LABOR NEWS FROM TURKEY 9/24/94
Labor Video Project
lvpsf at igc.apc.org
Thu Sep 29 19:31:18 BST 1994
From: Labor Video Project <lvpsf>
/* Written 3:17 PM Sep 28, 1994 by lvpsf in igc:labr.turkey */
/* ---------- "LABOR NEWS FROM TURKEY 9/24/94" ---------- */
From: Labor Video Project <lvpsf>
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LABOR NEWS FROM TURKEY
September 24, 1994
Compiled from several newspapers and journals
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HAVA-Is (Air Workers Union) REQUESTED FREEDOM OF THOUGHT
On September 15th, the executive board of Air Workers Union held a press
conference announcing their demand for freedom of thought. Members of the
board who met were reminded that their president Atilla Aycin had been
sentenced to 20 months and 42,000,000 TL ($1200.00) fine for a speech he
had made at the Human Rights Association in 1991. Members protested about
putting people in jail for their thoughts, then apologetic visits from the
government ministers was not seen anywhere else in the world.
Gercek. September 17, 1994.
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PUBLIC WORKERS FROM SINCAN RETURNED TO THEIR JOBS.
Celebrating the victory brought by a court suit over a dinner party, the
workers of Sincan Municipality who were fired from their positions by the
new mayor Bekir Yildiz from RP(fundamentalist Islamic party) will be
returning back to their jobs. The celebration was also attended by the
Mayor of Dogan Tasdelen of Cankaya and an ex minister of SHP(Social
Democratic Peoples Party), Ibrahim Tez. The workers denounced the new
mayor for also removing a public statue which he accused of having
similarities to a hammer and a sickle.
Gercek. September 17, 1994.
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PRODUCTION STOPPED AT ORHANELI THERMAL POWER PLANT
Dev Maden Sen (Revolutionary Mine Workers Union) announced in a
declaration that the stoppage of the Orhaneli Thermal Power Plant by the
regional court served as an extension of the current prevailing line of
privatization. The declaration announced that the employers immediately
started the procedures of laying off 530 workers as a result of the court
injunction. "While they try to open new power plants like Gokova and
Kemerkoy right in the middle of touristic heavens, they are shutting down
production plants with the excuse of pollution. They are doing this to
get rid of the workers." said the announcement. It was asked by the
ecologists and the greens that this not to be used by the bosses but, if
they are concerned, to show this concern by improving the technical
conditions in the plant.
Gercek. September 17, 1994.
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POLICE RAID A WEDDING
The police, Special Team Squads and Rapid Force Units conducted a raid on
a wedding in Gulbahce, Adana on September 11 and arrested 18 people
including 3 women.
Gercek. September 17, 1994.
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THERE IS NO RETURNING BACK, WE HAVE DRAWN OUR SWORDS! 53 Workers fired
from Alibeykoy, Istanbul Aras Cargo. Reason: organizing for a union.
Workers are resisting. The police have the workers surrounded.
Lay offs are happening everywhere at full speed. The Aras Cargo workers
are receiving their shares also. The ex-leftist boss of Aras Cargo, using
his previous expertise on organizing and unionization is using
intimidation tactics on the workers. He pressured the workers to resign
from the union using his 'body guards' from the Political Police squad
whom he has stationed in the work place. A total of 53 workers who were
organizing for a union or who were members of the union are fired.
But the Cargo workers did not take this silently. The occupation on
August 28 of the offices in Ankara by the workers immediately spread
throughout the branches and resulted in a reaction of workers joining the
union more than ever. While the occupation was going on, 130 workers in
Alibeykoy stopped work and collectively went to the hospital for medical
reasons to support the occupation. This made the bosses start laying off
workers from the Alibeykoy connection center also. Workers were called to
the office individually and were threatened to resign from the union or
else to lose their jobs. Then the police surrounded the workers and
attacked them: 13 workers were arrested on the grounds that "they were
suspicious individuals".
The workers are defending themselves from all these assaults by resisting
in front of the doors of the Aras Cargo,
Workers who sit all day long in front of the offices on some make-shift
banks say, "We have drawn our swords. There is no returning back. Let
Celal Aras think from here on!. Don't be fooled that this is made out of
wood. Our sword is made of steel, it will not break easily. We are very
determined, we have nothing to lose. We have lost our bread, we have lost
our jobs. We want our jobs and bread back without loosing our pride.
