CALL TO PRESS AND PUBLİC

Yesterday on June 7, 2012, Turkish Airlines management announced again that it would not reinstate the Turkish Airlines employees who were fired via SMS and email. The employees were fired after they struck against the institution of a legal ban on their right to strike in the aviation sector.

THY management’s firing of these employees is illegal.

The actions of Hava-İş’ members to protect their right to strike and collectively bargain, brought a heavy blow to the aviation business were legitimate and legal Pursuant to Article 90 of Turkey’s Constitution and core ILO Conventions.

At 12:30 at Saturday, June 9 the Trade Union Unity Platform (Sendikal Güç Birliği Platformu, SGBP) will support the Civil Aviation Workers’ Union (Hava-İş) on-going struggle to overturn the strike ban and reinstate the workers who were part of the massive unfair firings. The actions will be carried out at Istanbul’s Atatürk Airport and at THY sales offices in Ankara, Izmir, Antalya, Adana, Mersin, Bursa and Gaziantep.

Today the working class’ freedom to exercise their trade union rights without fear of retribution is under severe threat. The system of collective bargaining and the right strike is the most important mechanism of the working class. We will not have this tool taken away.

We invite all workers and employees, unions and confederations, labor organizations, democratic civil society organizations, the media and all who support Hava-İş and its members to participate.

Date: 9 June, 2012

Place: Istanbul Atatürk Airport International Terminal Entrance

Other THY Ticket Sales Offices

Time: 12:30

PRESS WORKER’ UNION (BASIN-İŞ), MUNICIPALITY WORKERS’ UNION (BELEDİYE-İŞ), LEATHER WORKERS’ UNION (DERİ-İŞ), CIVIL AVIATION WORKERS’ UNION (HAVA-İŞ), GLASS, CEMENT, CERAMIC AND SOIL INDUSTRIES WORKERS’ UNION (KRİSTAL-İŞ), (OIL, CHEMICAL, AND RUBBER WORKERS’ UNION (PETROL-İŞ), FOOD WORKERS’ UNION (TEK GIDA-İŞ), COMMERCE,COOPERATIVES, OFFICE, EDUCATION AND FINE ARTS WORKERS’ UNION (TEZ KOOP-İŞ), MOTOR VEHICLE AND TRANSPORT WORKERS’ UNION (TÜMTİS), JOURNALISTS’ UNION (TGS)

in the name of the Trade Union Unity Platform (Sendikal Güç Birliği Platformu, SGBP)

Spokesperson Kenan ÖZTÜRK