INTERNATIONAL LABOUR TURKEY:

REFORM TURKISH LABOUR LAWS NOW:

For a long time now labour activists in Turkey have been fighting an uphill battle, hamstrung by repressive labour legislation. The following appeal for solidarity with the Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey asks for international solidarity to pressure the government into reform. This appeal is being broadcast by the online labour solidarity site Labour Start.

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Turkey: Reform labour laws now
Although Turkey was earnestly criticized and warned by ILO committees in International Labour Conferences, she has not made necessary legal changes in compliance with ILO Conventions No. 87 and 98. Because of the legal prohibitions and regulations, millions of workers cannot exercise their fundamental rights. Thousands of workers are subject to various pressures such us being dismissed or being arrested. Since 2002, despite the ruling party AKP’s repeated commitments, reform on trade union law has not been realized yet. Industrial relations of Turkey are still being shaped by the laws enacted during the military coup of 1980. The Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey (DISK) is asking for your support, and believes that the messages to be sent to Prime Minister and Labour Minister will be very effective and that your efforts will create an international pressure on the government of Turkey and will force the government to reform the trade union law which should be in compliance with ILO Conventions and Revised European Social Charter.

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THE LETTER

Please go to this link to send the following letter to the Turkish Prime Minister and Labour Minister.

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I have been informed that the trade union laws regulating working conditions in Turkey were made during the military coup of 1980. Although your country has already signed the ILO conventions No. 87 and 98 that form the backbone of the perspective of ‘decent work’ and of the trade union rights and freedoms, the domestic laws in your country have not been amended in compliance with these conventions yet. By these reasons, as the ILO emphasizes, the government of Republic of Turkey should make a new trade union law in line with the requirements of ILO conventions immediately. In order to realize this, all thresholds both at sectoral level and company level should be removed, the prohibitions on strikes should be removed, the notary clause should be removed, and the fact of being dismissed on the grounds of trade union membership should be prohibited.

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR TURKEY:
SUPPORT TURKISH UPS WORKERS:


There's an ongoing struggle in Turkey to unionize employees of the multinational UPS. Here's an appeal from the ITF via the online labour solidarity site Labour Start for solidarity with these workers.
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Turkey: Support sacked UPS workers
UPS workers in Turkey need your support.

The ITF-affiliated TÜMTIS has been taking steps in the recent months to unionise this company and its sub-contractors. As a result, 120 employees in Ankara, Istanbul and Izmir have been dismissed without any application of the procedures stipulated by Turkish law. UPS is a global company which says publicly in its corporate social responsibility report that it supports the rights of its workers to become members of a union. The reality in Turkey, however, is very different.

All of the 120 dismissed workers are union members or sympathetic to TÜMTIS. Others are constantly harassed not to join the union. Some were taken by force to a notary to resign from the union. On 2 July, the conflict escalated in Izmir when a manager of a sub-contractor pulled out his gun and started shooting in front of a notary. More recently, a new company brought in replacement workers in Istanbul. Such action contradicts with the claim by the management that they are reducing the workforce due to economic reasons. After these recent incidents, the ITF has written to the Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to raise its concern.

The ITF and its affiliates are firmly backing TÜMTIS in their struggle against UPS. Unions from around the world have sent their messages.
Trade union delegations have been visiting the picket-line on a regular basis to show global solidarity.

However, there has been no response from the company to TÜMTIS or to the ITF. Add your concern by sending a protest letter to the Prime Minister of Turkey now. Copies of the letter will also be sent to UPS representatives including CEO Scott Davis and local management in Turkey. We want all these workers to be reinstated and all intimidations to be ceased.
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THE LETTER:
Please go to this link to send the following letter to the Turkish Prime Minister (and also to the Turkish division of UPS).
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Dear Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan,

I am writing to you to express my grave concern over the serious violations of trade union rights at UPS in Turkey.

I have reason to believe that 120 workers who work for UPS and its sub-contractors in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir have been dismissed because they support the union, TÜMTIS. Other workers are constantly harassed by the management not to join the union. There was a shooting incident in Izmir which was caused by a senior manager of the company's sub-contractor.

These recent events violate the fundamental workers' rights as enshrined in the Core Conventions of the International Labour Organization. It also goes without saying that accession to the European Union will require some fundamental changes to the current climate of industrial relations in Turkey. Actions taken by the UPS Turkish management and its subcontractors are also damaging the reputation of this global company, which enshrines in its Code of Conduct the promotion of a sound relationship between trade unions and the management.

I urge your immediate intervention to resolve this situation so that all the sacked workers are reinstated unconditionally and steps are taken to ensure that no further victimisation takes place at UPS and its subsidiaries.

Yours sincerely

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR TURKEY:
KEEP UP THE PRESSURE ON PRADA SUPPLIER 'DESA':




Molly has blogged before on the case of the harassment of workers at the DESA leather factory in Duzce Turkey. Despite the signing of a protocol between DESA and its European buyers (which include the Prada brand) the company is continuing to harass union members at the workplace. The Clean Clothes Campaign is asking people to once more put pressure on DEAS and its customers to see that the agreement is actually implemented. Here's the story and appeal.
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Trade union harassment continues at Prada supplier

It is with great regret that the Clean Clothes Campaign is reopening the campaign to demand justice for workers at the DESA leather factory in Duzce, Turkey.

This decision follows failure by both DESA management and the European buyers to implement and support a protocol signed by DESA and the union Deri Is over six months ago.

We are calling on supporters to contact DESA and the buyers at the factory to express your disappointment in their failure to uphold the rights of DESA workers and to urge them to ensure that the protocol is properly implemented and to take steps to proactively support freedom of association at the factory.