This is the reason why we are here. Just to prevent us from organizing
for a union, the boss transferred the company to a contracting firm Demkar
Limited. But, Demkar is not running the business. Celal Aras is
conducting the business behind the scene. The employer started playing
all kinds of tricks when we started to organize for the union. They hired
workers whom they brought all the way from Adana, Mersin and Tunceli. The
workers employed here are Kurds mostly. Because we are Kurds, we are
treated like slaves. A worker employed for 4 years gets only 2,400,000
TL. ($68.00 a month). The employer does not even pay our social security
insurance premiums. They have only paid only 120 days of premiums till
today. They provoke the police against us, then the police attack us.
The security officer of Alibeykoy comes here and threatens us not to build
any fires or not to have anybody else here besides the workers. Police
have us surrounded. They will not allow even the press to get close to us
for interviews. Also, they have forbidden us to stay here the night."
While these are happening in the connection center at Alibeykoy, the
branches started to lay off workers also. The employer has announced a
lock-out in the branches. Because they were waiting in front of the
Eminonu Aras Cargo branch 3 workers 2 of whom were women were arrested by
the police and taken to the headquarters. But the workers are discussing
the resistance to get lessons out of the Ankara Occupation. "We have to
draw lessons from both the class history and our own resistance. We are
thinking about going further than Ankara office occupation. We will shed
blood if necessary to protect this position till our last drop of blood.
We will try numerous actions. The public will witness this in a short
while. We expect support and solidarity from our class brothers and
sisters. "Ex-Leftist' Celal Aras who has sold his soul will learn a
lesson here."
Gercek. September 17, 1994.
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TEMPORARY WORKERS ON HUNGER STRIKE
Workers of Yol-Is (Road Workers Union) left a black wreath at the doors of
DYP (The Right Way Party of the government) and SHP (The Social Democratic
Peoples' Party in coalition with the DYP in the government). The band on
the wreath read:, "The Seasonal Workers".
Abdulkadir Candemir, the president of the Eskisehir Branch of the Yol-Is
Union said couple of years ago they had worked 9 months. Last year they
worked for only 5.5 months and this year they were able to work only 3
months. He said, "they tell us to come and work at minimum wage. This is
impossible. We work in remote lands. If we were to accept this, how can
we support all our expenses out there in the field and also our families.
The workers chanted "Government Resign" as they marched. A hunger strike
for three days in the Union was also started by the workers.
Gercek. September 17, 1994.
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INVESTIGATION FOR SIVAS TEACHERS
Governors office and the local Nation Educational Office has started an
investigation on 40 education workers who are members of Egit-Sen
(Educational Workers Union) for participating in the Public Workers
Meeting held in Ankara last May 28. Also another investigation has been
launched for Muzaffer Uclu, a member of Egit-Sen also, for having taken
the union publication to school where he works. The members held a press
conference at the offices of Egit-Sen and denounced the investigations on
September 7. Also a farewell dinner was given to the members of the union
who had been 'sent to exile' by the government.
Also, in Sivas 800 temporary workers who had been laid off from Village
Services on August 15 were called back to work. The workers who had
worked only 3 months will be laid off again after a month.
Gercek. September 17, 1994.
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STRIKE AT GAZIANTEP PUBLIC WORKS
280 of the total 370 public workers went on strike at Gaziantep's Sehit
Kamil district. 90 of the striking workers do not legally have the right
to strike. The workers have been 'sitting' at a park in front of the
Municipality office or around the offices for the last 10 days.
While the union Genel-Is under DISK has settled for the pay, the dispute
for job security has not been resolved. The mayor from the RP (Welfare
Party- A right wing Islamist fundamental party.) has insisted that the
discipline board members from his side should have two voting rights.
On September 2, 50 people from Human Rights Association and Egit-Sen (The
Education Workers Union) came to give support to the striking workers
carrying banners which read "Long Live Work-Bread- Freedom". The Human
Rights Association also came back the next day with food for the striking
workers.
The police forced the workers away from the strike site on September 4
saying they can only come as close as 300 meters to the Municipality
offices. Only 6 workers were allowed to get closer. Also, 2 members of
the Human Rights Association were arrested on site, but were released
later that day.
The mayor, Mehmet Bozgeyik, has started 150 workers from the
Municipality's company Sekabel for cleaning jobs at minimum wages. He is
trying to break the organization of DISK (The Confederation of
Revolutionary Workers Union) and establish an organization of Hak-Is
(Confederation of Right Workers Union- An Islamic Fundamentalist Workers
Union) at the public works.
Gercek. September 17, 1994.
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MINE WORKERS UNION SUES GOVERNMENT
Dev Maden Sen (Revolutionary Mine Workers Union) had requested to conduct
negotiations in a work site from The Ministry of Work and Social Security
for collective bargaining, claiming to have authority for representation
from the workers. In order for the union to participate in collective
bargaining or for representation the union must have a minimum 10% of the
organized workers in that site. The union was turned down by the Ministry
because they did not make the required minimum. The Dev Maden Sen has
opened a court suit to appeal the decision. The purpose for the court
suit is also aiming for the laws which require a minimum percentage for
representation. The union has announced that they will fight to the end
to change every undemocratic law brought by the September 12 regime of
1980.
