North’s cost-of-living allowance decree repealed, protests continue at legislature

The decree issued by the north’s ruling coalition which froze payments of the cost-of-living allowance to public sector workers until next year at the earliest was withdrawn on Wednesday, with the coalition now declaring its readiness to enter into negotiations with trade unions.

Members of the ruling coalition had late on Tuesday night told reporters that their intention had been to withdraw the decree after protesters managed to enter the legislature building earlier in the day, with it initially having been hoped that the decree would be repealed by Wednesday morning.

However, following a delay, the decree was repealed shortly after midday on Wednesday.

Promises of a repeal and negotiations were not enough to stop demonstrators from once again marching on the legislature, with trade unions once again calling their members onto the streets and announcing that the general strike which had been continuously in place since the start of the week would continue into Wednesday.

Just as they had on Monday and Tuesday, demonstrators overpowered riot police who had assembled at the legislature’s security gate, entering the complex and gathering at the building’s front door.

Unlike on Tuesday, however, they did not manage to enter the building.

Once on the complex’s front lawn, protesters chanted for the ruling coalition to resign, with this demand being reiterated by the trade union leaders who had organised the protest as they spoke to reporters on the ground.

Electricity workers’ trade union El-Sen leader Ahmet Tugcu, who had been arrested and held for eight hours on Tuesday for his part in that day’s protest, was clear in his demand for new elections to be held.

“What we want to do in this country is clear. From this point on, no one can stop this people. They will know that we have reached the end of our tether. Yesterday, they tried to stall the process with a lot of lies. The people are saying, ‘we do not want these representatives, give us a date for an election’,” he said.

He added that “the will of the people is clear”, and that the situation has now “gone beyond politics”.

Fellow trade union Turk-Sen leader Arslan Bicakli was also scathing of the coalition, saying, “I have seen many lies and deceptions in my time, but I have never seen such liars as these people”.

He also called on the coalition to not only withdraw the decree, which they since have, but also to withdraw the bill it had earlier planned to pass through the legislature to the same end.

“Our position is clear. You will withdraw this decree and the bill. If you do not, we will not discuss it. Take it to the parliamentary committee and let us discuss it there,” he said.

Later on Wednesday, the coalition drew up a new plan to allow for a number of public sector workers to receive the cost-of-living allowance while keeping costs down for the authorities.

Under the new plans, public sector workers earning 75,000TL (€1,442) per month or less when the cost-of-living allowance is included will be paid the cost-of-living allowance in full, and that those earning more would be paid half of their allotted allowance, unless that cut would see their salary drop below 75,000TL.

In those cases, they would earn 75,000TL exactly, with this system set to remain in force until the end of the year.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman held a brief meeting with the ruling coalition in search of a way forward. He left that meeting without making any public statements.

The unions were in no mood for compromise, however, with Cyprus Turkish teachers’ trade union (Ktos) leader Burak Mavish saying that the unions “will neither accept nor discuss this proposal”.

“The government has once again demonstrated its malicious intent by insisting on passing a law … on the fourth day of the general strike, when the people are on the streets. The only thing the government should do today is withdraw the bill and resign,” he said.