2013 Annual Survey of Violations of Trade Union Rights - Turkey
| Publisher | International Trade Union Confederation |
| Publication Date | 6 June 2013 |
| Cite as | International Trade Union Confederation, 2013 Annual Survey of Violations of Trade Union Rights - Turkey, 6 June 2013, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/51b8515316.html [accessed 3 November 2019] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Interference in trade union premises: On 25 March 2013, the head offices of Liman-Is, the National Port and Land Stevedores Union of Turkey and of Genel-Is were raided by security forces. Serious damage was done to the building gateway, entrance door and accounting office door.
Anti-union discrimination: In March 2013, the courts found that four DHL workers had been dismissed because of their trade union activities. DHL has also been accused of actively supporting unions which are more favourable to management in order to undermine existing independent unions.
By January 2013, the Tekgida-Is union had recruited a significant number of workers at the East Balt company, the key supplier to McDonald's restaurants, as trade union members. When Tekgida-Is applied to the Labour Ministry for a bargaining certificate in January 2013, management started to dismiss union members. Only after the union threatened to place pickets in front of McDonald's restaurants did management reinstate the dismissed trade union members.
Four trade union members were dismissed from their positions at ISMACO because of their trade union membership. Management said that it does not want union representation. The Deri-Is union has been picketing against this decision since December 2012.
Refusal to recognise unions for bargaining: The textile companies DESA and the ISMACO refuse to recognise unions in their companies and to enter in a dialogue with trade union members. In January 2013, IndustriALL Global Union and Deri-Is lodged a series of demands to DESA which were dismissed.
Imprisonment of trade unionists: In February 2013, police arrested 169 members of the KESK union. This is the third operation against KESK trade unionists in 12 months. Police arrested 73 members in two previous operations in February and June 2012. The trade unionists are accused of being engaged in Kurdish groups.
