New strike at Turkish Airlines after controversial bill

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP)-dominated parliament passed the bill late Wednesday after a heated debate.

"Many employees went on strike at 0300 GMT to protest the new law and they will not start working until 2000 GMT today," Mustafa Yagci, secretary-general of the aviation workers' union Hava-Is, told AFP on Thursday.

"This protest will be unlimited and continue every day," he added.

Hava-Is has called for the government to scrap the law.

The strikers were also unhappy at what they regarded as a hostile Turkish Airlines management which they blamed for the collapse of a collective bargaining agreement with the government.

The bill now must be signed into law by the president.

On Tuesday, a walk out by Turkish Airlines staff caused the cancellation of more than 200 flights.

The airline fired several hundred strikers who did not show up at work and had no justification for their absence, terming the strike "illegal activity", said Yagci.

The company announced in a statement Thursday that 305 strikers were fired.

"It is not possible for us to keep going with those who damage their company and make our passengers suffer," Turkish Airlines said.

Some 223 flights were cancelled affecting more than 100,000 passengers due to the strikes, it added.

Turkish Airlines has a fleet of 178 planes and has another 55 on order. It serves 218 destinations worldwide.