Message of solidarity from the workers of the “Şık Makas” factory and the BİRTEK-SEN union
Iran Labor Confederation – Abroad has published this report to highlight the clear and explicit solidarity shown by striking workers at the clothing manufacturer Şık Makas in Tokat, Turkey, along with the militant union BİRTEK-SEN, in support of Iranian workers and protesting people. It describes this as an important and valuable step in strengthening international working-class solidarity.
The workers of Şık Makas, who have been on strike for more than 100 days in an organized struggle against exploitation, unfair wages, and employer-imposed working conditions, issued a statement on the 100th day of their strike. While marking their own resistance and achievements, they expressed direct support for Iranian workers and people who have been standing up for more than two weeks against poverty, repression, and state violence.
In their statement, the striking Turkish workers pointed to the bloody crackdown on popular protests in Iran, saying that the Iranian government is trying to hide and silence the struggles of workers and the public through killings and by cutting off internet access. They stressed that despite these efforts, the voices of Iran’s working people must reach the world, and that it is the responsibility of the global labor movement to amplify those voices.
Part of the Şık Makas workers’ statement reads:
“We salute the people and working class of Iran, who for 17 days have been resisting poverty, repression, and a reactionary regime. The Iranian regime is committing crimes against working people and has shut down internet access to hide these crimes. Nevertheless, as Şık Makas workers, we will echo the voices of Iranian workers and support their struggle. Şık Makas workers will win, Iranian working people will win, the working class will win. We will win through unity.”
Iran Labor Confederation – Abroad, while thanking them for this clear and courageous message, emphasizes that this action is the result of real connections and solidarity between the Iranian Workers’ Confederation and parts of the Turkish labor movement and independent unions—connections built around shared working-class interests, the fight against exploitation, and resistance to state repression.
The video released by the striking Şık Makas workers, published alongside this report, is a clear example of practical cross-border worker solidarity—solidarity that can help strengthen the struggles of Iranian workers and people, and increase international pressure against repression and state violence.
Iran Labor Confederation – Abroad once again stresses that international working-class unity and solidarity are vital weapons against poverty, exploitation, and repression, and that the support shown by Turkish workers for the ongoing struggles in Iran is an important step on this shared path.
