Turkish police clash with workers marching to Ankara

Duvar English

Turkish police on Dec. 16 barricaded the march of the dismissed Polonez meat factory workers who were marching towards the capital Ankara province to demand reinstatement. 

Workers have been protesting for 151 days, and have put behind a week of their hunger strike, after being fired for union membership.

On Dec. 15, the first night of the march, workers attempted to camp on a grassy roadside near an Istanbul courthouse to shield themselves from the cold. They tried setting up tents but were stopped by police, leading to scuffles. Police clashed with the workers and seized their tents.

On social media, the protesting workers, under the account “Polonez Direnişi,” criticized the Labor and Social Security Ministry and Istanbul Police. “Should we die,” they asked, adding, “Istanbul Police is increasing pressure by blocking us from setting up tents for warmth. These attacks are futile. We won’t accept these impositions.”

Despite the clashes, the workers stayed, wrapped in blankets and lighting fires to endure the winter cold.

In the early hours of Dec. 16, the workers resumed their march toward Ankara, chanting slogans such as, “Rights are taken, not given,” “Reinstate fired workers,” and “Union rights cannot be denied.” They demanded that the police allow them to exercise their constitutional rights and open the road. However, police formed barricades, leading to more tension. Encircled, the workers vowed to continue their fight for justice.

Eventually, police lifted the barricade, and the workers resumed their march toward Gebze.

At the same time, another group of workers began marching, with plans to join the Polonez workers in support of their march to Ankara.

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