Gercek. September 17, 1994.
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WORK STOPPAGE AT YEMAS FOOD FACTORY
The workers at Yemas have re-started their action after they did not
approve the new agreement with the employers of Yemas. Oleyis (Hotel and
Restaurant Workers Union) under DISK has been negotiating with the company
which produces food products. All workers at Cukobirlik supported the
action of workers who refused to leave the premises. A support committee
was formed at the site to conduct the resistance. The employer is trying
to nullify the previous contract.
Omer Fethullah, the president of Cukobirlik has called in the gendarmerie
to force the workers out of the plant but the workers were able to resist
this assault too.
The plant can not distribute food since September 7.
Gercek. September 17, 1994.
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NEGOTIATION AUTHORITY HURTS THE WORKERS
100,000 workers have been prevented from collective bargaining due to
authorization dispute between DISK (Confederation of Revolutionary Workers
Union) and Turk-Is (Confederation of Workers Union of Turkey).
The collective bargaining, which was due in September between the Trade
Unions and the Textile Employers' Union was not held because of a dispute
of authority between the two workers unions, The Textile and The Teksif
Labor Union. In the work places where the employers are organized under
the Textile Employers' Union, DISK is organized under The Textile Workers
Union at 15 plants and has 12,200 members. Turk-Is, on the other hand has
organized under The Teksif Labor Union at 70 plants with 60,000 members.
This means that about 70,000 workers are faced with not being able to do
collective bargaining. The vice president of DISK's Textile Union pointed
out that this number includes only the work places whose employers have
been organized under the Employers' unions and if the total organized work
places are considered, the number of organized workers are exceedingly
high in this industry.
DISK's Birlesik Metal-Is (Joint Metal Workers Union) has taken away the
authority to bargain from Turk-Is's Turk Metal (Metal Workers Union of
Turkey) in Eregli Iron-Steel Works (ERDEMIR) which employs 7,000 workers.
Having lost the work place the Turk Metal has opposed Birlesik Metal-Is
Union's bargaining authority which has stopped between the workers and the
employers.
The vice president of the Textile Workers Union has said that the workers
are the ones who are suffering. And he added that they are ready to take
back their opposition, if the other side does the same: "There should be
respect for the workers will. Even if we have exceeded the minimum number
of workers needed to be organized to request authority, we are against
this minimum requirement. Servet Bayka, the Head of the Collective
Bargaining Department of Birlesik Metal-Is Union said, "The main reason of
this situation are the laws. These laws should be cleared off the
anti-democratic items. But until then, a referendum will serve an
important role to provide the workers with an authorized labor union and
to prevent them from working without a contract.
Ozgur Ulke. September 16, 1994.
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BRANCHES REJECT TURK-IS' AGREEMENT WITH THE GOVERNMENT
Reactions are coming in from Turk-Is (Confederation of Workers Union of
Turkey) branches objecting to Turk-Is signing an agreement against the
'inflation payments' owed to 600,000 workers by the government. The
branches in Istanbul held a meeting and announced that they did not
recognize the agreement between Turk-Is and the government and that they
will appeal by using their own legal rights. Turk-Is was also criticized
for cutting ties with DISK (Confederation of Revolutionary Workers Union)
and Hak-Is which will severe the workings of the Platform of Democracy.
The meeting was called by the Region 1's representative Faruk Buyukkucak
to discuss the actions needed to be taken against the Turk-Is who signed
an agreement with the government against the Executive Board and Extended
Executive Board's decision. The problems the working class will face in
the future and democratization was also discussed in the meeting.
Faruk Buyukkucak, in his opening speech to 32 unions said the agreement at
the Executive Board to take action was not only for the workers to receive
their payments on inflation adjustment, but was also for gaining other
democratic rights.
Ali Kolos, the president of Gida-Is (Food Workers Union)Branch 3, said
that Turk-Is, by signing such an agreement, has delivered a blow to the
system of collective bargaining at a time of unprecedented troubles for
unionization. He suggested that the unions get together for an action
against Turk-Is. Ercan Atmaca from Yol-Is (Road Workers Union) said for
the agreement, 'I am summarizing this in one word: Sell out!'. Hasan
Saygili from Tes-Is also said that they will not honor the agreement
between Turk-Is and the government and they will exercise their legal
rights to oppose the agreement. He said, "What will Turk-Is do when it is
time to pay the bonds and government announces that it can not pay? Will
Turk-Is say the government lied to them like before? When did this
government ever kept its promise to the workers?". He also said that the
Turk-Is will not act differently in the future as it is obvious from its
actions today.
