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13 June 2008 / International Bureau / Statement No: 37
The shipyard workers of Tuzla, Istanbul, are going on strike on the 38th anniversary of the regional strike of 15-16 June 1970 under the leadership of the union Limter-Is . With their struggle the shipyard workers show the working class the way leading to victory. When the government wanted to introduce a law via parliament limiting the working class' right on organising itself, the workers stopped the production in all sectors in the region of Istanbul and the area around the city on 15-16 June 1970 and went on the streets. Finally, the workers made the government make a step backwards. The strike that had started on 15 June and reached its peak on 16 June with the participation of 150.000 workers has been defined as the Workers' Great Resistance in history where the working class developing itself especially during the 60ies displayed itself as a remarkable political power. Today, the heart of the working class in Turkey and Northern Kurdistan is beating with the shipyard workers who will go once again on strike on 16 June and resist under the leadership of Limter-Is against the brutal exploitation of the capital and the slavery working conditions. Tuzla shipyards are a place where no security measures have been taken for work and every week work-related accidents that lead to death happen. There is a lot of subcontracted work and these shipyards are a place where the barbarity of capitalism is displaying itself most clearly. Some of the bosses of Tuzla shipyards, where in the last days the 98th death has happened, are even MPs. This shipyards' region is a paradise of cheap work power for the capital but a death-trap for the workers.
Despite all attacks and oppression, the shipyard workers' union Limter-Is affiliated to DISK (Confederation of Revolutionary Workers' Unions) does not give up and insists on its class union line fighting against work-related accidents and exploitation. After a strike of two days on 27-28 February, the shipyard workers are now going on strike on 16 June again. This justified and legitimate resistance is widely supported by first of all different sectors of the working class as well as social groups in Turkey and Northern Kurdistan. The strike is supported by many unions, intellectuals and students and shows the way to the working class to be followed against the brutal exploitation of capitalism in order to achieve victory. With the strike on 16 June at the anniversary of the resistance of 15-16 June 1970, the shipyard workers do not only resist for themselves but for the whole working class. They show that the neo-liberal attacks of capital and the work-related accidents leading to death can only be stopped with the organised and militant struggle. Led by its union, the shipyard workers are making use of the working class' most effective arm which is the strike. Our party is saluting the determined and militant resistance of the working class rising at Tuzla shipyards. Long live the 16 June strike of the Tuzla shipyard workers!
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