Latest update

In recent months workers report that harassment by supervisors of union members is increasing. At least one worker has filed a legal suit against a supervisor charging him with this offence.

Of particular concern is the decision of DESA to fire two union members, both on the ground of allegations disputed by the workers.

Ümit Ugurlu was dismissed on 13 May 2010. Allegedly, his employment contract was terminated without notice because he injured his friend’s finger. However, workers who witnessed the incident refute the allegation and claim that Necati Ata (the injured worker) pulled on the glove of Mr Ugurlu and at the same time crashed his machine. The union has started legal action for reinstatement.

On June 9th a second worker, Cemal Uyar was refused entry back into the factory following two days sick leave. The personnel department informed him that his employment contract was terminated without notice because he did not come to work without asking for permission and that during this time it was confirmed he was working at another workplace.

Given the past history of illegal dismissals by DESA, we would expect them to to ensure that any worker dismissals took place only after a full and proper grievance procedure and investigation. The fact that DESA management now feel free to start dismissing union members without due process is yet another indication of the deteriorating situation inside the factory.

Background

A Memorandum of Understanding between the union Deri Is and DESA was signed in August 2009 following a year-long international campaign against the unfair practices of DESA, a Turkish leather supplier of major European luxury brands such as Prada, Mulberry, Debenhams, Marks and Spencer and El Corte Ingles.

The MOU stated that the international campaign would be halted on the understanding that DESA would reinstate several of the dismissed workers, issue a right to organise guarantee, recognise Deri Is as the sole union at the factory and commit to expressing neither a positive or negative attitude towards the unionisation of its workers.

The CCC has continued to monitor the situation in Turkey, to check the implementation of the agreement through a permanent dialogue with the trade union. Since the beginning it was clear that the protocol was the beginning of a new stage during which workers must be made aware of their rights and be reassured that the exercise of their rights would not lead to dismissals or reprisals. To make this process credible and genuine would have required a change of direction by Desa and a proactive support by the brands.

A Clean Clothes Campaign delegation visited Turkey in December 2009, during which they met around 35 Desa workers together with Deri Is representatives. The interviews conducted revealed that the protocol had been breached in in the following ways:

•Workers identified by Deri Is have not been reinstated
•The Right to Organise' guarantee as properly drafted from ITGLWF has not been distributed to the workers
•Workers are facing again episodes of repression and harassment clearly intended to avoid their unionisation
•Desa management actively interferes to try to prevent workers from joining the union.

In the light of this, in April 2010 the CCC re-contacted all the buyers and informed them about the ongoing violations of the agreement. We urged them to work with DESA to end to the harassment of workers and to fully implement with the protocol in cooperation with Deri Is.

Only small number of buyers responded, all stating that they visited the factory and did not see any harassment taking place and were confident there was no malpractice at the factory. None of the buyers spoke to or contacted the union or union members. None of them responded at all to our detailed requests for concrete action.

Write today to Desa buyers and Desa factory management. Call on them to properly implement the protocol agreement and to take all necessary measures to ensure an atmosphere free from intimidation at the factory.
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THE LETTER:
Please go to this link to send the following letters to both DESA management and to the buyers group.
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Letter to buyers
Dear Madam / Sir,
I am extremely disappointed to learn that the Memorandum of Understanding, which was signed between DESA and Deri Is in 2009, has not been properly implemented by DESA management. I am particularly concerned at the harassment of union members and the recent dismissals of two of your workers without following proper procedure.

I urgently call upon you to take immediate and transparent action to ensure that the protocol is fully implemented. Specifically I call on you to:


•Contact DESA management and ask them to immediately halt the harassment of union members, and to abide by the letter and spirit of the August protocol;
•Demand the reinstatement of both Ferda Yilmaz and Emel Yavuz as agreed in the August negotiations;
•Ensure that an official Right to Organise guarantee is distributed, based on the model drafted by the ITGLWF;
•Support and monitor an official complaints mechanism. Such a mechanism must include a worker representative nominated by the union;
•Ask DESA to ensure regular meetings take place with Deri Is representatives and to send notes from each meeting to all interested parties including Deri Is and the major buyers;
•Include trade union representatives in any ongoing monitoring and maintain regular contact with them;
•Specify that you expect orders for your company to be completed at the Duzce factory and not subcontracted to other suppliers in Turkey
•Carry out training for management, supervisors and workers on the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining. Such training should be carried out by parties agreed upon by Deri Is and ITGLWF.
Yours sincerely,


Letter to DESA
Dear Mr. Celet,

I am extremely concerned about the breaching of the Memorandum of Understanding which was signed between your company and Deri Is. I am particularly concerned at the harassment of union members and the recent dismissals of two of your workers without following proper procedure.

While initially shocked by the working conditions and workers rights abuses found in your factory I was hopeful that DESA was now moving towards being a factory where workers fundamental rights were respected.

I urgently call upon you to fully respect the protocol signed with Deri Is.

Specifically I call on you to:

•immediately halt the harassment of union members and to abide by the letter and spirit of the August protocol;
•reinstate both Ferda Yilmaz and Emel Yavuz as agreed in the August negotiations;
•ensure that an official Right to Organise guarantee is distributed, based on the model drafted by the ITGLWF;
•establish an official complaints mechanism, including a buyers representative, which can receive and investigate complaints of harassment or intimidation and support re-mediation in each case. Such a mechanism must include a worker representative nominated by the union;
•ensure that regular meetings take place with Deri Is representatives and send notes from each meeting to all interested parties including Deri Is and the major buyers;
•include trade union representatives in any ongoing monitoring and maintain regular contact with them;
•carry out training for management, supervisors and workers on the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining. Such training should be carried out by parties agreed upon by Deri Is and ITGLWF.