The letter from Turk-Is to DISK and Hak-Is where it announced its break
away from them was also discussed in the meeting.
500 workers from Harb-Is (Military Workers Union) protested the agreement
in front of Turk-Is. The workers left a black wreath reading 'No to sell
out' at the door. Necmettin Dogan, the president of Ankara branch said
the problem was not only because of 50-60% pay hikes, but the real problem
was the reversal of their right of collective bargaining. Dogan continued
by stating that the Turk-Is executives who signed the agreement were as
guilty as the representatives of the capital. He said Turk-Is left its
position to join the ranks of the capitalists. He said they were ready
for all kinds of struggle. During the protest the workers chanted slogans
as "We do not want a sold out Turk-Is", "Turk-Is resign", "We don't want
money, we want democracy","Death to the capitalist government".
Ozgur Ulke. September 17, 1994
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TURK-IS PUNISHES BRANCHES.
The September 12 Coup of 1980 changed the laws on Workers' Unions and gave
unlimited authorities to the presidents and administrators of the unions.
The administrators use these powers against their political rivals.
Bayram Meral, the president of Turk-Is (The Confederation of Workers
Unions of Turkey) is the head of Yol-Is (The Road Workers Union). This
union has shown the structure these unions operate under and what they
mean by "Union Democracy" recently. Some of the union branches which were
penalized by their administrations lately include Yol-Is Istanbul Region 1
Branch, Tek Gida-Is (Food Workers Union) Branch #1, Tes-Is Branch #1 and
Tez Koop-Is Branch #4.
The following represent a small sample of punishment tactics used by
Turk-Is authorities against the branches:
- Starting an investigation against Ercan Atmaca, the president of a
branch, who gave a press release. - Cancellation of the branch drivers
contract 'to make the branch see the reality'. - An economical embargo
against the branch against all bylaws of the union. - Cancellation of fax
telephone lines of Yol-Is branch. - Disciplining the whole Executive Board
of the branch.
Ozgur Ulke. September 18, 1994.
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POLICE PREVENTS NEGOTIATIONS
The bosses of Aras Cargo continue their assault on the workers rights
despite the 45 days of struggle by the fired workers.
The workers protested the employer for not paying their social benefits
and a portion of their pays kept by the employer on their 45th day of
termination. The police stopped the 29 workers and their families from
meeting with the employer by not allowing them near the building. Police
also prevented the workers lawyer and member of the Human Rights
Association's Commission on Work Life Sakir Yordam from seeing the Aras
Cargo employers. The lawyer announced that he was protesting the Police
action which clearly showed the police took the side of the bosses.
Semsi Ercan, the president of Nakliyat-Is(Transportation Workers Union)
said the company owed each worker at least 4-5 million TL ($110-$150) but
the company refused to pay these to the workers for the last month and
half. He said they see the lay offs as unlawful lock outs and will start
legal procedures against the owners. The union will protest the action of
Aras Cargo with a press release in front of the companies building next
Tuesday.
On the other hand it was reported that the employers are forcing the
workers to sign a resignation paper. The workers are promised that they
will get paid their dues if they sign the paper. The workers want to add
a phrase to the resignation paper saying they have not received their pays
yet. The employer does not accept this phrase. The company already
started hiring workers from outside Istanbul and have filled the positions
of the laid off workers.
Ozgur Ulke. September 18, 1994.
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WAR CREATES ITS OWN WARLORD
The largest giant in automotive industry Koc Holding's firm Otokar
produced a total of 4,900 armed vehicles for the army and the security
forces. Otokar also received the contract to produce 5000 more tactical
armed vehicle. The company produces the vehicles under the British Land
Rover license. 4,300 vehicles alone by Otokar is being used by the
gendarmerie forces. Ozgur Ulke. September 20, 1994.
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WORKERS KIDNAPPED BY ARGK GUERRILLAS ARE RELEASED.
18 Workers kidnapped in Diyarbakir by ARGK guerrillas were set free by the
same. The workers in good health were immediately taken to the police
headquarters for questioning.
Ozgur Ulke. September 20, 1994.
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SOLDIERS SHOOT JOURNALIST
Rifat Ozungur, the ex representative in Sivas for Mucadele (The Struggle)
was gunned down by the gendarmerie for allegedly not stopping when asked
to. Several magazines and newspapers announced that Ozgunur was a member
of the socialist press and demanded an explanation on his killing. But no
explanation was given by either the District Attorney, or the Security
Office or the Gendarmerie Office or the Health Clinic he was taken after
being shot.
