On July 17, the members of Belediye-Is union went on strike after Buyuksehir Council, Istanbul, run by the AKP , did not accept the demands of the union concerning the collective wage negotiations for the last five months. 3000 council workers who stopped working gathered at Edirnekapi, Istanbul, and wanted to march to the council at Sarachane when they were attacked by the police with gas bombs and water cannons. The workers started to resist against the attacks by shouting the slogans "Never give up, always resist" and throwing stones. After the clashes the workers re-gathered and blocked the traffic at Fevzi Pasa Street. The council workers once again had to face police barricades at Sarachane Park, but through their determined stance they managed to hang up a banner on the council on which they had announced that they were on strike. The workers who were supported by many unions such as Textil-Sen, Limter-Is and Hava-Is as well as mass organisations continued with their action by shouting the slogans "Mayor Topbas resign!" and "Our right on strike can't be hindered".