Deniz Güngör
As the third day of the protests launched in Ankara by teachers affected by the interview process and private-sector teachers, and the second day of their hunger strikes, drew to a close, the protests have now spread across the country. Meanwhile, backlash continues against the police intervention targeting the educators who gathered with demands for the base salary regulation to be appended to Law No. 5580 and for the appointment of interview-victim teachers. Yesterday, a delegation comprising teachers and families held meetings in Parliament.
Speaking prior to the meetings to be held in Parliament, Umut Erkurt, a Member of the Central Executive Board of the Private Sector Teachers' Union (Özel Sektör Öğretmenleri Sendikası), said: “There are promises given to teachers. Private sector teachers are waiting for the meeting to be held with employers' associations to yield results as soon as possible. There is a bill to help teachers affected by the interview process. This proposal was submitted by the MHP. The proposal submitted by the People's Alliance was, again, rejected by the People's Alliance.” Yesterday, teachers moved their hunger strike action, which they had initiated in front of the Enerji Hotel, to the front of the Ankara Representative Office of the Private Sector Teachers' Union.
WE LAID DOWN OUR LIVES TO KEEP OUR PROFESSION ALIVE
Elif Demiröz, a Mathematics teacher working in the private sector who is on a hunger strike in front of the representative office, recalled that the base salary regulation was abolished in 2014. Expressing that she had held an “Education Vigil” for 52 days in the Parliament Park with the same demand, Demiröz said: “We received promises there as well. Last summer, we marched from İstanbul to Ankara, and we were given promises again, but the promises have still not been kept. We came to Ankara once more to show that we are pursuing the promises given. We have not forgotten the promises; those who made the promises have forgotten them.” Demiröz added: “We cannot make ends meet, we already cannot pay our rent, we cannot eat healthily, and we cannot lead a productive life. Because we could find no other remedy, we went on a hunger strike. We are putting our lives on the line so that 'teaching may live'. We will keep teaching alive.”
WE WILL NOT LEAVE UNTIL THE PROMISES ARE KEPT
Ayşenur Çalışkan, a Religious Culture teacher affected by the interview process, stated that they have been struggling for more than approximately 1.5 years. Çalışkan said: “They told us from the Ministry, 'We will not even wait for September; you will have been appointed during the summer months. We will take you into the interview in a month immediately.' The General Secretary of Eğitim Bir-Sen (Education Providers' Union) sent messages to one of my friends saying things like, 'Congratulations, teacher, you were going to become a member of our union, do not forget.' During this process, we were given the impression that the problem was solved. When this happened, those preparing for the KPSS (Public Personnel Selection Examination) gave up.” Çalışkan continued: “We tried every way to claim our right, but they have now forced us into a hunger strike. I was detained in reverse handcuffs. We were battered. The arms of all of us are covered in deep scratches, and our bodies are covered in bruises. We are actually continuing our protests in pain. As two groups of teachers, we are side by side, and we will continue our struggle until the promises given to us are kept.” On the other hand, the CHP Chairman Özgür Özel met with the teachers yesterday. Özel stated: “We stand by the teachers' struggle for rights until the very end. The non-discussion of the legislative proposal in Parliament is happening by the coercion of Minister Tekin. If those who promised the teachers raise their hands, it will be over.”
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MEET OUR DEMANDS
The backlash also continues against the teachers being battered and detained during the press statement they wished to organise on 14 and 15 June. Eğitim Sen (Education and Science Laborers' Union), the Private Sector Teachers' Union, and interview-victim teachers held protests in more than 10 provinces yesterday. In the statements made, it was said: “The right to appointment for interview-victim teachers and the demand for humane working conditions for private sector teachers are inseparable parts of the same struggle. Despite pressures, detentions, and intimidation policies, we will continue to expand our struggle.”
Note: This article is translated from the original article titled Öğretmeni açlığa mecbur kıldılar, published in BirGün newspaper on June 17, 2026.
