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AKP Government, Labor Unions Failed To Resolve Conflict; Fears Of Clashes On May Day
Tuesday’s meeting between PM Tayyip Erdogan and leaders of major labor unions failed to resolve the issue of how workers’ will mark May 1 labor day. AKP Government rejected the labor union demand to hold the celebrations in Istanbul’s Taksim Square and suggested that only about 100-150 union leaders could go to the square to lay a wreath at Ataturk's monument there and read a statement. In a press conference today Turkish labor and interior ministers said that Taksim Square would be off-limits to workers, allegedly because of concerns for possible provocations on the part of some illegal organizations that may exploit the event and turn it into a violent one. However, analysts say that the government fears that the celebrations will turn into a massive anti-AKP rally over the government’s new social security law, the high inflation and record-high unemployment. The two ministers told reporters that this was the government’s last word and that there would be no tolerance on this matter. The three major Labor Unions that represent over three million workers responded in a press conference of their own and said that 500 thousand workers would come to Taksim tomorrow with flowers in their hands to peacefully exercise their internationally recognized right to celebrate May Day. Source: Vatan, Cumhuriyet, Hurriyet, Turkey, April 30, 2008
Posted at: 2008-04-30
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