Smart Solar workers took to the streets: Reinstatement and union rights demand

The layoffs that started after the union change of the workers in the Izmir Aliağa factory of Smart Solar, which produces and installs solar power plants, continued.

While 7 of the workers who transferred from TES-İŞ to DİSK/Enerji-Sen were first laid off, the number of laid-off workers increased to 83 in the following days.

Workers carried their resistance against layoffs to the city center on the sixth day.

The workers gathered in Republic Square to demand the reinstatement of the dismissed workers, the payment of unpaid receivables and the recognition of union rights, and marched from there to Democracy Square.

The march was supported by the Revolutionary Workers Party (DIP), Labor Party (EMEP), Labor Movement Party (EHP), Community Centers, Student Collectives and Socialist Workers Party (SEP).

Some citizens along the route supported the march by honking their horns and applauding.

During the march, slogans such as "Victory will belong to the workers who resist" and "There is no salvation alone, either all together or none of us" were chanted.

Workers also carried a banner saying "We are the ones who produce, we will be the ones who manage" and the banner "Long live the union of Smart Solar workers" signed by DİSK/Enerji-Sen and United Metal-İş.

After the march, union leaders and laid-off workers spoke at Democracy Square.

Workers ended the protest by stating that they would continue the struggle until their demands were met.