Police raids were carried out on trade union offices in the port of Mersin, Turkey in early April, following reports by the National Port and Land Stevedores Union of Turkey (Liman-Is) of harassment and persecution by port employer Mersin International Port Management Inc (MIP).
Liman-Is reports that MIP has been trying to undermine the union for many months with the use of sub-contractors. It asserts that any attempts by the union or its members to resist have been repressed, culminating in the sacking of 34 workers, including 8 sub-contractors. These workers have now staged a protest outside the MIP offices and the union says it will stand strong to fight this attack.
Liman-Is advisor and collective bargaining specialist Emirali Karadoðan commented: “We are asking ITF and its affiliates to support our struggle.
“The recent police raids on our offices and those of other unions are related to the wider attack on the union movement in Turkey. The police claimed they were looking for a political activist in our offices but should have known that the individual had left the union in the 1990s. This demonstrates the ulterior motives of the police.”
Sharon James, head of ITF dockers’ section, added: “"We are committed to fighting attacks on legitimate trade unions wherever they occur and will keep a close eye on this situation. It appears that Turkey is intent on disregarding labour rights."