Ozgur Ulke. September 20, 1994.
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ONE YEAR OLD BABY UNDER DETENTION
Arbitrary detention are still being carried out in Diyarbakir, Batman,
Adiyaman and Dersim.
In Diyarbakir, after a raid to a house, the security officers from the
political branch of the police arrested a 1 year old baby with both
parents. An eyewitness to the arrest said, "This family migrated to
Diyarbakir only four months ago from Lice. We were at home at the time of
the raid. Two plainclothes teams came to raid the house. They tied
everybody's eyes and took them away with their 1 year old baby. What they
did is inhumane. What could a one year old baby have done? We have no
information where they have been taken."
Ozgur Ulke. September 20, 1994.
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WEEKLY EXPRESS CONFISCATED
Weekly Express was confiscated by the State Security Court for printing an
article which discussed the Kurdish question. In an interview with Kemal
Burkay, the leader of Kurdish Socialist Party who is in exile, the weekly
printed his views that the question could only be solved with a democratic
federation. This view was seen as a propaganda to divide Turkey which is
illegal.
Ozgur Ulke. September 20, 1994.
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CALL FOR UNITY FROM DISK'S TEKSTIL
Suleyman Celebi, the deputy president of Tekstil (Garment Workers Union)
of DISK (The Confederation of Revolutionary Workers Union) called to the
other unions Teksif and Oz Iplik-Is operating in the same industry under
Turk-Is and Hak-Is for a unity to complete the collective bargaining to
the best advantage of the working class.
Ozgur Ulke. September 20, 1994.
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19 MARTYRS FROM NEWSPAPER OZGUR ULKE IN TWO YEARS.
The following 19 journalists and Ozgur Ulke workers have been murdered in
the last two years. MUSA ANTER CENGIZ ALTUN HUSEYIN DENIZ HAFIZ AKDEMIR
KEMAL KILIC AYSEL MALKAC FERHAT TEPE NAZIM BABAOGLU YAHYA ORHAN ADNAN ISIK
MEHMET SENOL ORHAN KARAAGAR YALCIN YASA MEHMET SENCER ISMAIL AGAYA M. ZEKI
AKSOY LOKMAN GUNDUZ HASIM YASA ABDULKADIR IPEKSUMER
Ozgur Ulke. September 20, 1994.
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PUBLIC OFFICE WORKERS PUNISHED FOR MARCHING
1/30th pay of 9 Public office workers' pays were cut as a result of an
investigation by the governors office in Samsun.
The workers, all members of Tum Maliye-Sen (Public Accounting Office
Workers Union) had participated in a march from Samsun to Ankara last May
28th called by the Platform of Public Workers Samsun Branch. The workers
were accused of travelling beyond the province border without permission.
Tum Maliye Sen announced today that an action like this will not go
without a reply and protested the cuts which totalled 9,000,000 TL
($250.00). It was also announced that other members of the union were
also subject to investigations.
Union will start a six month campaign to help the workers financially.
Ozgur Ulke. September 21, 1994.
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TURKISH SOLDIERS WOUND A MOTHER AND SON
Sirin Yildirim age 35 and her 12 year old son were wounded by soldiers
from Yolustu Gendarmerie Station who opened fire on them while grazing
their sheep near the village of Zagxe in Elazig.
Mother and son were taken to Erzurum Research Hospital by the villagers.
Sirin Yildirim was announced to be in critical condition.
Ozgur Ulke. September 21, 1994.
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PROTEST AGAINST ARAS CARGO
Tumtis Union organized a protest in front of Aras Cargo plant in Izmir to
protest the firing of 15 workers. Around 60 workers protested Aras Cargo
for firing workers and chanted slogans as "End lay offs", "End waged
slavery", "Long live the unity of the workers", "We are workers, we are
right, we will win" and started marching towards Turk-Is' regional offices
from Aras Cargo.
Ozgur Ulke. September 21, 1994.
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WORKERS DEMAND TO GET PAID
Seasonal road workers in Erzincan declared the government an enemy of the
workers for not paying them for over a month. The workers are not paid
their bonuses and the benefits they received as a result of their
collective bargaining.
Ozgur Ulke. September 21, 1994.
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TURK-IS INTERNAL FIGHT GETS DIRTY
After responding to criticism from DISK and Hak-Is for signing an
agreement against workers with the government by cutting all relationships
with them, Bayram Meral, the president of Turk-Is has started dirty
tactics against other Turk-Is unions who have criticized him.
Bayram Meral started to pile up the dirty laundry of other unions for
burning his coffin, demonstrating in front of Turk-Is and calling the
agreement 'shameful'.
