Falling from heights, being crushed, explosions, burns, electrocution, poisoning… In September alone, 152 workers lost their lives, while at least 1,371 workers have died in the first nine months of the year.
The September Report from the Workers’ Health and Work Safety Council (İSİG Meclisi) once again exposes how the capitalist system, built on exploitation and insecurity, steals the lives of workers. In a system where lives are disregarded, labor is devalued, and efforts by the working class to organize are suppressed, the importance of resistance and solidarity becomes more apparent with each passing day.
Our Forests, Our Rivers, Our Land!
The report first commemorates Reşit Kibar, murdered in Artvin Hopa Cankurtaran for resisting the invasion of capitalist profiteers into their forests, along with all other resisters facing repression in this struggle. Capital and the state are not only ruthlessly exploiting workers but also attempting to plunder nature. Yet they should not forget: “Our forests, our rivers are ours… This land is ours!”
Workplace Murders in September: Capital Exploits, Workers Die
In sectors like construction and roadwork, 42 workers; in agriculture and forestry, 33 workers (18 laborers, 15 farmers); and in transportation, 23 workers paid the price for insecure working conditions with their lives. A striking point in the report is that only 2 of the 152 workers who died were union members, underscoring how the deliberate policy of keeping workers unorganized sustains the capitalist system’s exploitation.
The system neither allows workers to unionize nor provides a secure working environment. The result? Hundreds of workers die every month, while capital continues to fill its pockets. Among these workers were three child laborers, a chilling reminder of the reality we live in, where 66 child workers have lost their lives during the 2023-2024 school year.
Workers Die Even as They Age
While debates over inadequate pensions, early retirement (EYT), and retirement continue, at least 61 workers aged 50 and over died. Forced to work in old age, these elderly workers are exploited until their last breath to feed the greed of capital. In capitalism, there is no distinction between young and old; if you are a worker, you are always at the brink of death.
Resistance Grows: Workers’ Struggle Against Capitalism
Worker resistances are ongoing across the country. In workplaces like Polonez Gıda, Fernas Mining, Akcanlar Tekstil, and Eker Süt, workers have raised the flag of resistance. Their struggles for unionization, fair wages, and occupational safety are met with police and military repression, but workers are not backing down. The struggles at Fernas and Polonez are at a critical juncture; if these resistances succeed, the entire working class will win!
The common thread in each of these struggles is clear: solidarity is essential to win the war waged by the capitalist system against workers. And we must remember, if we unite in this fight, we will win at Fernas, at Polonez, and beyond!