Workers in Maltepe decided to go on strike, and piles of garbage formed in the streets.

```html

Citizens are going through difficult days due to the workers' strike that started in the Maltepe district of Istanbul.

THE STRIKE INITIATED BY WORKERS CONTINUES

The strike initiated by workers the previous night continues after the collective bargaining agreement conducted between the Turkey General Services Workers' Union (Genel-İş), affiliated with the Revolutionary Workers' Unions Confederation (DİSK), and the Social Democratic Public Employers Union (SODEMSEN) on behalf of the Maltepe Municipality ended in disagreement. As part of the strike decision, some workers gathered at the Cleaning Works Directorate Construction Site in Gülsuyu Neighborhood, where they lit a fire and danced in a circle. Many workers gathered in front of the Maltepe Municipality to protest the municipal administration with applause and slogans.

GARBAGE IS NOT BEING COLLECTED DUE TO THE STRIKE

While representatives of the Genel-İş Union's Istanbul Anatolian Side Branch No. 2 met with the Maltepe Municipality administration today, it was learned that no progress has been made in the meeting so far. On the other hand, due to the strike initiated by the workers, garbage has not been collected in some neighborhoods. It was observed that garbage containers and their surroundings were filled with trash, especially in streets and avenues where markets are set up. District residents reacted to the lack of garbage collection.

"WE EXPERIENCE THIS EVERY TIME"

Hatice İçoğlu, a resident of the neighborhood, stated that she respects people's choices but emphasized that it is unacceptable for local administrations to condemn the public to garbage. Noting that the Maltepe Municipality has been managed by the CHP for a long time, İçoğlu said, "We experience this every time. Our streets are dirty, our garbage is not being collected. There is a strike now, but it was like this before as well. Especially, the garbage in the neighborhoods above the E-5 is not collected very often. A market is set up on our street every Monday. Right now, it is unbearable due to the smell and filth. Maltepe Municipality cannot condemn the people of Maltepe to this. Maltepe has a market almost every day. Then Maltepe will completely turn into a garbage pit. I mean, Maltepe is a jewel of Istanbul. We love Maltepe very much," she expressed.

"I AM CONDEMNED TO FILTH"

İçoğlu stated that political views should not be considered in local administrations and expressed that they expect municipalities to fulfill their primary duties of garbage collection and other infrastructure services. İçoğlu, expressing their discomfort as a district resident, said:

"Our expectation from the municipality is to work well, to work properly, and not to condemn its people to filth. We do not want anything else, my friend. But I am being condemned to filth. I go out for a walk, I go to the hospital. I was surprised today. My grandchild lives in this neighborhood, my child will never go outside. I mean, I don't know, a solution must be found for this situation. I hope someone will save us."

"I THINK THIS SHOULD NOT BE EXPERIENCED BY THE PEOPLE"

District resident Atilla Halfeoğulları stated that setting up markets in the streets of Maltepe and metropolitan areas is wrong and emphasized that closed market places should be established. Expressing their discomfort with the scene that emerged after the strike, Halfeoğulları noted:

"We haven't seen this scene for a long time. Is this the scene that humanity deserves at this time? The inability to obtain what workers deserve is a completely different issue. They must have valid points according to themselves. But I think actions that will risk human health should not be taken. At least, I think this should not be experienced by the people here. The entitlements should be discussed on a separate platform."