Turkey

Four Turkish national trade union centres are affiliated to the ETUC: DISK Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey (Türkiye Devrimci Isci Senikalari Konfederasyonu); HAK-IS Confederation of Turkish Real Trade Unions (Türkiye Hak Isçi Sendikalari Konfederasyounu); KESK Confederation of Public Employees' Trade Unions (Kamu Emekçileri Sendikalari Konfederasyonu Servants) and TURK-IS Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (Türkiye Isci Sendikalari Konfederasyonu).

The ETUC has condemned the recent abuses of human rights in Turkey following July’s failed coup. It works with Turkish affiliates for the restoration of democracy and civil rights, and to defend the rights of trade unions.

25.10.2024 Document

Message of ETUC General Secretary Esther Lynch in view of KESK Demonstration on 25 October 2024

Message of ETUC General Secretary Esther Lynch in view of KESK Demonstration on 25 October 2024   Dear co-Presidents, dear General Secretary,Dear colleagues, dear friends, On behalf of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and its 45 million members, from 94 trade union organisations in 42 European countries, I would like to express our solidarity with KESK – on the occasion of your demonstration “justice for dismissals”.
27.02.2023 Press release

Turkey: Detention of union leaders sets back relief efforts

The Deputy General Secretary of the Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey (DISK), Fahrettin Engin Erdoğan, was among union leaders and members detained at a protest in Istanbul yesterday. The protest was organised by the DISK and the Confederation of Public Employees' Trade Unions (KESK) over reports of corruption hampering efforts to help victims of the country’s recent earthquake. Members of both unions were among more than 100 people detained.  
28.10.2022 Press release

ETUC condemns imprisonment of President of the Turkish Medical Association

The ETUC calls for the immediate release of Professor Korur-Fincancı Şebnem, President Turkish Medical Association. Professor Korur-Fincancı Şebnem was arrested on 26 October and imprisoned on 27 October under Article 7§2 of the Anti-Terror Law of "propagandizing for a terrorist organization" and "publicly degrading the Turkish Nation, the state of the Republic of Türkiye and its institutions" because of her comments in the media about the allegations that Türkiye used chemical gases during its military operations in Iraq and for which she called for an independent investigation.
01.09.2022 Page

Turkish workers win the right to organise

A court in Turkey has upheld the right of workers at the Posco Assan steel plant in Kocaeli to be represented by the union Birleşik Metal-İş and said that 80 employees who joined the union were unfairly dismissed.
01.03.2022 Page

Pay rise to combat inflation in Turkey

Trade unions representing workers in the Turkish metal sector, Türk Metal, Birleşik Metal-İş and Özçelik-İş, have secured a two-year, sector-wide collective agreement with the employers’ organisation MESS.
27.08.2021 Document

Solidarity with Turkish unions on public service pay

The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) have followed closely the collective bargaining rounds in the Turkish public sector, informed throughout by our affiliates.
01.06.2021 Page

Cross-border cooperation to save public services

Turkish and Dutch trade unions are working together to defend their countries’ public services.  At an online meeting in May, union leaders discussed how outsourcing, privatisation and commercialisation are affecting their public services, and what trade unions can do to prevent privatisation, or to bring services back into public ownership.  
01.05.2020 Press release

Free arrested Turkish union leaders!

ETUC condemns the arrest of leaders of our Turkish affiliate DISK today. We demand the immediate release of Arzu Cerkezoglu and Adnan Serdaroglu and other arrested trade union leaders, and without charge. Some union leaders met at the headquarters of the Turkish trade union DİSK this morning to commemorate May Day. The police surrounded the building and arrested 20 leaders including General Secretary Arzu Çerkezoğlu and President Adnan Serdaroğlu using violence. It is believed to be the third time the leaders have been arrested this year. 
17.02.2020 Page

Collective bargaining pays off for Turkish metalworkers

Three Turkish trade unions, together representing some 130,000 metalworkers, have secured  two-year collective agreement offering members a substantial wage increase.
28.11.2018 Press release

ETUC protests arrests of Turkish trade unionists

On Monday some 10 trade unionists – members of the Executive Committee of ETUC member KESK  - were arrested in several cities across Turkey along with journalists and politicians from the HDP opposition party. The arrests were made in Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir, Diyarbakir and Bursa and relate to the organisation of and participation in a demonstration in 2016.  
13.11.2018 Press release

ETUC Condemns murder of Turkish trade union leader

ETUC condemns the cold-blooded murder of Abdullah Karacan Président of Turkish trade union DİSK/Lastik-İş, rubber and chemical union, who was killed today on a visit to union members in a Goodyear factory in Adapazari. Osman Bayraktar, a workplace representative is in a critical condition.
12.10.2018 Press release

New Istanbul Airport dispute - time for negotiations

The European Trade Union Confederation expresses it support for trade unions in Turkey trying to improve the conditions of construction workers at the new Istanbul Airport. “This dispute cannot be resolved by the police but has to be resolved by negotiations between trade unions, the employers and the Government.” “There have already been 37 deaths including serious accidents causing death and injuries” said Luca Visentini, ETUC General Secretary. “One problem is that more than 8 out of 10 workers on the site are sub-contracted and employed by over 250 companies.
17.04.2018 Press release