I look forward to hearing that DESA is once again working towards a more positive relationship with the Deri Is union.

Yours sincerely,

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR TURKEY:

SOLIDARITY WITH JAILED TURKISH UNIONISTS:

The Turkish government is presenting holding five unionists on trumped up charges. The Public Service International believes that this is part of a deliberate campaign being waged against workers in Turkey and particularly those of Kurdish descent. The online labour solidarity site Labour Start has initiated a campaign to demand that these people be released. Here's the appeal.

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Turkey: Free jailed trade unionists now
Five trade unionists belonging to PSI affiliates in Turkey are currently in prison on trumped up accusations of "belonging to illegal or terrorist organisations" or making propaganda on behalf of such organisations. The prison conditions are harsh and concern is growing over the mental and physical health of the imprisoned unionists. PSI contends that these arrests are part of a deliberate policy by the Turkish authorities to misuse the courts in order to harass and intimidate trade unionists, particularly those belonging to the largely Kurdish confederation, KESK.

During the International Labour Conference in June, Turkey was questioned about the spate of arrests of trade unionists. The cases of Meryem Özsögut and Seher Tümer from SES were specifically mentioned, as well as those of Metin Findik and Ferit and Bestas Epözdemir of PSI affiliate Tüm Bel Sen.

A cloak of secrecy surrounds each case, on orders of the public prosecutor. This means that lawyers are denied access to the detainees and are unable to view their case files.

You can help by sending a letter of protest to the Turkish government.

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The Letter:

Please go to this link to send the following letter to the President of Turkey.

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Dear President,

I write to the Government of Turkey to protest in the strongest terms possible against the continued judicial persecution of trade unionists.

Ms Meryem Özsöðüt, Executive Board member of PSI affiliate SES (trade union of Public Employees in Health and Social Services) was arrested on 19 June 2010, in connection with her trade union activities. This is the second time Ms Özsöðüt has been imprisoned on allegations of terrorist activity. She previously spent 8 months in an F-type prison without any clear evidence being presented of her involvement in or membership of a terrorist organization.
I also voice outrage at the sentencing of Ms Seher Tümer, Branch Secretary of SES, and the on-going detention of Mr Metin Findik, Mr Ferit Epözdemir and Mrs Belkýza Bestas Epözdemir, members of PSI affiliate Tüm Bel Sen (Union of All Municipality Civil Servants).

I call on your government to take the necessary steps to secure the immediate release of Ms Özsöðüt and her fellow trade unionists and request once again that Turkey abides by its international obligations to secure the human and trade union rights and freedoms of its workers.

Yours sincerely,

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR-TURKEY:

FREE SEHER TUMER:

The following appeal for solidarity comes from the international labour solidarity site Labour Start.

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Act NOW!

Turkey: Free Seher Tümer

Union activist Seher Tümer, Branch Secretary of PSI affiliate SES (the trade union of public employees in health and social services), will spend International Women’s Day 2010 in prison.

But international solidarity action could open the door to freedom for her.

Ms Tümer has now been detained in an F-type prison for almost a year, with no clear charges being brought against her. PSI is convinced that her arrest is linked to her activities in the labour and women’s movements in that country, including participating in International Women’s Day activities last year. Tumer, who is Kurdish, was arrested and imprisoned in April 2009. Her case mirrors that of fellow union leader Meryem Özsöðüt, who faced similar charges of belonging to a terrorist organisation. (Özsöðüt was released after eight months in prison following a major international protest campaign led by PSI.)

PSI has been closely following this case. Ms Tümer’s next court appearance is planned for 9 March, PSI and EPSU have sent a joint letter of protest to the Turkish Prime Minister demanding that all charges be dropped and that she be immediately released.

PSI urgently calls on trade unions and concerned organisations to write similar letters of protest. Join the Labourstart Campaign and send a letter of protest now.

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The Letter:

Please go to this link to send the following letter to the Turkish authorities to demand the release of Seher Tumer.

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Mr Recep Tayyip Erdoðan

Prime Minister

Ankara

Republic of Turkey
Dear Prime Minister,
I write to demand the immediate release of Ms Seher Tümer, Branch Secretary of SES (Trade union of public employees in health and social services), Turkey, an affiliate of Public Services International (PSI).

Ms Tümer has now been detained in an F-type prison for almost a year, with no clear charges being brought against her. We are convinced that her arrest is linked to her trade union activities.

We are sure that, as a member of the International labour Organisation and an aspiring member of the European Union, your Government will want to act swiftly to ensure that this breach of fundamental human and trade union rights is corrected.
Yours sincerely,

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR-TURKEY:

MORE ON THE TEKEL WORKERS IN TURKEY:

On December 17 we reported on the situation of Turkish workers due to be laid off due to the sell off of the Turkish tobacco monopoly. All that the workers involved are asking for is that they be granted other jobs to compensate for the loss of theirs. The government has responded with violence, but the protest continues. Here's an update from the international union federation, the IUF.

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UPDATE on TEKEL Workers Protest in Ankara:
Urgent Action 22-12-2009
Workers, their family members and supporters have been demonstrating in near-freezing temperatures in protest against a snap government decision to close their workplaces at the end of January 2010.

The protest began in front of the headquarters of the AKP (the political party in power), but the police cleared the area on 16 December and forced the demonstrators to a nearby park. The following day, police put up barricades around the park and then used water hoses and tear gas against the demonstrators. Police violence escalated and clubs were used against the demonstrators, many of whom had to be hospitalised. Mustafa Türkel, president of IUF-affiliate Tekgida-Is, which represents these workers, and general secretary of the national confederation Türk-Is, was arrested, but then released later that evening.

