International news: Istanbul men protest, Turkish healthworkers and Nigerian teachers

Submitted by Matthew on 25 February, 2015 - 10:42 Author: Charlotte Zalens

On 6 December 2014 Maltepe University Hospital in Istanbul dismissed 98 workers, for being members of the Progressive Union of Health Workers.

The workers joined the union to seek to improve their working conditions in the hospital. They demanded higher wages, which have been promised for several years, and shorter working hours. Several of the sacked workers were working in the hospital for more than 10 years and received several awards. There are disabled workers as well as couples among them. Many families have been left without income.

Workers’ Liberty will be joining LabourStart to gather signatures in support of the sacked health workers, and calling for their reinstatement.

You can sign the petition online here.

Or you can download a petition to take round your workplace, trade union or students union here.

Sending an invitation

Men in Istanbul took to the streets wearing skirts on Saturday 21 February to protest at the brutal rape and murder of Ozgecan Aslan on 11 February. The action came after men in Azerbaijan and Turkey tweeted photos of themselves in skirts holding signs in solidarity with Ozgecan. One protester explained “if a miniskirt is responsible for everything, if [wearing] a miniskirt means immorality and unchastity, if a woman who wears a miniskirt is sending an invitation about what will happen to her, then we are also sending an invitation!"

Nigerian teachers' action

Teachers in the Northern Nigerian province of Bauchi protested outside government offices after not being paid for 11 months.

The teachers carried placards reading “we cannot feed our families” and “we are suffering”.

The teachers work in one of the most dangerous areas of Nigeria. Bauchi state is often subject to attacks by Boko Haram, who have killed many teachers and children.

Teachers claim that since the abduction of 200 school girls in Chibok there have been grand yet meaningless calls for “safe schools”.

Very little has been done to change their working conditions and improve student safety.

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