Laborers Use Their "Right Not To Work"

ANKARA - Laborers across Turkey started Friday to protest the social security and general health insurance bill, in accordance with the recent protest decision taken by unions and professional organizations of the Labor Platform of Turkey (Emek Platform).
Laborers working at post offices, schools, hospitals, tax offices, municipalities, universities and institutions offering transportation services suspended work from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Friday.

-PROTESTS AT ANADOLU AGENCY HQ-

The bill was protested at Anadolu Agency as well. Workers of the agency used their "right not to work" from 10:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Delivering a statement at the protest, Turkish Journalists` Labor Union (TGS) chairman Ercan Ipekci said the bill claimed to bring a common standardization to social security system, however, it had a negative impact on media workers the most.
"They are trying to take our granted rights away. We are at a point where words are over. Our remarks were disregarded, our reports were not read, our proposals were not reflected in the bill. In such an atmosphere, we are trying to make our voice heard by a protest," Ipekci said.
He added that the union would carry out bigger protests in Ankara unless necessary arrangements were done in the bill following today`s protest.
Meanwhile, Mustafa Kumlu, chairman of Turkish Confederation of Labor Union (Turk-Is), said Friday that the government should take into consideration the proposals and make the necessary arrangements in the bill.
(DO-AÖ)