The police violence caused an outcry in the Turkish Parliament, but the ruling party continues to refuse to accede to the workers' demand that they be given alternative employment with their full employee benefits, as the law on privatisation provides.

The protesters are now gathered in front of the headquarters of the Türk-Is national trade union confederation, while about a dozen workers remain in the the park on hunger strike (picture below). Despite police attempts to prevent further busloads of TEKEL workers from entering the city, their numbers are steadily increasing. The city of Ankara has provided them with shelter in sports facilities and Tekgida-Is is providing food and transport.

Act Now! - PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEND A MESSAGE TO THE GOVERNMENT OF TURKEY AS A MATTER OF URGENCY!
These workers are determined to carry on their protest until the government accedes to their demands. And they urgently need your support!

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THE LETTER:

Please go to the link above to send the following letter to the Turkish Prime Minister.

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To the Prime Minister of Republic of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan,
Dear Mr. Erdogan,
It is with extreme concern that I note your government's decision to close the former TEKEL warehouses, a decision that involves the dismissal of some 12,000 workers. I call on you to ensure that negotiations with their trade union TEKGIDA-IS begin immediately with a view to ensuring that these workers are transferred to other public enterprises with their full employee benefits in accordance with the law.
Yours sincerely,

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR-TURKEY:

SOLIDARITY WITH TURKISH TOBACCO WORKERS:

The following appeal for solidarity with soon to be workers in Turkey comes from the IUF.

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Major Protest of Former Turkish Tobacco Monopoly Workers in Ankara:
Some 10,000 workers, family members and supporters are currently demonstrating in Ankara in near-freezing temperatures in protest against a snap government decision to close their workplaces at the end of January 2010.

Following the sale of the TEKEL (Turkish tobacco and alcohol monopoly) tobacco manufacturing activities to BAT in February 2008, the state retained control over the 40 warehouses where leaf and semi-processed tobacco was stored. IUF-affiliated Tekgida-Is, which represents the workforce at TEKEL, continually sought negotiations with the government over the future of the 12,000 warehouse workers. And now, after having ignored the union's calls for negotiations, the government has taken the drastic decision to close these warehouses, leaving 12,000 workers jobless and affecting a further 40 thousand people together with their families.

The workers began arriving in the capital city of Ankara on 15 December in buses from 106 provinces throughout the country. The protest is taking place in front of the headquarters of the AKP, the political party in power. Currently, the demonstrators are surrounded by police barricades and police are preventing further busloads of TEKEL workers from entering the city centre.

FLASH: Police violence is escalating in Ankara - demonstrators have been taken to hospital and Tekgida-Is president Mustafa Türkel has been arrested and taken into custody.

Act Now! - PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEND A MESSAGE TO THE GOVERNMENT OF TURKEY AS A MATTER OF URGENCY!

According to Tekgida-Is president Mustafa Türkel, "The TEKEL workers who turned out will not leave until a solution is found. TEKEL workers are demanding their legal rights through this protest. Politicians have decided to close the TEKEL workers’ workplace. In light of this, what is right and legal is to transfer these workers to other institutions."

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THE LETTER:

Please go to THIS LINK (or click the link above) to send the following letter to the Turkish government.

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To the Prime Minister of Republic of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan,
Dear Mr. Erdogan,
It is with extreme concern that I note your government's decision to close the former TEKEL warehouses, a decision that involves the dismissal of some 12,000 workers. I call on you to ensure that negotiations with their trade union TEKGIDA-IS begin immediately with a view to ensuring that these workers are transferred to other public enterprises with their full employee benefits in accordance with the law.
Yours sincerely,

ANTI-MILITARISM-TURKEY/ISRAEL:

TURKISH DEMONSTRATION IN SUPPORT OF ISRAELI WAR RESISTERS:

Over the years many brave Israeli citizens have refused compulsory military service in their country's continued aggression against their Palestinian neighbours. Two recent ones, now prisoners of conscience, are Efi Brenner and Or Ben-David. The country of Turkey also has compulsory military service, and its troops are often used in equally brutal campaigns against that country's Kurdish minority. As in Israel many Turks have refused military service and been imprisoned for it. Anti-militarists in both countries see their struggle as a common one. Here, from the A-Infos website is the story of a recent demonstration in Istanbul in support of their Israeli fellow resisters.

A few notes on sources. The Israeli anarchist group, from which one of the resisters comes from is the Anarchists Against the Wall. The War Resisters International and the War Resisters Turkey (website in Turkish) also supported the protest. Note the prominent role played by anarchists in the protest. Turkey has a vibrant and growing anarchist movement, very much unknown in the outside world because of the large language barrier.

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Turkey- Istanbul: Freedom for Efi Brenner and Or Ben-David!:

On 30 October a group of Turkish antimilitarists gathered at the front door of Israel Consulate of Istanbul and declared their support to two Israeli conscientious objectors, Efi Brenner and Or Ben-David* who arrested last week for to object war politics of Israeli governments against Palestinian people. -- In the meeting that realized for the invitation of WRI (War Resisters’ International) a Turkish antimilitarist, Özgür Bircan also declared his conscientious objection. The members of LAF (Anarchist Activity Lycee), high school students same as Efi and Or, attended the meeting with the placards written “Reject! Resist! Refuse!” and “Do not go for service, do not shed your brothers’ blood”. ---- After reading the declaration of Shministim, Turkish antimilitarists said these briefly:

"We, the Turkish antimilitarists, with the invitation of WRI, gathered today to protest Israeli government and give our support to Israeli conscientious objectors Efi Brenner and Or Ben-David. As you know UN accused Israeli government and Hamas committing war crime at Gaza recently. Israeli conscientious objectors do not want to participate this crime. Wars are meant to be destruction for both humanity and nature and therefore we call all human beings not to go for military service and not to participate this crime.

