In a statement he made marking the end of a busy week debating Turkey's relations with Europe and a final warning from the Commission, Cam recalled that previous reports had detailed sections on union rights but still no progress had been made on the issue.
"Even reports aren't mentioning union rights anymore" Cam said, noting that the most recent Progress Report had concentrated primarily on issues such as Penal Code article 301 and Cyprus and covered union rights in just one sentence. This, he added, showed that absolutely no development had been recorded in union rights.
Pointing out that the EU Progress Report, despite the negative content it contained, had been regarded by the media and in political circles as "a railway accident that did not take place" Cam said "The railway accident did not take place and possibly the crisis has been postponed. But we need to realize that some of the railway cars are empty... the railway cars carrying the rights of the workers are empty".
Cam said that Turkey needed to lift all obstacles in front of opinion, expression and organizing not just to be a member of the European Union but for the interests of its own citizens and to become an equal, free and social country.
"Union rights are still being arranged by laws that were prepared in the September 12 era" he said, referring to the 1980 military takeover.
He added that unless the restrictive laws on union rights and working life were changed and articles 51, 53 and 54 of the Constitution were amended "one cannot mention union freedoms in our country".
Cam also said that Turkey urgently needed to implement changes in the field of union and worker rights was it affected millions of citizens and that it should improve on working conditions and provide for a human lifestyle for those working.
He said, the European Social Charter, which was approached by the Parliament with reservation, needs to be urgently accepted. (KO/EO/II/EU)
