Both Liverpool lads were present at the London celebrations for the launch of Emek Partisi (Labour Party).
Speaking on behalf of the Merseyside Port Shop Stewards, Kevin said: 'Just as the bosses know no boundaries, nor should we. All we have is our labour and solidarity as a class. When we organise together with the necessary discipline and commitment, we are unstoppable.'
Billy Jenkins said: 'As workers, we have one language, and understand each other perfectly.'
Thousands of Turkish and Kurdish workers have been forced to live in other countries of Europe to escape torture. Emek Partisi general secretary, Levent Tusel was greeted by 12,000 workers in Cologne and 2,000 in London at launch celebrations. And 45,000 people celebrated in cities across Turkey.
'Emek Partisi is exactly what its name says, a party of Labour, different from all the other so-called people's parties in that it aims to end the capitalist system, not try to make it work.'
Sabri Topcu, President of TUMTIS, the most progressive union in Turkey for general workers, explained how the workers' ceaseless struggle was now rapidly increasing trade union membership.
He explained that the rise in militancy renders even the most brutal repression impotent.
'The more repression now, the more resistance and the more workers feel able to defy or ignore the trade union bureaucracy when it blocks their way,' he declared.
May Day saw 300,000 march in Turkish cities, with 200,000 in Istanbul alone.
Three demonstrators were killed and dozens injured when police fired indiscriminately into the crowd after some demonstrators refused to be searched.
Protests continued all day. Since then hundreds have been arrested, and many beaten up in police custody.
The London launch included a night of Kurdish, Turkish and English music, dance, theatre and conversation, and an afternoon of political discussion.
A visit to Liverpool and the dockers' picket further strengthened the links.
