Union survey of women expellees from public service

The Confederation of Public Employees' Trade Unions (KESK) has conducted a survey with 232 women members who have been expelled from public service in the state of emergency period. The results of the survey conducted with women living in 29 different provinces have been reported on. The results of the survey set out in the report titled “Survey into Expulsions of KESK women” are as follow:

* When such groups as sub-contracted employees not taken onto the public payroll, those dismissed by curators and those at universities whose contracts are not renewed are included, the number of expellees from public service due to the state of emergency exceeds 140,000. The number of people who have been expelled under state of emergency decrees with the force of law alone is 116,512. Of these, 22,028 are women.

* In the state of emergency period, 1,069 women and 4,218 people were expelled who were members of KESK-affiliated unions.

* Of these women, 68% indicated that absolutely no investigation had been launched into them prior to their expulsion.

* Fifty per cent said they were single when they were expelled, while 46.1% said they were married. Following expulsion, 8% underwent a change to their marital status. The change to marital status took the form of divorce or separation in 4% of cases, marriage in 3% and engagement in 1%.

* Of the expelled women, 62% have to care for another person apart from themselves. Of the women, 35% have to care for a child, 19% for a mother, 17% for a father and 3% for a sibling.

* Of the respondents, 72% do not own their own home. Eighteen per cent had to change their accommodation following expulsion. Thirty-nine per cent are tenants and 14% have mortgages.

* At least one other relative of 46% of the women was also expelled.

* Following expulsion, 17% of the women changed the province/sub-province in which they lived. Of those who moved, 77% are single and 23% are married. Five percent of those who moved emigrated abroad.

* Sixty-eight per cent of the women stated that their general health condition was not good. As to their health cover, 28% said they had health insurance “through their mothers/fathers” and 25% “through their husbands.” Nearly one in four of the women, conversely, had no health cover.

* Of those participating in the survey, 42% said they had absolutely no income or support. Twenty-two per cent of the women said they were working. Eighty-eight per cent said that their incomes were inadequate.

* Of the expelled women, 89% spoke of experiencing problems in their economic circumstances, 81% in their psychological circumstances and 66% in their social/societal life relations.

I FELT LIKE I HAD A VIRUS

The opinions of the expelled women were also included in the report. Here are a few of these opinions:

EVERYONE FLEES FROM ME: We are having difficulty repaying the mortgage. My friends from work are afraid to phone me. The State of Emergency Commission is inadequate. I am undergoing social pressure. Even if I want to go to clean somebody’s house to earn money, I cannot say that I was expelled. I tried it once and they said in that case thanks but no thanks. I felt that I was emitting a virus and that was why everyone was fleeing from me. If today my husband walked out of the door, I would lack the material means to take care of my daughter and myself. My whole life has been turned upside down for a reason that I do not even know.

I LOST MY HOME: I had to sell my home because I could not make ends meet. I am having trouble meeting my children’s educational expenses.

I AM STILL A TEACHER: I moved home. We sold our car. I am getting help from a psychologist. I am on medication. When asked what my job is I am stuck for an answer. I still say, “I am a teacher.”

BECOMING LONELY IS BAD: My husband has training abroad because of his job. He is barred from leaving the country thanks to me and his company has cut his salary by 4,000 lira. My husband’s family act as if I were to blame. It is very hard psychologically. Most of my friends have removed me from social media and the remainder do not even phone. I do not get agitated, but becoming lonely and being forgotten is bad.

MY LANDLORD CAME: My landlord came to my home as soon as he heard I had been expelled. He was very tense. I had a great job convincing him.

THEY HAVE PLACED US IN ISOLATION: When I tell people I was expelled they express their regrets at that moment. When later they see me, they head another way. I do not know if they do this consciously or unconsciously. The one thing I know is that they have placed us in isolation.

WE CAN’T GET BY: We are having serious trouble getting by. My husband and I were both expelled. We are trying to get by with our families’ support. We are in difficulty.

CANCER RISK: I am having health problems. A situation that emerged following expulsion. I have been having treatment since April 2017 I am running the risk of cancer.

I LEFT MY HOME: I left my home in a city and moved in with my family. Even if I am experiencing no problems in terms of the family’s attitude, a break-off from social life is going on.