Workers fired from Istanbul courthouse hold sit-in protest

ISTANBUL – Anadolu Agency

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A group of workers who were allegedly fired from their jobs at the Anadolu Courthouse in Istanbul’s Anatolian side held a sit-in protest on Dec. 28.

A total of 32 people who worked for the tea service and catering department of the courthouse and were fired from their jobs gathered in front of the courthouse to stage the protest. Republican People’s Party (CHP) Istanbul deputy Barış Yarkadaş gave his support to the workers, while judge Tamer Akgökçe also supported the protest, saying the workers were right in their demands.

A total of 75 teahouse and cafeteria employees working at the Anatolian Courthouse located in Kartal, a district on Istanbul’s Asian side, started a strike on Dec. 4, stating they had not been paid for two months. The judges and prosecutors at the courthouse gave their support to the courthouse’s cafeteria and teahouse contractual employees at the time.

Speaking on behalf of the judiciary personnel of the courthouse, judge Nuh Hüseyin Köse said on Dec. 7 they would not eat in the cafeteria to show their support for the employees on strike.

“Today, cafeterias are empty. Nobody’s around. We, as justices, prosecutors, court clerks, chief editors and other courthouse personnel, will not go eat in the cafeteria until these employees get paid,” Köse said.