ITF condemns use of strike-breakers by THY

July 12, 2013

The ITF has expressed its ongoing concern regarding the use of strike-breakers by the Turkish Airlines (THY) and inaction of the Turkish Ministry of Labour and Social Security.

On Monday 8 July, a labour court in Istanbul ordered THY to stop using employees it hired as replacements for workers that have been on strike since May 15. After learning that the company had brought in new workers to bolster its staff, the court ruled that THY’s replacement hires were illegal.

Hava-Is called on THY to obey the court and stop employing workers called in from other airlines, namely Sun Express Airlines and Jet Airways.

Yesterday, in a letter to Turkey’s Labour Minister, Faruk Celik, ITF general secretary Stephen Cotton asked the Minister to intervene the situation immediately.

Highlighting the ITF’s concerns, “over a series of anti-union practices that appear to breach Turkey’s own domestic legislation as well as international labour rules,” Stephen told Celik “This behaviour by the company is not only contrary to Turkish law – as has now been demonstrated; such practices may also contravene the core standards on freedom of association and collective bargaining laid down by the UN’s International Labour Organisation (ILO). THY management appears not only to be acting in violation of recognised international norms, but also seems to be challenging its own national government, since the Turkish government ratified the above-named Conventions. Clearly any breach of such legislation must be seriously addressed.”

He also emphasised that “these sorts of practices are not conducive to developing good working relations, which are essential for all aviation companies during the current difficult economic times. Employees need to feel confident that they are working as part of a team and that their skills and experience are valued by their employers,” and urged Celik to intervene in this case as a matter of urgency, calling on the company to return to good-faith negotiations, with the objective of reaching a fair and full settlement of the dispute. View the letter here >>

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