An emergency motion condemning the arrests of trade union members in Turkey was agreed at the STUC Congress last month. You can read the full motion below:
Emergency Motion No. 1 – Harassment and Victimisation of Turkish Trade Unionists
“That this Congress deplores the failures of the Government of Turkey to abide by its obligations under the International Labour Organisation Convention 87 on Freedom of Association and the Right to Organise, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights.
Congress strongly condemns the police raid against union members of the Confederation of Public Employees’ Unions (KESK) on 13 February in Ankara where fifteen women leaders were dragged from their bed and taken into custody. KESK indicate that these illegal arrests should be considered as part of a political operation which undermines its struggle for women’s rights, labour rights, democracy, peace and freedom.
Congress supports the demand of Public Services International, the European Federation of Public Service Unions, the International Trade Union Confederation, the European Trade Union Confederation, Education International and the European Trade Union Committee for Education, that the Turkish Government cease its ongoing campaign of harassment of Turkish trade unionists.
Congress asks the General Council to continue to extend our support to Turkish trade unionists against police and state terror, and in their struggle for democracy, human rights and trade union freedoms.”
Mover: South Lanarkshire and East Kilbride TUC