Meral is complaining from other union presidents in a letter sent out to
the organization. He claims Izzet Cetin, the president of Harb-Is
(Military Workers Union), has given his unlisted home telephone number to
the organization and has insulted his wife and daughter while he was not
there. Izzet Cetin responded by saying Meral's number was publicly
available from the telephone information office. This letter was the
second complaint letter Meral sent after the first letter complained from
Faruk Barut, the President of Tes- Is.
EMPLOYERS UNION: THE PEACEMAKER! The ongoing dispute between Turk-Is and
DISK and Hak-Is has got TISK (The Employers Union of Turkey) worried.
Refik Baydar, the president has stepped in to create 'peace' between the
workers confederations. He said he has talked to all sides and that he
will continue seeing all parties to stop the feud.
Ozgur Ulke. September 21, 1994.
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5 OZGUR ULKE WORKERS UNDER TORTURE
The raids on Ozgur Ulke offices on fake reasons started after the
resolution to prevent the paper from the 'State of Emergency Coordination
Council'. The security officers this time explicitly said "We have
orders. We will not allow you to work here." A number of our friends had
been forced to leave the paper after being threatened by the police.
Although the State Security Court, the police, the special team and the
gendarmerie has kept the paper under heavy pressure since its first day of
publication, the pressures have been increased especially recently on the
paper. Our Diyarbakir office has been raided 3 times and Van and Agri
offices has been raided once in the past month and half. Police who
raided the home of our Mardin representative, arrested our correspondent.
18 Ozgur Ulke workers are under arrest. Gursel Sahin, Nezahat Ozen, Metin
Dag, Kadriye Ozcanli and Mehmet Balamir are under torture in JITEM
(Gendarmerie Information gathering service). 3 of those under arrest are
editors of the paper. 143 of 147 issues of the paper has been
confiscated. It is forbidden to sell the paper in Kurdistan.
Ozgur Ulke. September 22, 1994.
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TEACHERS ARE FORCED TO TAKE UP ARMS
The state started to arm the teachers in an effort to force them to join
the paramilitary 'guards' organized by the state to combat the guerrillas.
35 teachers received their kalashnikov assault rifles and ammunition in
Erzincan. In Erzurum, the state is preparing to distribute arms to
doctors and nurses as well as teachers. Teachers in Basbudak village
refused to receive arms from the government.
Basyurek Altin, the education secretary of Egit-Sen (Edcation Workers
Union) protested the state's action and declared that they did not approve
the arming of the teachers. Human Rights Association also protested the
pressure to take up arms by the state and called for all educational
institutions and general public to strongly refuse this action.
Ozgur Ulke. September 22, 1994.
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ATTACK ON THE TURKISH SOLDIERS
Soldiers from the Geman Batallion participating in a joint operation with
the paramilitary 'village guards' were ambushed by the guerrillas where 4
soldiers and a 'guard' was killed. When the soldiers opened fire to a
civilian vehicle an 11 year old was killed.
In another ambush by the guerrillas at Genc (Bingol), the soldiers who
went to protect the railroad from the guerrillas were attacked and one
soldier was killed. In the same Genc area in another attack 2 soldiers
lost their lives in Akdag.
Guerrillas resting in Kerboran (Mardin) were surrounded by the
paramilitary guards. When the guerrilla sensed the operation they slipped
away from the ambush and the guards thinking they were fighting the
guerilla started firing at each other. One guard was killed while 5 was
wounded.
Ozgur Ulke. September 22, 1994.
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NORWAY'S HUMAN RIGHTS PRIZE GIVEN TO LEYLA ZANA, THE JAILED DEP DEPUTY
The 1994 prize for human rights was given to Leyla Zana, the deputy from
DEP (Democracy Party). Leyla Zana jailed for being Kurdish received the
prize for trying to solve the 'dispute between Kurds and the Turkish State
in a democratic way'. She was elected from Diyarbakir.
In the announcement it was stated that Leyla Zana, together with 5 other
deputies are jailed and are being tried with death sentences because of
their thoughts on the Kurdish question. It was also stated that Leyla
Zana, together with her husband, became a symbol of the Kurdish people and
the Kurdish resistance.
Ozgur Ulke. September 22, 1994.
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260 PEOPLE ARRESTED IN ADANA IN TWO MONTHS.
Mostly from Denizli, Daglioglu and Barbaros neighborhoods, 260 people were
arrested in the last two months in Adana. All of those who were released
said they underwent heavy torture while under arrest. In the operations
police destroyed everything in the houses under the excuse of conducting a
search. Although inquiries have been demanded no explanation or
announcement was made by the security forces for those under arrest for
over two weeks. The families of those arrested were given permission to
see the arrested but when they demand to see their family members, they
are beaten by the police at the headquarters.
