ITF Decries Turkish Anti-Union Raids

26 June 2012
ITF Decries Turkish Anti-Union Raids

Global union the ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) today unequivocally condemned yesterday’s multiple raids of the offices of KESK, the Turkish confederation of public workers’ unions, and the homes of its workers and those of the ITF affiliated BTS union, among others. Seventy-one trade unionists were arrested, reportedly on terrorism related charges of assisting Kurdish separatist organisations. The unions and their supporters utterly refute the charges.

ITF president Paddy Crumlin stated: “This huge police sweep looks like not just a naked attack on what is one of Turkey’s main national trade union centres, but an assault on the very idea of trade unionism in the country too.

“The ITF has repeatedly charged the Turkish government with an apparent determination toundermine the idea of free trade unionism in the country. This latest provocation sends a sad signal that our warnings and approaches have been ignored.”

He concluded: “The government stands on the brink of international condemnation.”

ITF general secretary David Cockroft commented: “These raids come at time when the government is already condoning the drive to deprive Turkish Airlines workers’ of their union rights. It is just two weeks since I and the head of KESK and other Turkish trade union centres met with the country’s labour minister in Geneva and we are deeply disappointed at this latest attack and at the lack of progress on Turkish Airlines and the reinstatement of the sacked workers there.”

ENDS

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