More unions to join in general strike amid Turkey unrest

ISTANBUL

The Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions (DİSK) is set to join an ongoing public sector strike on June 5, according to an official statement released by the union, a day after the Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions (KESK) announced its decision to strike.

The union first shared the conditions of the strike with its members, and will be stopping work on June 5 before gathering in front of the DİSK building in Şişli, the statement said, adding that the crowd would then proceed toward Taksim.

“The power stemming from production will take its place in the struggle,” the statement further said.

Around 250,000 members of KESK were dressed in black and sported black ribbons at work on June 4 before stopping at noon. The strike, which was initially set to protest against the upcoming changes in the public sector workers’ law, was moved ahead to June 4 due to the ongoing Gezi Park protests, while KESK called for solidarity from all other unions.