U.S. DENIES VIOLENT CLASHES IN LABOR STRIKE AT AIR BASES IN TURKEY

[ozgurluk at xs4all.nl]

violent clashes in labor strike at air bases in Turkey
AP.international (08-11) 08:46:20

 U.S. DENIES VIOLENT CLASHES IN LABOR STRIKE AT AIR BASES IN TURKEY
    
 ANKARA, Turkey (AP) -- The United States today denied reports of
violent clashes between American soldiers and Turkish workers over a
3-week-old strike that has disrupted life at U.S. military bases in
Turkey.

Turkish media reported several confrontations between U.S. soldiers
and Turks including physical and verbal attacks by Americans at
Incirlik Air Base.

``All allegations of violent actions by U.S. servicemen at Incirlik,
such as assaults, have been thoroughly investigated, and have proven
to be unfounded,'' said a statement from the U.S. consulate in
Adana, a few miles from Incirlik, which is the base for U.S. and
British patrol flights over the no-fly zone in northern Iraq.

About 1,400 Turkish workers have been on strike since July 23. The
strike has shut down the commissary, gas station, dining halls and
other facilities at Incirlik. Services at bases in Ankara and Izmir
have also been interrupted.

The strikers are demanding that salaries be raised every three
months in line with inflation, now running at around 70 percent.
They are also demanding improved benefits and compensation for
earlier pay cuts. Strikers rejected the latest U.S. offer last week
and negotiations have been deadlocked since then.

``The U.S. Air Force has made a very generous offer regarding wages,
benefits and working conditions,'' the consulate said. The statement
said Americans are offering double the average wages in the area.

-- 
Press Agency Ozgurluk
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