Besides we want to conduct our support to all conscientious objectors arrested or suppressed for refusing to go for military service because of their political, moral or religious beliefs. We want Azerbaijani objectors Mushfiq Mammedov, Sakhetmurad Annamamedov who declared will not go for military service because they are Jehovah’s Witnesses, four Turkmenistanian objectors, South Korean objector Jungmin Oh and Belarusian objector Dzmitry Smyk released.

Özgür Bircan, who declared his conscientious objection in the meeting, said these briefly:

I, Özgür Bircan, object wearing uniforms; taking and giving orders; to be obliged to ‘learn’ using arms; applying this ‘knowledge’ if required, on people whom I did not know and see before; and to be part of one of the ideal citizen formatting institutions of yours.

Blood thirsty masters of this world, we are expecting you to the front lines of wars. We, the conscientious young people of the world will not be the participants of your bloody wars, power struggles, we object wars and militarism. I object wars and militarism.

If we need to create heroes for ourselves, my heroes are these two teenagers who met confinement at their early ages since they refuse to be part of that ferocity in Palestine. They are the saints of modern world. Our hearts are with Efi, Or and the whole people objecting to participating in wars.

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* Of the Anarchists Against the Wall initiative

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR-TURKEY:

REPRESSION AGAINST TURKISH UNIONISTS:

The following appeal for solidarity comes from the online labour solidarity site Labour Start.

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Turkey: Free jailed trade union leaders:

Recently, the Turkish government has been systematically pressuring KESK (the Confederation of Public Employees Trade Unions) with banishments, dismissals, investigations, detentions and arrests. The operation against KESK started on 28th May 2009 in the early hours (about 04:00 AM), and 22 trade unionists including KESK women's secretary Songül Morsümbül, former General Secretary Abdurrahman Daşdemir, women's secretary of EĞİTİM-SEN Gülçin İsbert and former one Elif Akgül Ateş were arrested and the number of KESK arrested members increased to 32. These people are now in "F-Type", or small group isolation prisons. On 28th May 2009, the headquarter of KESK, its branches in İzmir and Van and houses and workplaces of the detained members were raided and searched by the Gendarmerie. In the search of the office of Songül Morsümbül in KESK all official documents, national and international documents about women's issues and trade union activities were seized as evidence of crime. These proceedings took place in contradiction of the Code of the Constitution and Criminal Procedure. In Turkey, collective "talks" by which the living and working conditions of public employees are to be determined, are going to be launched on 15th August. KESK took the first step of our struggle for transforming Collective Talks into Collective Agreements on 15th May. KESK had organized a great demonstration against the effects of the economic crisis in Ankara on 29th November and in İstanbul on 15th February with the participation of more than 100.000 people. On May Day KESK demonstrated in Taksim Square. On 5th June 2009, the march of Eğitim-Sen (the biggest teachers’ union) was prevented by the police using very extreme violence. KESK calls on the Turkish government to secure the immediate release of all trade unionists, to take any necessary steps to guarantee their safety and to abide by the international norms ratified by Turkey.

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THE LETTER:

Please go to THIS LINK tos end the following letter to the Turkish authorities.

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I have learned of the operation against KESK started on 28th May 2009, in which 22 trade unionists including executive committee members were arrested and the number of KESK arrested members increased to 32. The living conditions in the prison are very bad and one of the trade unionists is now ill. The basic principles of law were violated as the headquarters of KESK was raided and searched by the gendarmerie, and many documents were seized. This anti-trade union attitude, and these detentions and raids are the clear violation of ILO Convention No. 87 that was signed by Turkey in 1993. The rights of the workers can only be exercised in an atmosphere that is free of violence, pressure and threats. Therefore I firmly condemn this anti-union attack and I urge you to release all KESK members immediately and unconditionally.

INTERNATIONAL ANARCHIST MOVEMENT-TURKEY:

RESIST THE IMF/WB IN ISTANBUL:

Over the past two decades there has been a slow but steady growth in anarchist ideas in one non-traditional setting- the country of Turkey. Turkey today hosts a wide and growing anarchist movement, one relatively unknown outside of eastern Europe. This fall the movement will contest state power once more, as they protest the upcoming meeting of the International Monetary Fund and the World bank in Istanbul. The following notice first came to Molly's attention at the website of the Polish anarchist news service the Centrum Informacji Anarchistycznej. It has also been previously published at the Anarkismo website. The following has been slightly edited for English grammar and spelling.

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Coordination of Resistance Days against the Meetings of IMF/WB in Istanbul:

Representatives and bureaucrats of multinational capitalist companies will be in İstanbul in 6 – 7 October for the annual meeting of the World Bank and the IMF (International Money Foundation) where they will make decisions to blacken billions of people’s lives.

Another peak gathering to protect the benefits of capitalist sovereigns, where economic packages which have no other use than adding another ring to the exploitation chain for poor billions and for the future of the planet that we live on, reconstructions and austerity policies, constitutional accordance conditions will be discussed…

The experiences of real life (Argentina, Jamaica, Ecuador, Nigeria, Kenya etc.) evidently showed that the World Bank and the IMF policies that are applied have no benefit to people other than offering indigence and exploitation, and there is no other way. The IMF and the World Bank which are the leading architects of globalism of capitalism, are the primary responsible instruments for the banishment of poor people from their habitats and their homes by urban transformation policies (to ennoble the term), having property rights on water which is the primary need of life by a few companies, by condemning the local breeder to global capitalist patrons via agriculture policies, to add new rings to the chains of people who work by new employment legislation.

