Workers’ Representatives Council Established

https://www.tkp.org.tr/en/agenda/workers-representatives-council-established/

On March 15, 2026, 322 workers—representing a wide range of sectors including metal, petrochemicals, textiles, food, logistics, warehousing, aviation, shipbuilding, construction, IT, communications, tourism, healthcare, education, office, and service work—came together from many provinces across the country. Alongside representatives of retirees, these workers, employed in both the private and public sectors, convened at the call of the TKP and announced the establishment of the Workers’ Representatives Council.

TKP General Secretary Kemal Okuyan delivered the opening speech, drawing on the history of class struggle in Turkey and focusing on how the working class can reclaim its political agency. He explained how the experience of the working class of Turkey has overturned the assumption that “trade union consciousness precedes political consciousness,” and emphasized that for the working class to be victorious, a class culture must be rebuilt—one in which workers take pride in being workers and in their labor.

What is the Workers’ Representatives Council?

The Workers’ Representatives Council is composed of worker representatives from unions and professional organizations across the aforementioned sectors, solidarity networks operating under the “Patronların Ensesindeyiz” (Breath Down the Bosses’ Necks) initiative, ongoing worker resistance movements throughout Turkey, as well as TKP workplace units and committees.

These representatives come from some of the most determined segments of the working class and aim to expand and deepen class organization in the areas they represent, while providing direction, unity, and political purpose to a working-class movement that currently appears fragmented and dispersed.

Political message of the meeting

A motion titled “The Demands of the Turkish Working Class,” which defines the political principles to be embraced by the working class, was discussed and unanimously adopted at the founding meeting. These principles include equality, nationalization, freedom to organize, working class patriotism, the right to engage in politics, the right to humane working conditions, the right to retirement and to a dignified life for retirees, and a firm commitment to break with the capitalist system and the rule of capital.

The Council also adopted two position statements expressing solidarity with the people of Iran in the face of attacks by the United States and Israel, and with Cuba against the U.S. blockade.

International solidarity

Nikos Tzortzis, Head of International Relations of the Secretariat of the All Workers Militant Front (PAME) in Greece, attended the meeting, welcomed the establishment of the Council, and expressed his solidarity and best wishes.

In his speech, Tzortzis highlighted the resistance led by PAME in Greece against the New Democracy government’s policies that extend working hours, weaken collective agreements, and suppress wages. He emphasized that the actions of dockworkers and seafarers have emerged as symbols of resistance against exploitation and deteriorating working conditions. He also conveyed the strong opposition and actions of Greek workers to Greece’s involvement in imperialist wars. Concluding his remarks with verses from Nazım Hikmet, Tzortzis ended with the words: “Long live the working class of Turkey, long live the working class of Greece.”

Decisions of the meeting

The final declaration states that ending exploitation, war, and destruction requires the working class to emerge as an organized political force with a demand for systemic change. It emphasizes that without resolving the contradiction between labor and capital, equality, freedom, secularism, independence, peace, and democracy cannot be achieved.

Through the decisions adopted at its founding meeting, the Workers’ Representatives Council has concretely defined its organizational and strategic objectives.

The Council aims to expand working-class organization by developing tools to strengthen the structures of the represented groups and by advancing targeted struggles—particularly in manufacturing, textiles, and the public sector—to gain new ground.

To reinforce working-class identity and culture, political, social, and cultural activities will be organized; TKP workers’ houses and district houses will be utilized; and a range of publications will be launched.

To defend the rights and demands of public-sector workers, the Council will work to increase the number of union leaders and workplace representatives within its ranks, with the goal of ensuring that the unions in these workplaces become officially authorized.

Building on the experience of the “Patronların Ensesindeyiz” (PE) network, the Council plans to strengthen and expand workplace committees and solidarity networks, while enhancing PE’s communication tools to facilitate cross-sectoral solidarity and coordinated struggle.

It aims to establish Retiree Solidarity Networks across Turkey to bring together retired workers and those who have reached retirement age but are unable to retire.

Finally, the Council will take an active role in ongoing worker resistance movements, working to break their isolation in the face of strike bans and anti-union measures, and to increase their visibility and impact within the broader working class.