A delegation of German workers from several trade unions recently visited the Tekel workers in Turkey to express to them their support and solidarity. Here we publish a report of the event which show the tremendous impact the Turkish and Kurdish workers in struggle had on these German workers. True workers internationalism in action.

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) is supporting the Tekel Workers and has called for an international day of solidarity for this coming February 20. Send more messages of solidarity and actively participate wherever you can in the day of solidarity.

The TEKEL workers have shown once again what the Turkish working class is capable of. This is a class with a glorious and heroic tradition of struggle. It has risen in the past. It is now beginning to rise again. The TEKEL workers deserve all the support workers inside and outside Turkey can provide. Their struggle is our struggle.

We have received some brief updates on the situation being faced by the Tekel workers in Turkey. It clearly indicates the widespread support through Turkey for this struggle, but also the tough situation the striking workers are facing.

On February 11 the masses attempted to organise anti-government protests. This time the regime prepared systematically, learning from previous days of protest. This has brought out some of the limitations of the movement, but the masses are learning from each experience. They require greater organisation and leadership, and most importantly the active intervention of the working class.

We received this letter from Israel that highlights the different priorities of the Israeli government. It seems protecting the poor is not one of them!

In order to harass left activists, members of the Worker-Communist Party of Iran-Hekmatist, the Iranian regime’s “courts” have declared 12 members of this party as common criminals. Scandalously, INTERPOL has accepted this verdict as valid and has put these left activists on its “wanted list”.

We have received this letter as an update on the situation of the struggle of the Tekel workers in Turkey. Due to their pressure, the Prime Minister and the Turkish Cabinet were now forced to take up this issue. At the same time the class consciousness of the workers is taking a huge step forward and the ideas of communism are gaining ground amongst them. The victory of the Tekel workers would not be only a victory for them, but a victory for the whole of the Turkish working class.

We publish here some of the solidarity letters we have received and passed on to the Tekel workers in Turkey. The courageous struggle has now gone on for 46 days and put huge pressure on the Turkish government. The letters from workers and trade unionists from all over the world are a great source of inspiration in order not to give in but fight until the victory. Please keep on sending them!

The protest of the Tekel workers is lasting for more than 40 days. Because of their consistent pressure the Turkish Prime Minister Erdoğan has now decided to meet up with the trade union tomorrow evening. The hunger strike has now been postponed until Friday, pending on the results of the meeting with the Prime Minister.

The administration of the Cotton Industries issued – based on a ministerial warrant – an order to transfer the unionist Falah Alwan from the company. The decision came as a result of the strike of the workers of the Cotton Industries Company which started on December 13, 2009.

We have received further news about the Tekel workers in Turkey. As a result of their determined struggle trade union confederations have pledged a general strike if the government fails to meet their demands by January 26. This marks an important step on the road to winning this dispute. Please keep on sending solidarity messages!

The Tekel workers are stepping up their struggle with a hunger strike, but also raising the demand for a general strike. The desperate conditions of these workers is pushing them to he limit. They need the solidarity of workers from all countries. Send us your messages now!

The Palestinians have a right to their own homeland and this is something Marxists unconditionally defend. But how is this to be achieved? The idea of a blanket boycott of Israel has been raised. In this article the authors raise the idea that treating the whole of the Israeli Jewish population as one reactionary bloc is counter-productive. Much better a trade union based selective boycott that distinguishes the ruling Zionist elite from ordinary working people in Israel.

The Tekel workers in Turkey are starting a hunger strike today at 16.00 pm Turkish time in Ankara. They are requesting messages of solidarity from workers and students, intellectuals from all over the world. The message we received and forwarded below was a great source of inspiration for the workers. Please send more.