CDs Thrown at Ministry During Union's Protest

Unions emphasized that the ongoing measures are pushing the public and workers into poverty, and they vowed to escalate their resistance alongside the wider community.

Protest Leaders Speak Out

Selma Eylem, President of the Cyprus Turkish Secondary Education Teachers' Union (KTOEÖS), highlighted the negative impact of recent price hikes, including basic food items, which have reduced the purchasing power of the public. Despite this, the government is preparing a law that presents a lower cost of living estimate. Eylem criticized the government for attempting to enrich capital while impoverishing the people, asserting that the workers are being denied a decent standard of living.

She urged the government to take steps that would benefit the public, warning that the unions would continue to fight against these policies with the support of society. She reaffirmed that trade union rights, freedoms, and public services would be defended through collective efforts.

Government Criticism from Union Leaders

Cem Kapısız, President of the Air Traffic Controllers Union (HTKS), condemned the government's attempts to impoverish workers and the public by cutting their earnings. He also accused the government of undermining constitutional order and attempting to rule by decree in the civil aviation sector, rather than addressing the challenges at the airport. He described the government as a "political gang" and pledged to continue the fight.

Metin Atan, President of the Cyprus Turkish Public Servants Union (Kamu-Sen), criticized the government's disregard for unions and its handling of collective bargaining agreements. He called for cost of living calculations to be based on accurate data and urged the government to respond to the unions' demands for meetings.

Legal Concerns and Symbolic Gesture

Güven Bengihan, President of the Cyprus Turkish Civil Servants Union (KTAMS), expressed concern over the government's attempts to restrict the right to strike through decrees, calling it unconstitutional and likening it to a "coup." He vowed to take legal action and criticized the decision to impose a strike ban during a parliamentary session, calling it an assault on democracy and the rule of law.

Bengihan also noted that the government’s failure to engage with unions in good faith was another key issue, and he emphasized that the Ministry of Finance should sit down with the unions at the negotiating table. In a symbolic gesture, the unions presented CDs containing the "Recep İvedik" films to the Ministry to protest the cost of living calculations.

A Shared Struggle for All

Burak Maviş, General Secretary of the Cyprus Turkish Teachers' Union (KTÖS), stressed that the struggle was not just for unions, but for the entire public. He called for an immediate update to the cost of living calculations, which he said had become outdated and unfair, and reiterated that the unions would not accept interference in collective bargaining rights.