On the other hand, the whereabouts of Mehmet Turgay who was arrested on
August 15 is still unknown.
Ozgur Ulke. September 22, 1994.
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PARAMILiTARY GUARDS ROBBED A JEWELER, THE STATE ACCUSES PKK
11 paramilitary guards serving time in Iskenderun Jail and their
relatives announced that they had been forced by the state to sign a
deposition accusing the PKK for the robbery. The guards stated in their
joint press release that none of them belonged to PKK and the security
forces were trying to blame the PKK guerrillas for a non political
robbery. Their declaration read as follows: "We, the undersigned robbed a
jeweler on August 8, 1994 on the road between Iskenderun and Antep. Later
we were captured when someone tipped the police. Everything was normal up
to this point". The guards then tell how they confessed the crime to the
police. "There was nothing abnormal in the progression of the procedures.
The crime was an ordinary crime. We signed the depositions while our eyes
were tied. But when we faced the D.A. the whole crime had been taken out
of context and we were made to have committed the robbery for the PKK.
None of us have any relationship with the PKK organization. We are the
states paid employees who have been fighting against the PKK guerrillas
for a long time. Many of us have other family members still fighting the
guerrillas as guards."
Ozgur Ulke. September 22, 1994.
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PROTEST AGAINST EXILING 26 WORKERS TO SOUTH EAST
Turgut Altinok, the mayor of Ankara's Kecioren district, temporarily
exiled 26 public workers to Cizre. The mayor from MHP (paramilitary,
fascist National Action Party) said the municipality of Cizre also needed
the expertise of these 26 technicians, municipal police and investigators.
It is reported that in the coming days the number of exiles may increase
to 60. The workers will work in Cizre for three months before returning
back home. The mayor asked the protesting workers "Isn't that a part of
our country? Go and serve over there for a while". The workers
immediately went to court to stop the action. Their union Bel- Sen
(Municipality Workers Union) also has started legal action against the
Kecioren Municipality.
Secretary for Internal Affairs, Nahit Mentese said he will start an
investigation as soon as he gets the papers on the exiling of workers.
On the other hand, a court suit filed by 611 public workers ended today
with a victory for the workers. 611 workers were fired from the Greater
Ankara Municipality. After the decision all 611 workers will be able to
return back to their positions.
Ozgur Ulke. September 22, 1994.
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SECRETARY OF FORESTRY: WE HAVE NO MONEY FOR AFFORESTATION
Hasan Ekinci, the Minister for Forestry announced today that the state had
no money for afforestation. According to his calculations, he said, "we
can create the 300,000 hectares of needed forest in 50 or 100 years". He
called attention to loss of topsoil from erosion and said Turkey was
undergoing a tremendous desertification. "One hectare of forest costs 30
million TL ($850.00). But we only have 200-400 billion TL
($5,714,000.00-$11,000,000.00) budget. In this case we will not be able
to plant 300,000 hectares in 50 or 100 years".
Ozgur Ulke. September 22, 1994.
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TURK-IS IS ATTACKING RIVAL UNIONS.
Last week the union presidents of Turk-Is received a long letter from
Turk-Is' president Meral Bayram. They thought, when they opened the
letter and saw the signature of Bayram that the President was informing
them of the latest developments. Yes, the letter did contain information
about the latest developments alright, but it had nothing to do with some
special information needed to be communicated to the union presidents on
how to further the struggle. The only thing Bayram wanted to communicate
was his complaint about how the workers in Golcuk had obtained his
unlisted telephone number and how they had assaulted his wife and
daughter. But, Bayram was more critical of the President of Harb-Is
(Military Workers Union) Izzet Cetin than the workers who called him over
the unlisted line because, he alleged that Izzet Cetin was the one who
provided the number to the workers. "I only gave this number to the
presidents of the unions" said Meral.
On the other hand, the strongest opposition to the latest agreement
between Turk-Is and the Government was coming from the workers of the
Military Workers Union. But, Meral did not mention that he was bothered
by this reaction in his letter. All he said was that the workers who had
called him at home bothered him.
It became obvious shortly that this 'special' reaction was not so
'special' after all and that this was a launching pad for the assault on
Harb-Is for its opposition to the agreement. This was apparent when
Harb-Is was disciplined for the opposition and for the demonstration of
its workers in front of Turk-Is building on September 16. The accusation:
TO DISRUPT THE UNITY OF THE CONFEDERATION AND TO CREATE A PUBLIC OPINION
AGAINST THE CONFEDERATION.
