Page 146 - KAZOVA - ENGLISH
P. 146

based on or labour and struggle. We finished sweaters in the fac-
        tory that had been partly manufactured, and we also sold these in
        forums. With the income from them we tried to repair machines
        so we could turn out new ones. What we produce will be below
        the market price. We have worked for years and know the market
        in this sector. Some days ago we began working on a broad scale.

        We will establish a cooperative. We will be our own bosses pro-
        duce and earn for ourselves.”

            Occupy and produce

            Before the factory was closed, Aynur Aydemir was the duty
        chief here: “We are the ones who produce, we will not allow any-
        one to exploit us. We will succeed together“. She summarises the

        period in Kazova textiles: “At the start of last year the work started
        to change. First, the firm was split in two. They went that route so
        as not to pay their debts. Somewhat later we were not being paid
        our wages. They sold the factory buildings. They told us they were
        parting ways with us but our remaining wages and seniority would
        be paid. Before long we realised they were deceiving us. It was said
        that the money gained from selling the factory would be given to
        the son so he could establish himself. The property inside the fac-
        tory was sequestered. We went to lawyers but they told us we
        would get no results.  We learned that the creditors removed goods

        from the factory. They took sewing machines, ironing machines,
        thread and sweaters. We had a right to them. So we began our
        tent action.”

            The Kazova workers’ tent action resonated at first but atten-
        tion declined with time. So the workers moved to a second step,
        which was to go on hunger strike. “We were like-minded in think-

                                      146
   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151