13.000 robbers and many more armed forces who take orders to protect them will be walking amongst us in those days. Probably, they will show us hell! Frisks, ID checks, road blocks, fencing etc…

Come on, let us show hell to them in those days! Let’s turn our bonfire into their nightmare!

We would like to organise some concerts, workshops, exhibitions, movie presentations, conversations and activities against the IMF and the World Bank between 1-8 October. Sheltering needs for those coming from other cities and other countries will be met. People who want to participate in preparations for the activities and organisations can get in touch with us via the contact information. Also, those who want to receive regular information regarding the preparation phase of the activities can visit our web site that will be updated periodically.

Hoping to raise the international solidarity in the bonfire days of resistance!
Autonomy of the People Against Global Capital!
Add Your Voice to the Outcry Against National and International Capital!
http://resistanbul.wordpress.com

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR-TURKEY:

SUPPORT WORKERS AT THE MENDERES FACTORY:

The following appeal is from the Clean Clothes Campaign, a coalition that supports workers in the garment and cloth trades worldwide.

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IKEA and Household Retailers Abet Union Busting at Turkish Supplier:

While a serious case of union-busting at a Turkish supplier factory is happening right under their noses, retail giants IKEA, Wal-Mart and Carrefour choose to stand by idly. Other household retail chains such as Otto, Ibena, Target and Kohl's as well as the German textile traders Horizonte have been equally silent about the basic labour right violation against hundreds of workers at their supplier. In addition, working conditions in the factory are unacceptably dangerous.

Support the Turkish union in their struggle to improve labour conditions and safety at this factory. Write letters to IKEA, Wal-Mart Carrefour, Otto, Ibena, and Kohl’s and demand fair working conditions in their supply chain.

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Background
Menderes Tekstil in South-Western Turkey produces bed linen for the home market and for export. Over the last years, four Menderes workers died due to work-related injuries. In the most recent accident, on November 20, 2008, one employee died when he fell into the funnel of a coal boiler. Workers reported that the boiler had no safety measures to prevent such an accident. After the tragic accident, the factory management reportedly ordered three colleagues of the victim to climb into the funnel to retrieve the body. Again, no safety measures were taken, and the three had no protection against toxic gases inside the boiler. They suffered respiratory poisoning and had to seek treatment in a nearby hospital.

In March 2008, the national textile workers union TEKSIF started organising workers at the factory. Since then, the Menderes management called the union leaders into their offices one by one, and gave them the choice between renouncing the union or being sacked. Turkish law prohibits dismissals or transfers as retribution for union organising.

Still, Menderes Tekstil continues their anti-union campaign. The management has repeatedly threatened workers whom they suspect of being union members, forcing them to leave of the union or to sign documents indicating voluntary resignation. In some cases, workers were assigned to new jobs for which they were not trained or qualified. If these workers refused to renounce their union membership or refused to accept the transfer or dismissal, the management on occasions has gone as far as to harass the affected workers' relatives if they also work at the factory.

In August 2008 workers and union representatives started protests outside the Menderes factory. The protests lasted for 190 days and were aimed at gaining acceptance of their union. Despite these actions, the company has continued to harass the unionists and has refused any dialogue with the union.

Meanwhile, eight court cases of wrongfully dismissed employees are currently before the magistrate. However, the judicial process could take years before producing any verdict.

Over the last years, four Menderes workers died due to work-related injuries.Brand responses
Menderes' main international clients have known about the problems at the factory for months but the only actions they have taken is to deny the problems, conduct investigations while refusing to release the results, or promise to take action on the matter, only to drag their feet. In doing so, they are also not living up to their own ethical codes of conduct.

The CCC and its trade union partners approached Menderes' primary buyer IKEA multiple times over the last months, but the furniture giant has not taken sufficient measures to solve the problems. IKEA commissioned an audit into the labour conditions at Menderes Tekstil, and concluded that there are no major labour problems at the factory. Although the CCC was never given a chance to view the audit report, the campaign has in the past raised serious concerns about the use of industry-commissioned audit reports that often lead to biased conclusions. The situation at Menderes Tekstil is in total contravention to IKEA's own code of conduct.

Carrefour in France and Belgium and Otto, Ibena and Horizonte from Germany initially responded to appeals by the CCC and its union partners to take action on the case. The US-based companies Wal-Mart, Target and Kohl's were similarly approached by our allies of the International Labor Rights Forum ). All have dithered on their course of action for months now, promising measures that seem more aimed at buying time than at effectively dealing with the problems at their Turkish supplier.

The UK-based Mothercare household retailers have taken constructive steps in addressing the problems, but they are not acting with the level of urgency required.

The CCC urges these companies to use their influence and insist that their Turkish supplier enters into a direct dialogue with trade union TEKSIF.
Urgent Action needed
The CCC and TEKSIF demand that Menderes and its buyers ensure:
**reinstatement with compensation and pay-back of salary arrears where appropriate for those workers who are currently engaged in court proceedings against Menderes Tekstil following their dismissal due to union activity;
**acknowledgement of TEKSIF as a legitimate union at your factory and to recognise their right to represent their members in factory matters, and to provide all workers with a guarantee that the company will respect their rights to organise and to bargain collectively.
**involvement of TEKSIF in the discussions around the company’s restructuring plans and the criteria for necessary dismissals.
**review of occupational health and safety measures at both factory plants, as well as a review of certain disciplinary and grievance handling mechanisms;

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THE LETTERS:

Please go to THIS LINK to send the following letters to various retailers about this Turkish factory's practices.

