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Delegation to demand release of trade unionists held in Turkey
30 May 2008
A trade union delegation, led by the ITF, is travelling to Turkey next week to stand up for the rights of 15 trade unionists who are facing criminal charges, seven of whom remain in detention.
Members of the ITF-affiliated road transport union, Türkiye Motorlu Tasit Isçileri Sendikasi (TÜMTIS) have been detained since their arrest on 21 November last year following two union organising campaigns. Fifteen members, including the seven prisoners, are facing charges of “setting up a criminal organisation”. The delegation visit, involving the ITF’s Inland Transport Section Secretary Mac Urata and a representative from the German ITF affiliate Ver.di, coincides with the trade unionists’ first court hearing on 6 June in Ankara. If found guilty the court could take action to close down the union.
Earlier this month, affiliates were asked to send letters of protest to the Prime Minister over the detention of the TÜMTIS members in the run-up to the hearing.
The ITF wrote a second letter of protest to the Turkish Prime Minister Reçep Tayyip Erdoğan last month; it first wrote to the Prime Minister in November; calling for the activists’ release. The International Trade Union Confederation has also supported the ITF’s campaign.
Mac Urata commented: “The Turkish government is flouting internationally established conventions protecting trade union rights, which it has itself ratified, and continues to suppress genuine trade union activities. We have seen similar cases in other sectors. During our mission to Turkey we plan to meet with the unions, the national labour centre and family members to express our solidarity.”
For more information, visit the ITF’s online solidarity page: http://www.itfglobal.org/solidarity/TUMTIS.cfm
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