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Istanbul call to strengthen Turkey’s labour laws
Published: 26 May 2008
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Trade union rights and democracy need to be strengthened in Turkey if it is to be successful in its application to join the European Union, agreed the UNI-Europa Executive meeting in Istanbul. The Executive condemned the tear gas attack by police on May Day marchers in the city and approved a five-point plan to strengthen cooperation with Turkish unions to help workers tackle the challenges that EU membership would bring. UNI-Europa is to press the Commissioner for EU enlargement Olly Rehn to raise the issue of labour rights in the ongoing negotiations over Turkey’s application. Unions in Europe want the Turkish government to bring their labour laws up to standards laid down by the EU’s Charter of fundamental rights and the International Labour Organisation. “We cannot accept the status quo in Turkey on labour legislation,” UNI General Secretary Philip Jennings told the Executive. “The global union movement will never accept the restrictions in union laws in this country - and collective bargaining has got to be significantly expanded.” Rights to strike and to collective bargaining are severely restricted for many groups of workers, particularly public sector employees. Bank workers are banned from going on strike, for example. Multinational companies were singled out for criticism for “aggressive behaviour” towards unions in their Turkish subsidiaries. “Companies that come here from other countries fully exploit Turkey’s labour laws,” said Mr Jennings. “The rights of workers and their unions have so far been left out of the discussions between the EU and Turkey. We want Commissioner Rehn to change all that,” said UI-Europa Regional Secretary Bernadette Ségol. The Executive agreed that UNI-Europa support for Turkish membership on the EU would be conditional on the full implementation of labour rights. “Democratic and trade union rights as well as an operational industrial relations system must be secured to enable Turkish trade unions to cope with the new economic environment and develop strategies to address the neo-liberal offensive,” said UNI-Europa in its resolution. It was also agreed to launch a Turkey Liaison Committee to bring together Turkish affiliates and to give backing for more organising initiatives to boost membership. Building links between Turkish unions and other UNI-Europa affiliates and enhancing the participation of Turkish unions in UNI-Europa’s activities were also agreed. Half the Turkish labour force falls outside the cover of existing labour laws and social security. Unions face hurdles to win bargaining rights - 10% of membership in the industry and 50% plus one membership in a particular establishment - and widespread sackings for union activity. Unions are forced to hand over lists of their members to employers where they intend to bargain - opening the door to victimisation. The net result of all the restrictions is that only 897,627 workers were covered by collective agreements in 2004/05 and that total dropped to 651,200 in 2006/07. Industry-wide collective agreements are banned and social dialogue is far from being meaningful, said Dr Engin Unsal, of Maltepe University Law School, in a presentation on union laws in Turkey to the UNI-Europa Executive. “Employers should not see workers as the enemy of capital but as partners for the good of the company and for the country as a whole.” |
* UNI-Europa is the European regional organisation of UNI global union - representing seven million European workers in 330 unions in the skills and services sector.