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Please take action now! Support our action and send letters to IKA, Wal-Mart, Carrefour, Kohl's, Ibena and Otto. See sample letters below....
Dear Madam, Sir,

re.: Menderes Tekstil, Turkey; supply chain; ethical code of conduct.

I am writing to you to express my deep concerns about the working conditions labour-rights situation at one of your suppliers in Turkey, Menderes Tekstil. I understand from the Clean Clothes Campaign that the factory’s workers are being denied the right to associate themselves into a workers’ union, and that the factory management dismisses, transfers and harasses employees who support the workers’ union.

I also read reports that the working conditions at the factory are unacceptably dangerous and harmful, leading to the death of four of Menderes' workers. All this in violation of Turkish law, international labour standards as per the ILO, and your own suppliers code of conduct.

I have been informed by the CCC that their efforts to address these urgent matters with you met with a refusal from your side to take swift and effective action to remedy the situation.

As a consumer and one of your potential clients, I am concerned about the working conditions surrounding the production of the goods you sell. I urge you to take up your supply-chain responsibilities seriously, and to demand from Menderes Tekstil:
**reinstatement with compensation and pay-back of salary arrears where appropriate for those workers who are currently engaged in court proceedings against Menderes Tekstil following their dismissal due to unionisation;
**acknowledgement of TEKSIF as a legitimate union at your factory and to recognize their right to represent their members in factory matters, and to provide all workers with a guarantee that the company will respect their rights to organise and to bargain collectively.
**involvement of TEKSIF in the discussions around the company’s restructuring plans and the criteria for necessary dismissals.
**review of occupational health and safety measures at both factory plants, as well as a review of certain disciplinary and grievance handling mechanisms;
Yours sincerely,
SAMPLE LETTER FOR IKEA

Dear Sir,

re.: Menderes Tekstil, Turkey; supply chain; ethical code of conduct.

I am writing to you to express my deep concerns about the working conditions labour-rights situation at one of your suppliers in Turkey, Menderes Tekstil.

I understand from the Clean Clothes Campaign that the factory’s workers are being denied the right to associate themselves into a workers’ union, and that the factory management dismisses, transfers and harasses employees who support the workers’ union.I also read reports that the working conditions at the factory are unacceptably dangerous and harmful, leading to the death of four of Menderes' workers.

All this in violation of Turkish law, international labour standards as per the ILO, and your own suppliers code of conduct.

I have been informed by the CCC that their efforts to address these urgent matters with you met with a refusal from your side to take swift and effective action to remedy the situation.

I also learned that IKEA commissioned an audit into the labour conditions at Menderes Tekstil, and concluded that there are no major labour problems at the factory. Although the CCC was never given a chance to view the audit report, the campaign has in the past raised serious concerns about the use of industry-commissioned audit reports that often lead to biased conclusions.

As a consumer and one of your potential clients, I am concerned about the working conditions surrounding the production of the goods you sell. I urge you to take up your supply-chain responsibilities seriously, and to demand from Menderes Tekstil:
**reinstatement with compensations and pay-back of salary arrears where appropriate for those workers who are currently engaged in court proceedings against Menderes Tekstil following their dismissal due to unionisation;
**acknowledgement of TEKSIF as a legitimate union at your factory and to recognize their right to represent their members in factory matters, and to provide all workers with a guarantee that the company will respect their rights to organise and to bargain collectively.
**involvement of TEKSIF in the discussions around the company’s restructuring plans and the criteria for necessary dismissals.
**review of occupational health and safety measures at both factory plants, as well as a review of certain disciplinary and grievance handling mechanisms;

In addition to these demands towards the management of the Menderes factory, I urge IKEA to take up the moral commitment it makes in its IWAY code of conduct and not to diminish or lessen orders at Menderes just because of the labour-related problems there. Reduced production or even a closing down of the Menderes factory is not in anybody's interest, and a ”cut-and-run” scenario would not reflect favourably on IKEA's social responsibility profile.

Yours sincerely,

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR-TURKEY:

METALWORKERS FIRED FOR FORMING A UNION:

The following story and appeal is from the online labour solidarity site Labour Start.

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Act NOW!

Turkey: Metal workers sacked for union membership:

A workers' struggle for their jobs and rights at Sinter Metal Đmalat Sanayi AŞ (located in the Dudullu Organized Industrial Zone, Turkey) has gone on for three months. An overwhelming majority of the 470 workers are members of Birlesik Metal-IS trade union. In December 2008, the company fired 350 workers including union leaders, not due to the economic crisis as the employer attempted to claim,but due to their union membership, as confirmed in a Labour Ministry finding. The IMF, EMF and unions demand that the company immediately reinstates the dismissed workers, stops violations of workers' rights, and in good faith considers the workers’ demands and promptly starts negotiations to reach a fair and just settlement.

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THE LETTER:

Please go to THIS LINK to Sinter Metal in Turkey.

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I join with the IMF, EMF and Birlesik Metal-IS in demanding that Sinter Metal immediately stops and remedies violations of worker and trade union rights at the operation located in the Dudullu Organized Industrial Zone in Turkey. I am increasingly alarmed that such violations continue to undermine workers' rights to form and join a union and to collectively bargain, enshrined in ILO conventions 98 and 87. I demand that Sinter Metal management immediately reinstates the dismissed workers, stops violations of fundamental worker and trade union rights, and in good faith considers the workers' demands and starts negotiations to reach a fair and just settlement with the union.

