General strike in Turkey to demand union rights

Workers across Turkey took part in a general strike last week to demand basic labour rights.

Organised by the Confederation of Public Employees’ Trade Union - of which the ITF-affiliated union Birlesik Tasimacilik Çalisanlari Sendikasi (BTS) is a member - and the Turkish Public Workers' Labour Union, the strike action took place on 25 November. The aviation branch of BTS also participated by organising a work stoppage. They were calling for an end to labour rights violations and for their fundamental rights to belong to a union to be upheld.

Public sector workers, who fall under the Public Employees’ Trade Union Act, face serious restrictions on freedom of association. The ministry of labour and social security considers collective bargaining or the right to strike a violation of the act. Instead, it allows for "collective consultative talks", which are not enforceable. The act also contains detailed provisions regarding the way in which unions are allowed to operate; these breach the principles of the right to organise.

The ITF’s European arm, the European Transport Workers’ Federation, sent the union a message of solidarity backing the strike and its struggle for union rights.

Yavuz Demirkol, BTS general secretary, said: “Airports and related air services composed of public employees – such as air traffic, fire, technical, electronics and electricity, airport management and flight information services - also face restrictions. BTS the trade union of aviation public employees always objects, protests and fights against this. We want our right to collective bargaining and to strike.”