The Discipline Board convened on September 21 to discuss the actions of
Harb-Is. Members included the General Secretary of TOLEYIS, SELLULOZ-IS,
TEZ KOOP-IS(Cooperative Workers Union), BASIN- IS(Press Workers Union) and
DERI-IS(Leather Workers Union). The Board met for three hours with no
decision. They will meet again on October 3rd.
The opposition unions are saying that disciplining the Harb-Is union like
disciplining the Yol-Is(Road Workers Union) branch who had gone to Ankara
to protest both the Yol-Is Central Branch and Turk-Is shows that Turk-Is
can not tolerate opposing views in the confederation. They also point to
the contradiction that while Meral feels nostalgic about the late
president Ozal who had gone down the history as an enemy of the working
class by saying, "Ozal, who was tolerant to criticism", can not show any
tolerance to opposition in his confederation. But these days the upper
management of Turk-Is in no state to see any contradiction or something
because, nobody except the upper management is accepting the notorious
agreement. Even Hak-Is (Confederation of Right Workers Union-Islam
Fundamentalist Confederation) and DISK (Confederation of Revolutionary
Workers Union) has taken up this excuse to show as if they are for a the
working class. There are reports that even those union bureaucrats who
had secretly sent message to Meral saying they will support him if he
signs the agreement are saying, "Nothing like this has ever been seen".
And it is said that all these are making the upper management in Turk-Is
more aggressive and tough.
It is said that the friendship established between the "Change Group"
emerged in Turk-Is' General Assembly in 1993 and Harb-Is' president Izzet
Cetin was considered as treason by Meral Bayram. But, it is a common
practice in the history of Turk-Is to knife from the back, to play tricks
on, to leave alone in mid stream, so, it is said that Meral's criticism is
a cover for the campaign started to silence the opposition. Those
unionists who know the past policies of Turk-Is extend their evaluation,
"As seen in the past, the more compromise is given to either to the
capital or to the government, the more oppression comes to the opposing
unions and the unionists". So, these unionists say it is necessary to be
ready for more tougher struggles not only against the capital but also for
the Turk-Is bureaucracy.
But, it is also said that the road taken today does nothing more than
deepening the differences and lays the groundwork for a division.
Specially activating the Discipline Board brings back painful memories
such as the decision of the Discipline Board to expel unions from the
Confederation which resulted in the birth of DISK in 1967.
Those in the union work find it funny to give the Harb-Is union to the
Discipline Board. They think that if anybody is going to talk about
disrupting the unity in the Confederation or creating a negative public
opinion, the higher management and the majority of the Board of Directors
should be given to the Discipline Board for doing exactly the same.
On the other hand, these oppression against dissent does not stop the
protests. Lately the agreement between Turk-Is and the government was
protested by the Izmir Platform of Union Branch Representatives and
meeting of Istanbul Union Branch Executives.
Gercek. September 24, 1994.
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UNIONISTS UNDER PRESSURE
Musa Ulusoylu, the Central Committee Reserve Member and Ankara Branch
Representative for Tum Maliye-Sen (Public Accounting Office Workers Union)
was arrested at 11:00 PM by teams from the Anti- Terror Squad on September
11. It was also reported that the police established a station in his
house till 11:30 next day. (This is done to arrest anybody who comes to
his house. Translator's note.)
Musa Ulusoylu had been threatened many times by the police previously. Nesrin Hatiploglu, member of
the Executive Board for Tum Maliye-Sen said that Ulusoylu was arrested as a part of escalating pressure
on the unions lately and, "If anything happens to him while under arrest, the Ankara Anti-Terror squad will
be responsible for it". Ulusoy is expected to appear at the State Security Court on September 26.
Gercek. September 24, 1994.
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PROTEST AGAINST ASSAULT ON WORKERS
The resistance of the workers fired from The Greater Ankara and Anakent
municipalities. Last week, the workers had been beaten by a gang of MHP
(fascist para military National Action Party) and RP (Islam fundamentalist
Welfare Party) militants when they went to the local government assembly
hall. Unions and mass organizations showed strong reaction to the
assault. In Mersin, Genel-Is (Public Workers Union) of DISK (The
Confederation of the Revolutionary Workers Unions), Platform of Unions in
Mersin, Turk-Is (The Confederation of Workers Union of Turkey), DISK and
Mersin Platform of Public Workers Union condemned the attack with
declarations.
In Adana, Tum Maliye-Sen (Public Accounting Office Workers Union), in an
announcement condemned the attack also. In the same announcement the
actions against the food workers in Cukobirlik and forced unpaid leaves to
workers in Mavi Marketler were condemned.
Gercek. September 24, 1994.
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