“We Will Beautify This Country Just Like Its Streets”

Bornova Mayor Ömer Eşki celebrated May 1st, International Workers’ Day, with municipal workers at various work sites, emphasizing labor, democracy, and solidarity. Eşki called for resistance, stating that Turkey is going through an oppressive period. DİSK representative Uğur Nazlıoğlu also highlighted the workers' continued resistance against economic injustice.

Celebrating with Workers at the Work Sites

Mayor Ömer Eşki marked May 1st together with workers in Bornova. Starting early in the morning, he visited the municipal sanitation, public works, and parks & gardens departments, greeting workers, joining in traditional dances, and chanting slogans alongside them. DİSK General-İş Union Branch No. 7 President Uğur Nazlıoğlu also attended the celebrations.

Mayor Eşki: “We Will Not Surrender to This Fascist Period”

During his speech, Mayor Ömer Eşki addressed the workers:

“We must live through these days and struggle together. Because we are currently going through perhaps the darkest, most fascist period in Turkey’s history—a time that threatens not just workers’ rights, but the lives of all individuals, regardless of their political stance. We are witnessing a level of repression and persecution not even seen during the September 12 era.

May 1st holds great meaning. That’s why everyone should be out in the streets. But it’s clear that workers alone cannot achieve success. Today, students are also fighting. There’s a broader struggle against lawlessness. Merely showing up on symbolic days is not enough. We must all be present wherever resistance and struggle take place.

Bertolt Brecht once said, ‘No salvation alone. Either all of us together or none of us!’ He said this during a time when the world was heading toward catastrophe. Today, we are going through the worst times since the occupation of our country. Our rights are being stripped away one by one. Friends, we either resist and fight, or we surrender to this system and abandon our country to its fate.

I have never thought about leaving this country, and I hope I never will. We have nowhere else to go. Just as we pave our city’s streets, maintain the sidewalks, and beautify our parks, we must also care for, protect, and beautify our country. That’s why our struggle is so meaningful, and these days are extremely important. We must all recognize this seriousness and fulfill our responsibilities. This year it wasn’t possible, but I hope next year we’ll celebrate May Day in Taksim Square. Happy International Workers’ Day to you all.”

Nazlıoğlu: “The Tax Burden Is on Us, But We Won’t Give Up the Fight”

DİSK General-İş Branch No. 7 President Uğur Nazlıoğlu also emphasized economic injustice and the need for democracy:

“We can’t access healthcare, we can’t access education, and even if we retire, we can’t make ends meet. We work, we’re laborers, yet still we struggle to survive. The taxes deducted from us are often higher than those paid by some bosses. We go to the polls to elect local leaders of our choice, then stay up all night guarding the ballot boxes fearing our votes won’t be counted. And then, we find ourselves having to surround municipal buildings to prevent appointed trustees. But we will never abandon the workers’ struggle for bread and democracy.”