Türkiye
Initial victory for hospital workers
Nearly six months after 98 workers were sacked by a private contractor at Maltepe hospital in Istanbul, a court has ruled that the company must reinstate a third of the workers or pay significant compensation. The verdict is a first step and others are due covering other employees who were dismissed. The union will seek discussions on reinstatement and a collective agreement. Read more at > EPSU
Trade union demonstrators acquitted
A number of trade union activists who were among the organisers of the 1 May March in Istanbul last year have finally been acquitted after facing trial and possible prison sentences of up to four years for organising an illegal march. The activists included trade union leaders from the KESK and DISK confederations. Read more at > KESK (TK) And earlier information at > DISK (EN)
ETUC notes some progress on trade union rights
The ETUC has welcomed a decision of the European Court of Human Rights as a small but important step forward for trade union rights in Turkey. The case concerned a disciplinary measure taken against a teacher, who held office in a trade union, for taking part in a panel discussion organised by a political party. The Court found that the reprimand imposed on Mr Sezer constituted a restriction of his freedom of association. [Read more at > ETUC (EN+FR)->http://www.etuc.org/press/step-forward-tu-rights-turkey#.VS4JtTHxvIV] [And at > ECHR ruling (EN)->http://hudoc.echr.coe.int/sites/eng-press
Union legal threat brings government action
A threat of legal action and major demonstration by the YOL-İŞ construction union seems to have generated a reaction from the government. The union planned to mount a legal challenge against the Ministries of Transport and Finance over their failure to abide by a Supreme Court ruling dating from 2011. The Court said that 8761 union members had the right to be directly employed by the General Directorate of Turkish Highways from the first day of their employment rather than via a subcontractor. In advance of the union's demonstration planned for 5 February the government initiated talks and the
Hospital workers campaign for jobs and union rights
Demonstration highlights rights of sub-contracted worker
A major demonstration organised by the Yol-iS trade union has increased pressure on the directorate of highways to extend collective agreement coverage to sub-contracted workers. This is a major issue for trade unions and Yol-iS has won a number of court rulings saying that sub-contracted workers should be covered by the main collective agreement. Read more at > EPSU And at > Yol-iS (TK)
Union protests at municipalities' attacks on union rights
The TÜM BEL-SEN municipal union, part of the KESK confederation, launched two fax campaigns on 30 April in protest about attacks by the local authorities in Ankara and İzmir Balçova against the trade union and its members. In Ankara some workers have been dismissed, relocated, or had their public servant status removed following their participation in strike action. In İzmir Balçova, the major has tried to block TÜM BEL SEN from carrying out trade union activity and was abusive towards and refused to meet a union delegation.
Thousands demonstrate against sub-contracting
Report from Yol-ISThousands of construction workers joined a demonstration in Ankara on 15 February in protest against sub-contracting and forced transfer of employees. Despite a court ruling dating from 2011 many workers who should be directly employed by the Directorate of Highways and covered by collective agreements have been subject to illegal sub-contracting without proper employment conditions. The protest was also over another group of workers who have faced redeployment to jobs inappropriate for their skills and training.