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The head office of E?itim Sen, EI’s Turkish affiliate, was raided by police in Ankara early morning on 25 June, as well as the Confederation of Public Employees (KESK)’s offices. Nearly 70 unionists had their houses searched by the police and were taken into custody, including three E?itim Sen Executive Board members: Mehmet Bozgeyik, General Secretary, Sakine Esen Yilmaz, Women’s Secretary and Abdullah Karahan, Secretary for Financial Affairs.

Targeted operation

Some of the E?itim Sen Executive Board members’ belongings were confiscated by the police. The police also searched for other trade union documents.

Among the other prominent trade union leaders arrested are:

KESK President Lami Ozgen; the General Secretary of the Health and Social Services Union (SES), Mehmet Siddik Akin; the General Secretary of the All Municipality and Local Administrations workers’ union (Tüm Bel Sen), ?zzet Alpergin; and the President of the Agriculture, Forest, Livestock Service Workers’ Union (Tar?m Orkam Sen), Metin Vuranok.

Arrests in 20 Turkish cities

Many members and branch executives of E?itim Sen, SES, the Bureau Workers’ Union (BES), the Energy, Industry, and Mine Public Workers’ Union (ESM), and the Media, Communication and Postal Employees’ Union (Haber Sen) were also taken into detention. The police operation covered 20 Turkish cities.

EI and its affiliates quickly showed solidarity with their Turkish colleagues.

The German Gewerkschaft Erziehung und Wissenschaft(GEW) condemned the repeated attacks against trade unionists in Turkey.

“We demand the release of detained trade unionists, the respect for human and trade union rights, as well as repealing all unjust court decisions taken against trade unionists,” stated GEW President Ulrich Thöne.

“We strongly condemn the ongoing wave of harassment and violence against trade union leaders,” said EI General Secretary Fred van Leeuwen. “The country doesn’t respect core labour standards and social dialogue principles, as set out by the International Labour Organisation’s conventions, signed by the Turkish Government.”

EI urges Turkish authorities to respect fundamental human and trade union rights of Turkish workers, and to immediately release the arrested trade unionists. It will continue to closely monitor the trade unionists’ situation.