IndustriALL Global Union, of which we are an affiliate, sent a letter to our union expressing its solidarity with the workers and people of Turkey during this time of Covid-19.
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
I write to you on behalf of IndustriALL Global Union, which represents more than fifty million workers in mining, energy and manufacturing industries in 140 countries worldwide, to express our solidarity with the workers and people in Turkey at this time of Covid-19. We are very sorry to hear that as of today there are 4,729, and 172,114 confirmed cases.
We wish to commend the great sacrifice and enormous contribution that workers, in particular those in essential industries, are making to ensure basic services to the population, helping to stop the transmission of the coronavirus, and caring for people who have COVID-19.
We call on the government in Turkey to adopt and implement the necessary health, economic and social policies to assist workers and enterprises to guarantee the livelihood of workers and their families as well as the sustainability of the workplaces. Health of our members have foremost importance and making workplaces safe is a priority ahead of any other consideration.
IndustriALL Global Union continues to fully support you in your current efforts to achieve the common objectives aimed at containing the virus, guaranteeing essential activities for the community and, first and foremost, ensuring the safety and health of those workers in the front line. At this point, democracy, democratic governance and fundamental human and workers’ rights must be protected and guaranteed under any circumstances.
Furthermore, in saving lives and livelihoods, it is imperative that unions participate–along with government officials, including public health specialists, and employers’ organizations—in the discussions to develop an exit strategy while ensuring the health and safety of those workers returning progressively to their workplaces, while also avoiding a second wave of infections.
We believe that the determination and commitment the international community is showing to deal with this pandemic, which is underpinned by a spirit of solidarity, gives us hope that the same resolve will be used to tackle inequality and climate change.
In solidarity,
Valter Sanches
General Secretary
IndustriALL Global Union in solidarity with its Turkish affiliates in this time of Covid-19
