Mint workers to go to court against Ministry’s decision

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet

Turkish mint workers’ strike has caused a shortage of official stamps. Hürriyet photo

The crisis between the Turkish government and the mint workers is deepening, as the union is set to take legal action against the Finance Ministry’s allowance of manufacturing of alcohol and tobacco banderoles in alternative facilities.

After mint workers went on strike July 8, which caused a shortage of official stamps manufactured by the institution to be used for passports, driver’s licenses and alcoholic drink bottles and cigarette boxes, the Revenue Administration started to try to find a solution to manufacture alcohol and tobacco banderoles in alternative facilities. The mint workers’ union, Basın-İş, went to the court over “strikebreaking” claims.

While the lawsuit isn’t concluded yet, the Ministry of Finance made an announcement that enabled the manufacturing of banderoles in approved facilities. It appears that Basın-İş will take legal action against it.

“The ones who couldn’t end the strike through political pressure are now trying to remove the strike’s consequences by using the executive power. What’s going to be the next step? Will you delay the strike with an excuse?” said Basın-İş.

Turkish mint workers have been on strike since July 8, in an attempt to increase their salary and improve working conditions. The average salary of mint workers is currently 1,562 Turkish Liras ($835) and Basın-İş said they want this amount to be raised to around 2,000 liras.