Two Success Stories in Workers' Struggle

192 harbour workers in Mersin, southern Turkey, were dismissed from work after becoming members of the trade union TÜMTİŞ (Turkey Motor Vehicle Workers' Trade Union).

After protesting for 130 days, they were given their jobs back on 13 May.

Other workers, members of the Revolutionary Health Workers' Trade Union (Dev Sağlık-İş), were forcefully transferred from Çapa in Istanbul to the provinces of Şırnak (southeastern Turkey) and Ardahan (northeastern Turkey), where there are no blood centres, after taking part in trade union activities.

Following a court case, they have been given their jobs back.

Crisis used as an excuse

The 192 harbour workers had been employed by the Akan Sel company. The reason the company had given for their dismissal was the economic crisis.

The workers organised a protest in front of the workplace, which they kept up for 130 days. They were supported by democratic groups in Mersin.

Representatives of TÜMTİŞ met with representatives of the main harbour operator MIP and of the company MPO, said to have been used to sabotage trade union activities on 12 May. The meeting resulted in the workers being taken back as trade union members.

According to information given to bianet by the trade union, seventy trade union members of the second group of dismissed workers have been reinstated, while fifty of the 120 workers first dismissed have also been taken back.

The remaining 54 workers are said to be returning to work soon. The workers have announced that they will not dismantle their protest tent until all the workers are back at work.

Court case won

As for the health workers from Istanbul, they were employees of the Istanbul Çapa Red Crescent Blood Centre. When they started organising as members of the Dev Sağlı-İş trade union six months ago, they were sent to work in Şırnak and Ardahan.

The workers did not accept the transfers and continued their trade union activities. They were dismissed on 22 October 2008, after which they went to court.

The Sirkeci 9th Labour Court in Istanbul decreed that the workers be given their jobs back or be paid compensation. (BÇ/AG)