ETUC on EU enlargement

According to media reports the European Commission will today recommend that Albania and Macedonia start EU accession negotiations, and be critical about Turkey’s lack of progress towards EU fundamental human rights, justice and freedom of expression. The European Trade Union Confederation
23.03.2018 Document

EU-Turkey Summit: ETUC-ITUC joint letter to Presidents Borissov, Tusk and Juncker

Brussels, 23 March 2018 Dear Presidents, Dear Prime Minister The ITUC and ETUC have several times expressed to you their deepest concerns, directly or indirectly, about the developments taking place in Turkey since the failed coup of 15 July 2016.
25.10.2017 Event

Public hearing on violations of trade union rights in Turkey

On 22 November 2017, the European Parliament will hold a public hearing on violations of trade union rights in Turkey "Under the state of urgency: Europe has to act". Venue: European Parliament - Room A5G315 - Altiero Spinelli Building (Brussels) It will be chaired by Kati Piri, MEP Speakers:
08.05.2017 Document

Joint Statement of ITUC-ETUC and their Turkish Affiliates TURK-IS, HAK-IS, DISK and KESK on the new developments in the situation of trade union members in Turkey

  Jointly adopted by ITUC-ETUC and their four Turkish Affiliates following the 2nd Mission to Turkey on 3-5 May 20017.  The aim was, as the International and European trade union movement, to discuss with the four affiliated organisations [Türk-iş, Hak-iş, Disk and Kesk] the new developments in the situation of trade union members in Turkey, after a first visit in mid-October 2016.
21.04.2017 Document

ETUC statement on the outcome of the Turkish referendum

The Steering Committee of the ETUC, in its meeting on 20 April in Brussels, discussed the results of the Turkish referendum held on 16 April on the reforms to the Constitution adopted by the National Assembly on 21 January.
09.03.2017 Press release

Turkey: ETUC condolences

On 7 March 2017, seven Turkish trade unionists lost their lives and 35 more were injured as a result of a tragic bus accident which occurred in the İnegöl district of Bursa. They were members of a delegation attending the events organised by Turk-Is to celebrate 8th March, the International Day of Women Workers. The ETUC mourns the passing of those who lost their lives. We also send our condolences to their families, as well as best wishes for a quick recovery to the injured. Our thoughts are with you.
01.01.2016 Press release

#Istanbul: ETUC condolences and solidarity

The European Trade Union Confederation expresses its condolences and solidarity to the victims and their families following the horrible attack on 1st January in one of Istanbul's most famous nightclubs. NO to violence and terrorism.
10.11.2016 Press release

Turkey: 10,000 More Public Workers dismissed

The government of Turkish President Erdogan has recently fired a further 10,131 of its employees, bringing the total number of public sector employees dismissed or suspended since the failed 15 July military coup attempt to more than 100,000.  The dismissals, across 35 different government ministries and agencies, were mainly in the health, education and justice departments. New recruitments may be arbitrary, not based on objective criteria, in education institutions where most dismissals have occurred so far. Those fired are barred from future employment in the public sector.
20.10.2016 Speech

Tripartite Social Summit (October 2016) - Speech by Luca Visentini, ETUC General Secretary

President Juncker, President Tusk, President Fico, Vice President, Commissioner, deal colleagues, Europe is facing extraordinary circumstances, and needs ambitious replies to the needs and concerns of its citizens. Social partners want to be on board for this discussion. This was the main objective of the quadripartite declaration we signed few months ago – now it’s time to put it into practice, and the best way is to align our dialogue with what is going to be addressed by leaders tomorrow.
14.10.2016 Press release

Joint Statement of ETUC, ITUC, TURK-IS, HAK-IS, DISK, KESK

JOINT STATEMENT OF ETUC, ITUC, TURK-IS, HAK-IS, DISK, KESK Following the visit of ETUC and ITUC to Ankara on 12-13 October 2016   A joint ITUC and ETUC delegation visited Ankara on 12 and 13 October 2016.
19.08.2016 Press release

Turkey: ETUC and ITUC deeply worried by the latest developments

The ITUC and the ETUC are deeply worried by the latest developments in Turkey, including  the new attacks on press freedom and human rights with the ban of the daily ‘Ozgur Gundem’ and the detention of 23 journalist and staff members in Istanbul on 16 August. 
26.07.2016 Press release

Meeting with President Juncker

Luca Visentini, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation today met Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission. Key political issues discussed included Brexit, Turkey and the future of Europe. After the constructive meeting Luca Visentini said:
26.07.2016 Document

Turkey: ITUC and ETUC Deeply Concerned at Government Purge

The ITUC and ETUC have strongly condemned the failed coup in Turkey and offered our deepest condolences to the victims. Unconstitutional attempts – especially involving military force – to seize power and overthrow democracy are unacceptable. We call for the investigation and eventual prosecution of those responsible to be conducted in full respect of the rule of law.