Turk-Is Board Of Chairmen Decides To Hold Mass Demonstrations

ANKARA - Confederation of Turkish Labor Unions (Turk-Is) Board of Chairmen decided on Thursday to hold mass demonstrations in the cities of Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir, Adana and Bursa to protest the handing over of hospitals belonging to Social Security Agency (SSK) to the Ministry of Health.
Turk-Is Board of Chairmen held a meeting to discuss the government`s recent decision to transfer SSK hospitals to the Ministry of Health and to close the Directorate General of Rural Affairs.
A statement was released following the meeting.
The statement said, ``the government illegally tries to hand over SSK hospitals to the Ministry of Health . This decision exceeds authorities of the government. After SSK hospitals are handed over, their privatization will be brought onto Turkey`s agenda. Therefore, we decided to maintain our struggle against these decisions of the government . We will hold mass demonstrations in the cities of Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir, Adana and Bursa.``
``If the government does not withdraw the related drafts despite our protests, Turk-Is Board of Chairmen will reconvene to determine new strategies,`` the statement added.
(UK-ULG) 21.10.2004