International union groups have rallied round to help Turkish airline workers fight a ban against strike action in the country.
Staff at Turkish Airlines and Turkish Technic protested against the government ban by going on a day’s sick leave this week – the only form of industrial action now allowed.
According to the country’s aviation workers union, Hava-Is, 300 Turkish employees have now been fired at Turkish Airlines, and 45 at Turkish Technic, which is 100% owned by the airline.
"They were sacked via text message and email, and their pass cards were deactivated," it said.
The union said this was a "deliberate tactic" because if they do not enter their workplaces for three days they can be said to be "absent without leave" and sacked without compensation.
Turkish Airlines has also announced that it will file a lawsuit against the union.
The ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) general secretary David Cockroft, alongside the ITUC (International Trade Union Confederation), has written to the president of Turkey.
He expressed alarm over "the attempt to outlaw the right to take strike action in the aviation industry" and said the move would further damage Turkey’s "already fragile reputation in the international community brought about by its consistent failure to respect labour rights".
He said ITF and ITUC affiliates globally, and particularly in Europe, will be mobilising to support Hava-Is and its members in their struggle.
"We strongly urge you to consider the very negative message that the government of Turkey would be sending to the international community if it implements this ban, and to show leadership and foresight by sending the strike ban amendment back to Parliament to avert further escalation of this dispute," he added.
