Turkish unionists remain in jail
Trade unions worldwide continue to protest at the continued harassment, random judicial proceedings and detention of members and leaders of the teacher union Egitim Sen and Confederation of Public Employees’ Trade Unions (KESK).
EI had already written twice to the Turkish government protesting the arrests of members and leaders of Egitim Sen and KESK. On 28 May, 35 of them were detained, of which 22 remain in prison to date. Ten KESK members and leaders were already in prison before that time, which brings the number of detained trade unionists to 32.
Twenty four EI member organisations did also promptly react to the EI Urgent Action Appeal and did send protest letters to the Turkish authorities. There has been no response whatsoever to any of these letters.
On 27 July, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) wrote a joint letter to the Turkish Prime Minister. Mid August, negotiations on working conditions for public sector workers will be initiated in Turkey. The Turkish authorities refer to these as “collective consultative talks”, which in itself is already in breach of the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Convention 98 on collective bargaining. The recent harassment of Egitim Sen and KESK officials can be perceived as attempts to weaken the unions’ negotiating position in the upcoming negotiations on working conditions.
EI continues to firmly urge the Turkish government to ensure the immediate and unconditional release of all the arrested KESK and Egitim-Sen members and leaders.
Go to www.ei-ie.org/turkey to read our Urgent Action Appeal and sign our online petition!
