Turkey: USAF Release on Strike Progress

[ozgurluk at xs4all.nl]

Turkish Strike Talks at Incirlik Still Stalled 
Aug. 28, 1998

INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey -- Observers from the U.S. embassy and Turkish
General Staff attending negotiations this week saw the Turk Harb-Is
union leadership withdraw its most recent offer-one that was perhaps a
step closer to a settlement.

For the first time in four days, the union showed at negotiations to end
the 37-day-old Turkish employee strike here Wednesday. During this
session, the union took a positive step by lowering its pay package
demands.

According to the U.S. Air Force's lead negotiator, the union dropped its
salary demands from a 40 percent to a 38 percent raise of hourly pay.
(Ed. Note - The decimal is in the right place!)
Additionally, it met the Air Force's offer of a $1,000 lump sum payment
and requested four quality of life payments of $400. The union differed
in cost of living adjustments, asking for seven to the Air Force's six.

"This was certainly a good sign," said Col. Dutch Remkes, 39th Wing
commander. "It looked as though we might be making some headway in
finally reaching an agreement. Unfortunately, the next day was totally
different, and we seemed to be back at deadlock."

On Thursday, the union raised its pay demands to a nearly 47 percent pay
raise, an $1,100 lump sum, eight COLA adjustments and four $425 quality
of life payments.

If deadlock continues, the strike could be suspended by the Turkish
government, which would then direct differences be settled through
arbitration. Results of arbitration would be binding on both parties.

A side issue still on the negotiating table is job security. The union
is trying to ensure that no employees are terminated for any
reason--including reductions in force, closures or misconduct--during
the two years period covered by the collective labor agreement. 

"No business in any country can provide 100 percent job security for the
duration of a lengthy contract," said Ian Kelly, head of the U.S.
Information Service in Ankara. "Even presidents and ministers do not
have total job security." 

Kelly related that job security became a union concern after several
incidents involving possible criminal behavior occurred at Incirlik.
Union members fear that some workers will be fired once an agreement is
reached. 

Kelly added that there were few such incidents and that they are under
investigation. Remkes said the wing will take appropriate actions after
investigations are complete.

A second side issue is the legal employment of American citizens at U.S.
Air Force facilities. The union seeks an end to employment of U.S.
military family members and off-duty members of the military. Remkes
said that all such employment issues are provided for by the NATO Status
of Forces Agreement or by Turkish work permits. He added that this issue
is non-negotiable at the management/union level.

In terms of pay, Kelly stated that if the current U.S. offer is
accepted, average earnings for a Turkish Harb-Is union worker would be
more than twice as much as workers performing comparable work on the
local economy. 

"The U.S. Air Force offer is very fair and generous. Additionally, we've
made a good faith effort to produce an equitable collective labor
agreement. Since negotiations began, the U.S. has increased its offer by
28 percent,"  he said. 

posted by Len in Indy

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