Page 144 - KAZOVA - ENGLISH

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Cumhuriyet 2 September 2013

A surprising and hopeful workers’ movement taking place
during the most excited days in Turkey’s social life and when the
colours are beginning to turn a suitable colour.

(Erk Acarer)

“Since 31 January 2013 we have been unemployed and hun-
gry. We were put out the door without four months’ wages and
seniority by the Somuncu family, who are praised for being close
to the party of government and who make a great show of opening
tents at Ramadan. Our attempts to talk to the boss Umit So-

muncu and his son Mustafa have been fruitless. We also tried to
explain our problems to his daughter Gaye Somuncu who is head
of communications at Calik Holding. She went with the Mavi
Marmara and talks a lot about equality, justice and conscience and
tried to get rid of us by saying ‘For a long time my relations with
my family have been bad”. Yet we saw her at the factory on nu-
merous occasions. The Somuncu family used the excuse that their
work has been spoiled. But they got 2 million Turkish lira credit
from Albaraka Turk because of family connections. Without pay-

ing this they got 6 million more. We have no interest in their dirty
relations. We just want our rights. We want to protect our jobs.
There must be a law about this. But we know there will not be
one. Because many members of parliament want to protect their
own jobs. So they will not legislate to protect the workers…”

A story like a film

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