Private Sector Teachers Marching to Ankara: "No Holidays, No Job Security!"

Private sector teachers staged a protest in Pendik, Istanbul, on the second day of their march to Ankara, demonstrating against low wages and precarious working conditions: "Endless Hours, Zero Job Security!"

Private sector teachers continued their march to Ankara against low wages and insecure working conditions, staging a protest in Pendik, Istanbul, on the second day. The teachers gathered in front of a private tutoring center, which was symbolically chosen as the protest site, as an exam was taking place inside at that time.

Continuing their march with the slogan "Endless hours, zero job security," the teachers reiterated their demands for equal rights with their public sector colleagues, a base salary law, mandatory indefinite-term employment contracts, and the creation of a separate occupational branch for education workers.

A statement made during the protest highlighted, "While public sector teachers are on summer vacation, our colleagues here are still being made to work. It's not us, but the Ministry of National Education, which should be inspecting this institution, that ought to be here. These exams are not for students, but for the Ministry and the inspection commission."

Duygu Ergen, a member of the Private Sector Teachers' Union MYK, summarized the difficulties faced by teachers as follows: They wake up at 6 in the morning, often go to school without even having breakfast. There is no shuttle service, so transportation costs come out of their own pockets. It is a long day filled not only with lessons but also with duties, etudes, parent meetings, and various gatherings. Despite working over 10 hours, they are officially paid based on 5-6 hours of lessons. The salary they receive at the end of the month often amounts to the minimum wage. Their social security is either not paid at all or paid at the minimum level. Unemployment prevails during holidays, and uncertainty throughout the year. They also know colleagues who have been dismissed for being union members.

Ergen reiterated their demands for job security and equal rights, stating, "If we remain silent, we are crushed; if we speak out, we are shown the door. But we are no longer silent."

Source: Cumhuriyet