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19 May, 2008
The ICEM is backing seven Turkish road transport workers who have been imprisoned since November 2007, and who will have their first court hearing on 6 June. The seven, as well as eight others – all connected with the Labour Union of Turkish Motor Vehicles’ Workers (TÜMTIS) – will be in an Ankara courtroom, charged with “setting up a criminal organization.”
In fact, the road transport workers were organizing other transport workers in two separate recruitment drives for TÜMTIS around Ankara. The ICEM has joined the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), as well as affiliate Petrol-Is, in seeking justice for the trade unionists.
The ITF has established an online campaign (which can be found here). It has also filed protest letters with Turkish Prime Minister Reçep Tayyip Erdoğan, and taken the matter before the European Parliament’s Human Rights Department.
“These kinds of attacks on trade union organizations directly violate the internationally established conventions protecting trade union rights, which Turkey has ratified,” said the ITF. If found guilty, the workers face further prison terms, as well as a court order shutting down their union.
On 20 November 2007, 17 transport workers were detained for exercising their legitimate trade union rights. Three days later, seven trade unionists were formally arrested – along with eight others – and the seven have been held in Sincon prison near Ankara since.
The ICEM encourages affiliates to visit the ITF site, and to lodge protests with Turkey’s government. Protest letters can be sent to [email protected], or faxed to +90 312 417 0476 , or +90 312 418 0476