GOVERNMENT
IF IT DECIDES TO STRIKE
(Publication Date: April 4, 2007)
The most popular form of action in recent days: Strikes and protests…
I wonder: what would happen if the government decided to strike too?
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I eagerly scan the news, with the same air as the song goes, “what’s happening in life?”
I dive into the news: The Union of Municipalities has announced that it will hold a major protest in April, in which the public will also take part, while the Democratic Party, which is continuing its “Parliament Boycott,” is preparing to submit a motion for early elections. Meanwhile, a delegation from the United Kingdom’s House of Lords is holding meetings in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. On another front, physiotherapists working in the public sector and belonging to the Public Employees’ Union are beginning an indefinite strike today, on the grounds that their demands have not been met by the Law on the Department of Inpatient Treatment Institutions, which has just passed through Parliament… In addition, Adnan Eraslan, president of the Cyprus Turkish Secondary Education Teachers’ Union, speaking on behalf of four unions that failed to reach an agreement with the Finance Minister, accuses the government of “mocking workers” and says they will most likely decide to take action at their evaluation meeting today… Because of the economic difficulties behind the decisions to take action and strike, Abdüllatif Şener, Minister of State and Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey, is coming to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to sign the Economic Program Memorandum of Understanding between Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
Yes, this is what’s happening in the country.
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What catches my attention in these reports is the decisions to strike and take action. I’ll share my thoughts shortly on the visitors from the House of Lords, the Democratic Party’s motion for early elections, and Abdüllatif Şener’s arrival on the island!
Have you noticed?
Ever since the current government (CTP-ÖP) was formed, there has always been discontent among the unions.
Of course, this was happening under the previous government (CTP-DP) as well.
There is one thing the two governments have in common: The Republican Turkish Party.
Let’s play along and, as always, ask a few questions: Does the CTP have a blood feud with these organizations?
Did the CTP make all sorts of promises to these organizations while dreaming of coming to power? Is that why these organizations make incomprehensible demands from time to time?
Do these organizations think CTP stands for “Unpunished Single Party” and are trying to punish it? When will these strikes and protests end?
Did these organizations get what they wanted in previous periods, and is the CTP now refusing to give it to them? And, given that, isn’t the CTP actually engaging in populism when it says it doesn’t?
Is the CTP the only party responsible for these events? Where is the ÖP? Why is it acting as if none of this is happening? Aren’t both parties responsible? If not, why call it a “coalition”?
How much longer can the CTP-ÖP “coalition” withstand this pressure?
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The key question, in fact, is the one we just asked: how much longer can they withstand this pressure?
Perhaps the Democratic Party’s motion for early elections heralds the CTP’s salvation.
Perhaps Abdüllatif Şener is coming to ease these pressures, lessen the current government’s problems somewhat, and ensure its continuation. Given the presidential election to be held in Turkey and the strong likelihood of a crisis over it, the Turkish government may not want a crisis in the TRNC at the same time.
Perhaps… Who can say?
We’ll find out in time…
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What I’m really afraid of is this question: “What would happen if the government decided to strike too?”
Yes, what would happen?
Just imagine: a delegation arrives from the House of Lords and can’t meet with anyone. They are told in response, “Our government has decided to go on an indefinite strike against the unions. Come back when the strike is over.” Or Abdüllatif Şener comes to sign a protocol and can’t meet with anyone; no one is able to sign it.
I suppose we would have the chance to become the first and only state in the world to do this.
This isn’t as tragically comic a situation as you might think; after all, we are a state that hands out a few pension payments, whose teachers go on strike by not attending classes, and that is a first in many respects.
For these reasons, it would hardly be surprising if the government decided to strike!
See you Friday… Be respectful in traffic!
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