Birleşik Metal-İş Calls for Democracy and Solidarity in Europe: "Silence is Contagious!"

BUDAPEST – Özkan Atar, President of Birleşik Metal-İş (United Metalworkers' Union), delivered a striking speech at the 4th Congress of IndustriALL Europe in Budapest, drawing attention to the increasing union rights violations and anti-democratic practices in Turkey and bringing them to the agenda of European trade unions. General President Atar called for strengthening international solidarity, stating, "Silence is contagious. Therefore, we must fight this pandemic of anti-democracy together; we know that international solidarity is not just a slogan, but a necessity."

Right to Strike and Freedom of Association Under Threat in Turkey

In his speech, Atar highlighted that despite constitutional guarantees in Turkey, the freedom of association is being severely violated in practice. He emphasized that workers are dismissed, threatened, and face years-long legal processes when they seek to unionize. He underscored that the right to strike, one of the most fundamental democratic tools for unions, has been repeatedly banned on arbitrary grounds such as "national security."

Atar stated that Birleşik Metal-İş has not bowed to numerous strike bans over the past decade. "Following the government's strike bans, we declared these bans unconstitutional and continued these strikes until we obtained what was rightfully ours," he said. He further declared that in the future, they would continue their struggle against bans that shackle workers, not just in Turkey, but shoulder-to-shoulder with the European working class.

Blows to Democracy and Political Pressure: Why Europe Must Not Remain Silent?

Özkan Atar also touched upon political developments in Turkey, criticizing the government's attempt to sideline its political rivals through actions such as the arrest of the Istanbul Mayor, a potential opposition presidential candidate. He noted that thousands of young people, journalists, and civil society representatives protesting this situation have also been arrested, and the public's widespread reaction has been met with suppression.

Atar emphasized that the right to organize, workplace democracy, freedom to choose a union, freedom of expression and the press, and the right to strike, demonstrate, and protest are also the foundations of democracy in a country. Citing Bertold Brecht's words, "Justice is the worker's bread," he stated that the struggle for justice and democracy is, for them, a struggle for their bread.

International Solidarity is a Necessity: A Joint Struggle for the Future of European Industry

General President Atar pointed out that if union rights are systematically obstructed, the power of the trade union movement is weakened, social dialogue is destroyed, and the democratic fabric of society decays. Stating that oppression spreads and silence is contagious, he reiterated his call: "We must fight this pandemic of anti-democracy together; we know that international solidarity is not just a slogan, but a necessity."

Atar emphasized that if the future of European industry is to be built together, fundamental union rights and democracy—individual and collective rights and freedoms—must be guaranteed in every country. "Democracy knows no borders. Neither does solidarity…" Atar concluded his speech with these words, conveying the message that a stronger and fairer European industry can only be built through a joint struggle.