Fighting fascism in the Middle East – Ocalan, the Kurds and defending the women’s revolution.
Light refreshments provided
12.45pm
Room Exchange 10
Manchester Central
Monday 10 September
150th TUC Congress fringe Continue reading “Fighting fascism in the Middle East – Ocalan, the Kurds and defending the women’s revolution.”
UNISON sends letter of solidarity to KESK and DISK unions
Dave Prentis, general secretary of the public service union UNISON, has written a letter of condolence to the organising unions of last Saturday’s peace rally, in which over 100 people died following two bomb blasts. Addressed to Ismail Hakki Tombul, general secretary of the Confederation of Public Workers’ Unions (KESK) , and Kani Beko, Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions (DISK), the letter reads:
Monday, 12 October, 2015
Dear Comrades,
On behalf of UNISON I send our deepest condolences on the tragic loss of so many of your members’ lives at the Labour, Peace and Democracy Rally in Ankara on Saturday. We send our heartfelt sympathy to the families and friends of the victims, and our hopes for a full recovery for all those injured in the attack.
UNISON condemns this brutal attack on trade unionists who were campaigning in support of peace, democracy and workers’ rights, and against the increasing violence and repression that the people of Turkey are suffering. We support the call for a full, transparent and independent investigation into the circumstances of the attack and its aftermath. Continue reading “UNISON sends letter of solidarity to KESK and DISK unions”
GMB stands with Kurdish and Turkish colleagues
12 October 2015
GMB CALL ON TURKISH GOVERNMENT TO CEASE HOSTILITIES AGAINST KURDS TO SECURE NEGOTIATED END TO DECADES LONG CONFLICT
Turkish authorities must bring perpetrators of atrocity to justice and ensure that citizens can exercise their inalienable right to engage in peaceful protest says GMB
GMB commented on appalling bomb attack in the Turkish capital, Ankara, on Saturday, October 10th where the death toll has reached 128 with hundreds more maimed or wounded.
Bert Schouwenburg, GMB International Officer, said “GMB is outraged by the appalling bomb attack on fellow trade unionists and other marchers for peace in the Turkish capital, Ankara, on Saturday, October 10th. The death toll has reached 128 with hundreds more maimed or wounded and GMB wishes to express its deepest sympathy to the relatives of the deceased. Continue reading “GMB stands with Kurdish and Turkish colleagues”
PiK Trade Union Officer makes call to UK unions after Ankara bombing
Peace in Kurdistan
Campaign for a political solution of the Kurdish Question
Email: [email protected]
www.peaceinkurdistancampaign.com
Contacts Estella Schmid 020 7586 5892 & Melanie Sirinathsingh – Tel: 020 7272 7890
Stephen Smellie – Trade Union Liaison Officer Peace in Kurdistan
(Deputy Convenor UNISON Scotland)
Colleagues
The trade union confederations in Turkey, KESK and DISK, along with the Engineers and Architects Association and the Medical Association organised the demonstration and rally in Ankara on Saturday which was attacked by 2 bomb blasts which have resulted in the death of over 100 people with many hundreds more being injured. The demonstration was called under the slogan of ‘Labour for Peace.’ Continue reading “PiK Trade Union Officer makes call to UK unions after Ankara bombing”
Civaka Azad statement: Bomb blasts hit peace rally in Ankara: some 97 dead
Source: Civaka Azad, 10 October 2015
A peace rally outside the main train station in Ankara was hit by large bomb explosions this morning killing some 97 people. Eyewitnesses talk about hundreds of injured. Medical staff and civilians who rushed to help were allegedly attacked by the police with gas grenades.
The peace rally had been called by the trade unions DISK (Confederation of Revolutionary Workers), KESK (Confederation Workers of Public Trade Unions) as well as by association such as TMMOB (Engineers and Architects Chamber of Turkey) and TTB (Doctors Chambers of Turkey). The call was also supported by the HDP (People’s Democratic Party) and several left and democratic parties and civil society organisations. The gathering was to deliver a message of peace, democracy and solidarity in Turkey. According to the HDP MP Sirri Surreyya Onder there were three bomb explosions at the rally mainly targeting the HDP block and the Kurds at the rally. Continue reading “Civaka Azad statement: Bomb blasts hit peace rally in Ankara: some 97 dead”
UNISON delegation visits Diyarbakir amidst ongoing violence and intimidation
PRESS RELEASE BY THE UNISON SCOTLAND DELEGATION WHO VISITED THE KURDISH REGION IN TURKEY
29 September 2015
A delegation of four trade unionists from Scotland: Stephen Smellie, deputy convenor of Unison Scotland; Viv Thomson, Chaiperson of UNISON’s national women’s commitee; Sarah Collins, UNISON East Ayrshire branch; and Paul Smellie, young member of Unite the Union, along with”Glasgow girl” Roza Salih*) visited Diyarbakir in southern Turkey last week following news reports of military curfews in the predominantly Kurdish region. Continue reading “UNISON delegation visits Diyarbakir amidst ongoing violence and intimidation”
The GMB extends solidarity to the HDP
The GMB Congress has released a statement in support of the HDP this week after their fantastic election result. The Kurdish-Turkish peace process was one item of discussion at this weekend’s GMB Congress in Dublin, where a fringe meeting was also held to discuss the need to release Abdullah Ocalan’s release from prison.
GMB CONGRESS WELCOME GAINS FOR KURDS IN TURKISH ELECTION AS A VICTORY FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS IN TURKEY
GMB Congress extends its solidarity to the HDP and sent a message of support to the party on their success and the challenges that lie ahead
The 98th GMB Congress in Dublin welcomed the success of the HDP in the 7 June Turkish general election where it achieved 13% of the vote on a stance of pluralist democracy and a peaceful resolution to the Kurdish Question within Turkey and for an end to the support for ISIS in the Syrian conflict. Continue reading “The GMB extends solidarity to the HDP”