Minister of Labor and Social Security Vedat Işıkhan said, "The attitude of our unions on the night of July 15 is extremely important for our history of democracy. Our worker and civil servant confederations have demonstrated a clear stance from the first hours."
Minister of Labor and Social Security Vedat Işıkhan attended the 'Workers' Struggle Against the July 15 Treacherous Coup Attempt Panel' held at İŞKUR General Directorate within the scope of the July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day events. The panel discussed the struggle of workers against the treacherous coup attempt of July 15 and the role of unions in protecting the national will. Hak-İş Chairman Mahmut Arslan, Memur-Sen Chairman Ali Yalçın and chairmen of other confederations attended the program.
Minister Işıkhan, who made a speech at the program, stated that July 15 was a historical turning point where the national will was defended with determination, and that the spirit of unity and solidarity demonstrated that night would not be forgotten.
"After every coup, Türkiye became the loser"
Stating that Türkiye is one of the countries that suffered the most from coups in the history of democracy, Işıkhan said, "The e-memorandum of 27 May, 12 March, 12 September, 28 February, 27 April and 15 July; each of them targeted the will of our nation. Each of them targeted not only the governments, but also the economy, business life, social peace, law, freedoms and the future of our nation. After each coup, the loser was the nation. The loser was democracy; labor and production. After each coup, the loser was Türkiye." "When the past coups are examined, we regretfully see that in some periods, some structures, some unions and various professional organizations supported the coups openly or covertly, tried to legitimize the coup plotters' discourses, and even contributed to the coup processes finding a social basis. This understanding, which preferred tutelage over the will of the nation, delayed the strengthening of our democracy."
"No civil society mentality can side with those who point guns at the government elected by the nation."
Işıkhan stated that today there is a strong understanding of democracy in society and said, "The night of July 15 was the clearest indicator of this. Regardless of their political views, worldviews and union preferences, the majority of the labor world of our country came together in a common conscience. They came together in democracy. They came together in the national will. They sided with Türkiye. This is an extremely valuable gain for our culture of democracy. We now know that no struggle for rights can be carried out outside of democracy. No union struggle can be positioned against the national will. No union struggle can be positioned against the national will. "The understanding of civil society cannot side with those who point guns at the government elected by the nation. That is why July 15 is a historical turning point that shows that the relationship between civil society and the union movement in Türkiye has matured."
"The attitude of our unions on the night of July 15 is extremely important for our history of democracy."
Pointing out that the 'Workers' Struggle Against the July 15 Treacherous Coup Attempt Panel' was extremely meaningful, Işıkhan said, "Workers, civil servants, firefighters, miners, public servants and many other laborers, on the one hand, fulfilled their duties without interruption, and on the other hand, defended the national will in the squares. The attitude of our unions on the night of July 15 is also extremely important for our history of democracy. Our worker and civil servant confederations, employer organizations, professional organizations and many non-governmental organizations "Our unions have demonstrated a clear and open stance since the first hours. With minor exceptions, they have stood by the nation. They have unhesitatingly rejected the coup attempt. This common stance is extremely valuable as it shows the level of democratic maturity that Türkiye has reached."
"As the Ministry, we see social dialogue and peace of activity as one of the important foundations of our democracy."
Işıkhan underlined that every coup also targets production and employment and said, "For this reason, the strengthening of business life and the strengthening of democracy cannot be considered separately. In a place where the rule of law, national will and democratic order do not prevail, there can be neither investment security, nor production security nor peace of activity. For this very reason, as the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, we see social dialogue, peace of activity, strengthening union rights and social justice as one of the important foundations of our democracy. When we look back today, we see that stopping the coup plotters is "The Turkey we want has become stronger in every field under the leadership of our esteemed President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. There is now a strong Turkey that inspires confidence in its region and is listened to in the world. The basis of these successes is the will of our nation on the night of July 15," he said.
Işıkhan stated that July 15 should be understood correctly and explained correctly to the younger generations. Emphasizing that democracy is a common trust that every generation should protect, Işıkhan stated that the panel will contribute to strengthening this awareness.
Emphasizing the importance of July 15 in terms of activity life and democracy, Işıkhan stated that the unions' struggle for democracy and the struggle carried out with the memories of the workers gained more meaning.
After Minister Işıkhan's speech, the program continued with a panel session closed to the press. - ANKARA