As the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Turkey increased to 2,433 with the death toll rising to 59 on late March 25, the AKP government suspended the workers' union rights on the pretext of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Following the anti-worker steps of the government, the Labor Center of the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) released a statement:
AKP and bosses now usurp union rights under cover of virus
Declaring 100-billion-TRY financial aid package for bosses due to the virus outbreak and leaving millions of people unprotected in face of it, the government now decided to silence down the workers as it suspended the union rights.
The recent notice issued by Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Security virtually hanged back workers’ freedom of association, right to collective bargaining and right to strike.
The circular which is claimed to be for remedying possible foreclosure of current collective agreement procedures due to setbacks caused by the pandemic actually stands for nothing more than the suspension of fundamental union rights.
It was foreknown that several negotiations were cancelled by bosses or trade unions because of the disease. Since the suspension of bilateral talks could end up with expiration of bargaining rights, trade confederations and unions applied to the Ministry for a resolution.
The document resolved by the Ministry is actually what the bosses have been requesting. Unionizing is suspended until second notice. The conduct of collective bargaining procedures is totally put off instead of being left to discretion of the unions. Thus the right to strike in workplaces where decision for strike has not been yet taken is also ruled out.
We have to ask: If the workers have to go back to work every day, then why can they not unionize?
The sum and substance of it, being argued on whether it will proclaim state of emergency or not, the government has already declared martial law on workers!
We have to remark:
In all industries which are not fundamental, workers must be let take leave with pay. In fundamental industries, all needed measures must be taken regarding health and security of the workers. Implementations like layoffs, unpaid takeoffs, salary suspensions and wage deductions must be penalized.
