02.06.2025 00:30
Due to 23,000 workers being on strike in İzmir, the accumulated garbage, especially in the Alsancak area, began to disturb citizens and shopkeepers. In response, the Mayor of the Metropolitan Municipality, Cemil Tugay, put on gloves and loaded garbage onto a truck with the workers who were not on strike. A dispute occurred between Mayor Tugay and Ercan Gül, the President of the DİSK General İş Branch 2, who was trying to prevent him from collecting garbage.
The workers employed by the companies affiliated with the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality are on strike, which has led to a pile-up of garbage, especially in Alsancak, Kıbrıs Şehitleri Street, and the Kordon. This situation disturbed the environment, prompting the Mayor of the Metropolitan Municipality, Cemil Tugay, to take action. A dispute arose between Mayor Tugay, who was collecting trash while wearing gloves, and Ercan Gül, the President of DİSK General İş Branch 2, who tried to prevent him.
GARBAGE MOUNTAINS FORMED IN IZMIR DUE TO THE STRIKE
When the collective bargaining negotiations concerning 23,000 employees between İzmir Metropolitan Municipality and DİSK General-İş stalled, thousands of workers from İZELMAN, İZENERJİ, and Egeşehir went on strike on May 29. Many services, especially transportation, came to a standstill. Due to the failure to collect garbage, mountains of trash formed particularly in Alsancak, Kıbrıs Şehitleri Street, and the Kordon. The accumulated garbage in areas frequented by local and foreign tourists, along with the bad smell spreading in the environment, began to disturb both the tradespeople and the residents of the area.
CEMIL TUGAY CAME FACE TO FACE WITH STRIKING WORKERS
Mayor of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, Cemil Tugay, went to the field at night in Alsancak Kordon. Mayor Tugay wore gloves and collected trash together with the workers who were not on strike. After loading the garbage bags onto the truck, he had a dispute with Ercan Gül, the President of DİSK General İş Branch 2, who approached them after a while.
"THIS GARBAGE WILL BE REMOVED FROM HERE"
Tugay said, "What are you doing here? You cannot prevent the collection of this garbage. You have no right to do so. Do not insist. This garbage will be removed from here. This city cannot live a healthy life while this garbage is here. Did you come here to fight? Are you protecting your bread by keeping the garbage here? A person on strike goes home. You cannot interfere here," he stated.
Ercan Gül, the President of DİSK General İş Branch 2, also expressed, "We are after our bread. We have no other purpose." The tradespeople who witnessed the argument reacted to the union officials, saying, "We are the owners of this place; we do not want garbage here." Mayor Tugay continued to collect trash with the workers, telling the union officials, "I am doing the job you should be doing."