, your greatest gain is the feelings your children are experiencing today. These kids found out what a strike is, and tomorrow, when another friend's father and mother go on strike, they'll know what a strike is. Akdeniz continued by declaring; ‘’First, these kids will run to solidarity, they'll run to help. Children are our future, and our future is more hopeful, because they are the children of this strike."