Latest news from US Bases strike

[ozgurluk at xs4all.nl]

Harb-is has a new strike web page in English/Turkish.
You can find many things about the strike from http://www.harb-is.org.tr

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President Izzet Cetins press conference in Adana on the occasion of the
23rd day  of Harb- strike at US military workplaces
                                                       14th August 1998

Dear members of our Press, dear colleagues, and my dear striking
friends, who, for 23 days now, have incessantly been defending labours
honour against all sorts of repression.

In some editorials and some news, on both national press and the
Internet, one sees some false information as to how workers have
deprived pregnant women of milk, and people of food and drink, and
fuel. US soldiers claim to be surrounded, and under siege, while the US
Ministry of Defence and Embassy reminds us of a possible deterioration
of mutual relations between Turkey and the US as a consequence of our
strike, clearly with a view to break it.

As is known, the negotiation process, initiated on March 19, could not
be concluded within the legal term of sixty days, and no agreement came
either out the additional term of negotiations, as a consequence of the
US employers stubborn attitude, as evidenced by the state mediators
report. So our Union announced a strike at all three US workplaces, and
went on strike on July 23, 1998, in Adana, zmir and Ankara.

In the process of using this legal and constitutional right, we have
seen the US employers attempts to break our strike.

As you well know, military forces based on a foreign soil are obliged
to comply with the legal system of the host country according to
NATO-SOFA / NATO-DECA and SEIA mutual agreements. Yet, the US employer
has never obeyed the Turkish law, and acted to break our strike.
Colonel Robertus Remkes, Commander of ncirlik Base, and other military
authorities are continuously trying to break our strike, as openly
evidenced by inspectors reports as well as court decisions. Our
picketers have been harassed, and US soldiers photographed and sent
dogs onto picketers. Besides, the US side is spreading false news,
stories of Turkish workers depriving American children of fresh milk,
and people in general, of food and drink, and imprisoning people to
their houses.

We, as the Union of Defence Workers, are using a legal and
constitutional right, the right to strike. We are not warring, as the
US side would think. Though we find it hard to believe that US children
are deprived of even milk, Aye Ba, the head of Womens Committee of our
Adana Branch, has personally volunteered to distribute milk to American
children, saying she is also a mother and she is in this struggle to
get milk for her own children.

On the other hand, the fact that the US citizens cant leave the base
has hardly anything to do with the strike. They are simply not allowed
to do so, because of an internal circular of US Commendership, which
aims at a consumer boycott in the town, and arouse a confrontation
between shop owners and strikers. This simply wont work and I extend my
thanks to ncirliks shop owners for their understanding and support.

And finally, according to the soldiers and civilians of ncirlik Base,
their lives are endangered, and our Union and members are to be blamed
for it. Harb- Union, as an organisation deeply devoted to democracy and
human rights, never attacks peoples right to life... On the contrary,
we qualify any such attacks as incompatible with human honour.
Therefore, we decline any responsibility for ungrounded allegations,
and condemn any such harassment against US citizens.

Dear Friends of Labour,

Our struggle is one of honour and bread, and against all sorts of
arrogant attitudes towards our national independence.

The NATO-SOFA / NATO/DECA agreements stipulate that foreign countries
must fully comply with host countries legal system.

Foreigners who do not have a work permit can not be employed in
positions which are exclusively reserved for Turkish workers. Yet, the
US employer, keeps violating our national legislation, and this,
despite severel inspectors reports and court decisions, so considering
other nations, including the Turkish Republic, like 8th class banana
republics.

Dear Friends,

Our struggle is one for bread and human pride, one which is carried out
by 1,800 proud and brave members of Harb-, and is not caused by
excessive wage demands, as argued and propagated by the US employer.

We demand:

          More protection against arbitrary lay-off, 
          Amelioration of working conditions, 
          Prevention of illegal labour, 
          Extension of collective agreement rights to sub-contracting labour, 
          Respect for our national law and court decisions, and 
          Decent wages... 

However, the US employer has continued its usual insensitiveness to our
legitimate demands, bringing the negotiations of the last three days to
a dead end.

The attempts to suppress our strike, and all sorts of Byzantine
intrigues, are publicly known. And I declare that nothing will stop our
legitimate struggle.

We are all familiar with some circles who argue that our strike will
make harm to the Turkish-US relations.

I am calling upon all US fans and aspirers of mandate regime:

The US side is only an employer to us. And it has to know its powers,
duties and responsibilities, period ... What goes on now in Adana,
Izmir and Ankara, is a struggle for bread. And respecting and
supporting this legitimate struggle is a duty for all.

I wish to extend my heartfelt thanks to all friends of labour, who have
been supporting our strike for the last 23 days.


Izzet etin


President 

-- 
Press Agency Ozgurluk
For justice, democracy and human rights in Turkey and Kurdistan!
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