Tension in front of TRNC Parliament as police clash with protesters

There was tension in front of the TRNC Parliament on Friday morning when scuffle broke out between protesters and police as protesters insisted on bringing a truck into the protest area. 

Tension broke out on Friday morning when workers who gathered in front of the TRNC parliament clashed with police officers as the protesters insist on bringing a truck into the protest area.

The protest, organized with the participation of more than thirty unions, opposes proposed changes to the Collective Bargaining, Strike, and Referendum Law, as well as the Cost of Living Allowance Law. It continues today as it did yesterday.

The workers carrying black umbrellas in their second day of strikes, are protesting amendments put forward to regulate the cost-of-living and collective agreements.

The workers, members of 32 trade unions covering the ‘civil service’ and private sector, are against amendments to ‘laws’ on collective bargain, the right to receive living expenses and strikes and referenda.

Meanwhile, inside the building, ‘MPs’ are discussing a ban on strikes at ‘parliament’ and ports.

The ‘government’ had invited the leadership of some trade unions to a meeting at the ‘parliament’ but did not show up.

After waiting for 45 minutes, Ktams trade union leader Güven Bengihan spoke of “great disrespect”.

On Monday, more trade unions will be joining in the strike.

One of the reasons the trade unions called the strike was that the ‘government budget’ for 2025 saw a 200 per cent increase for show expenses and a new ‘presidential palace’ and was slashing workers’ rights.

‘Prime minister’ Unal Ustel said the cost-of-living allowance would not be touched and that the vulnerable groups would be protected.

This was “the biggest lie”, general secretary of the primary teachers’ union Burak Maviş said and pointed out that the first to be affected by the amendments were the vulnerable and low-income groups.

President of the secondary teachers’ union Selma Eylem called on the ‘government’ to disengage itself from Ankara and think about its people.