INTERNATIONAL POLITICS:

REPRESSION AT THE WORLD WATER FORUM:

Molly has featured two previous reports here from the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) about the recent World Water Forum in Istanbul Turkey. For whatever reasons of their own that Molly cannot understand these reports have omitted reports on the repression of protesters outside the "legitimate opposition" of the likes of CUPE. To my mind CUPE SHOULD have reported this whatever their disagreements with the protesters, and I think it is shameful that they did not. In any case here is a report from the Anarkismo website on what happened outside the conference cocoon.

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Turkish police shoot on protesters at the World Water Forum (WWF):
by Coalition Against Water Privatisation - CAWP
WWF nothing more than a gathering of the world’s water mafias
The Coalition Against Water Privatisation and the SA Municipal Workers Union are participating in the alternative People's Forum

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At 9.30 this morning (19 March 2009), a group of about 300 Turkish and international activists began a peaceful march towards the entrance of the 5th World Water Forum in Beyoglu to express their concerns about the political agenda of the event and prevent people getting inside. Turkish police forces, outnumbering by far protesters, quickly intervened and charged, using rubber bullets, separating Turkish activists from international protesters and violently dispersing the action.

1 7 Turkish activists from the "No to commercialisation of water platform" were arrested, mostly women who couldn't escape fast enough and one high-profile leader of anti-dam movements. Arrested activists are now in hospital, waiting for their transfer to Vatan police station where they might be prosecuted for illegal protest. The renowned Turkish hospitality seems to not apply to those critical of the World Water Forum.

Other activists then entered the WWF venue to protest against this unacceptable way of treating democratic protests and further challenge the World Water Council and Turkish government's water privatisation plans. The Coalition Against Water Privatisation strongly condemns the repression by the Turkish government; people must express themselves without any fear of police brutality.

The Coalition and the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) will be presenting the South African water struggle and the landmark Johannesburg High Court ruling (that outlawed prepaid water meters) at the alternative people’s forum. As part of the international day of action, CAWP will be picketing at Johannesburg Water office and holding community mass meetings concerning access to water.

The 6th World Water Forum is illegitimate and its nothing but a gathering of the water industry mafias. The global water movement vowed that they will organise hard to make sure that this is the last World Water Forum organised by water thieves. The next must be organized by the United Nations (UN), and every country must make sure that the human right to water is protected and that access to water and sanitation is a priority. For comment, please contact Petunia Nkhasi (CAWP) on 083 531-3329.

INTERNATIONAL POLITICS/CANADIAN LABOUR:

CUPE SUMS UP WORLD WATER FORUM:

The following is the summing up statement of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) on the recent World Water Forum in Istanbul Turkey.

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Water justice movement stronger as forum ends:
Trade unionists from around the world made their mark at the fifth World Water Forum, and are leaving Istanbul with stronger and broader connections to the global water justice movement. They exposed the forum’s bankrupt agenda of privatization, and are demanding that policies about water be decided in a transparent, open and participatory space.

Email Stephen Harper

CUPE 1978 member Kim Manton and general vice-president Kevin Rebeck were among the 55-person Public Services International delegation attending the fifth World Water Forum in Istanbul, Turkey this week. The forum, a trade fair for the privateers, is organized by the unelected and unaccountable World Water Council. High registration fees and a tightly-controlled agenda mean grassroots voices are all but frozen out.

The PSI delegation members, many of them water workers, intervened at the official forum to challenge the pro-privatization messages that dominated the event. Their work helped turn public solutions – relegated to ‘side events’ at the forum – into the main event. They also deepened their connections with the many environmental, indigenous and social justice groups brought their struggles to Istanbul.

Manton says the week has left her moved, inspired and motivated. “I can’t wait to get home so that I can share the global water struggle. I promise to take Hasan’s story of his arrest in the protest on Monday to Canada. I know that when Virginia turns the tap on in Soweto and no water comes out, she will not feel alone,” she says. “I am committed to take the international fight back home and ensure that this trip builds new connections. Happy World Water Day! Water Warriors Unite!”

Rebeck says “There is no more basic fight around the world today than the fight for access to water. Our arguments for accountable, community controlled public water and sanitation keep growing stronger, as the examples of private sector failure pile up. We need to continue the push and support our global partners where communities and workers are dying. Together we can win this battle.”

Manton and Rebeck joined other PSI members at three separate alternative forum events, including an international People’s Water Forum [link to other story] that drew nearly 700 people. The event n showcased success stories of of public and community-led water governance structures, the application of local indigenous water conservation techniques and other alternatives to the models of large-scale water privatization and high technology solutions promoted by the World Water Forum.

Over the course of the week, nightly activist meetings allowed workers and the broader movement to strategize, share, and support each other. The sometimes-raucous meetings have forged many friendships and alliances.

Speaking at a major labour-NGO press conference yesterday, PSI utilities officer David Boys summed up PSI’s participation at the forum. “The divide remains deep, between the people who want quality water and sanitation and the bankers and corporations who control the World Water Council. Their vision is the same one that brought us the financial crisis – a shrinking government, unregulated markets and corporate profits. Our vision is governments that deliver quality public services, financed by fair taxation, with decisions made under conditions of transparency, accountability and participation. The divide has not been bridged here in Istanbul.”

CUPE worked closely with its Canadian allies, the Council of the Canadians and the Polaris Institute, over the week.

“It is becoming increasingly evident that the World Water Forum and everything it represents is a cause of the world water crisis and not the solution,” says Maude Barlow, Council of Canadians chairperson and senior advisor to the President UN General Assembly. “The World Water Forum is morally bankrupt, financially bankrupt and bankrupt of ideas.”