Thousands of Turkish workers protest TEKEL layoffs

05/02/2010

ANKARA, Turkey -- Tens of thousands of workers and civil servants across the country staged a day long strike Thursday (February 4th) to support employees of the former state-controlled cigarette and alcohol producer TEKEL against layoffs. The protest is backed by six trade unions and disrupted public services, particularly transportation. The tobacco company was privatised and bought by British American Tobacco in 2008. Workers lost their jobs on January 31st when the government closed TEKEL units not privatised. Authorities have offered the employees temporary work in other public institutions, where employees say they would be paid less and receive fewer benefits. (Anadolu news agency, AP, Xinhua, Hurriyet - 04/02/10)

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