Country of origin information report Turkey March 2009

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Major Trade Union confederations
32.13 As recorded in Europa Regional Survey of the World: The Middle East and North Africa 2005, the major trade union confederations were TÜRK-IŞ

(Confederation of Turkish Labour Unions http://www.turkis.org.tr/?wapp=homepage) and DISK (Confederation of Progressive Labour Unions http://www.disk.org.tr/default.asp?Page=Content&ContentId=269). [1a] (p1204)

32.14 In addition to TURK and DISK there is also The Confederation of Turkish Real Trade Unions (HAK-İŞ) which was set up on 22 October 1976 in Ankara. Today, the HAK-İŞ has 9-affiliate trade unions. The aim is to respect human rights, universal principles and values, the Constitution and the natural law. It believes in the unity of the country and “It accepts it as its principle to defend and improve effectively the rights and interests of working people with an understanding of pluralist and truly democracy. It considers the humans and labour as high values. In order to reach this aim, it accepts the innovative, principled, responsible and resolute struggle as its own main duty and responsibilty.” [49]
32.15 There is also the existence of the Public Sector Workers Union Confederation (KESK). The Confederation of Public Employees Trade Unions represents the struggle for unionisation of public employees in Turkey since its establishment in 1995… the number of KESK affiliated unions is 11 and our confederation has 231.987 members in total. The percentage of women membership is 41, 02 %... [47]
32.16 The EC 2008 progress report recorded that:
“On labour rights and trade unions, the pending legislation amending the Trade Unions and Collective Bargaining, Strike and Lockout Laws has not moved forward substantially. Turkey needs to ensure that trade union rights are fully respected in line with EU standards and the relevant International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions, in particular the rights to organise, to strike and to bargain collectively. This is a priority of the Accession Partnership. There are reports about restrictions on the exercise of existing trade union rights and

dismissals due to trade union membership. Social dialogue mechanisms, including at tripartite level, are weak.” [71d] (p23)

32.17 The US State Department (USSD) report 2007, published on 11 March 2008, noted that:
“The law provides most but not all workers with the right to associate and form unions subject to diverse restrictions; most workers exercised this right in practice. The government maintained a few restrictions on the right of association. Unions may be established by a minimum of seven persons without prior permission. There are no restrictions on membership or participation of individuals or unions in regional, national, or international labor organizations, but such participation must be reported to the government.” [5g] (Section 6)
32.18 The USSD 2007 report also noted that “Labor law prohibits union leaders from becoming officers of or otherwise performing duties for political parties, from working for or being involved in the operation of any profit-making enterprise, and from displaying any political party logos or symbols on any union or confederation publications. Unions are required to notify government officials prior to holding meetings or rallies (which must be held in officially designated areas) and to allow government representatives to attend their conventions and record the proceedings; these requirements were usually enforced.” [5g] (Section 6)
32.19 The USSD 2007 report further noted that: “The law provides for the right to strike; however, the law requires a union to take a series of steps, including negotiations and nonbinding mediation, before calling a strike. The law prohibits unions from engaging in secondary (solidarity), political, or general (involving multiple unions over a large geographical area) strikes or in work slowdowns. In sectors in which strikes are prohibited, labor disputes were resolved through binding arbitration.” [5g] (Section 6)
32.20 The USSD 2007 report further noted that “The law prohibits strikes by civil servants, public workers engaged in the safeguarding of life and property, workers in the coal mining and petroleum industries, sanitation services, national defense, banking, and education; however, many workers in these sectors conducted strikes in violation of these restrictions with general impunity. The majority of strikes during the year were illegal according to law; while some illegal strikers were dismissed, in most cases employers did not retaliate.” [5g] (Section 6)
32.21 The USSD 2007 report also stated that “The law and diverse government restrictions and interference limited the ability of unions to conduct their activities, including collective bargaining. Industrial workers and some public sector employees, excluding white-collar civil servants and state security personnel, have the right to bargain collectively, and approximately 1.3 million workers, or 5.4 percent of the workforce, were under collective bargaining agreements. The law requires that, in order to become a bargaining agent, a union must represent 50 percent plus one of the employees at a given work site and 10 percent of all the workers in that particular industry. This requirement favored established unions.” [5g] (Section 6)
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Main employers’ associations
32.22 As recorded in Europa the main employers’ associations are TÜSIAD (Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association) TISK (Turkish confederation of employers’ Associations). [1a] (p1202)
32.23 The Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD) undated website noted that:
“This is the highest advisory board. All members of the Association are members. The General Assembly shall elect six members from among the members of the High Advisory Council to form the Presidency Board for two years. This Board consists of a chairman, three deputy chairmen and two secretaries. The Council meets at least twice a year as determined by the Chairman of the Council, to debate and decide on issues.

Principal duties of the council are:

a) to review the course and problems of Turkish industry and business and to consider long-term policy measures in relation thereto;

b) to evaluate strategies for the realization of the purpose of the Association and offer advice on such matters.” [26]

32.24 The Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD) US branch website stated that:
“Founded in 1971 and is an independent, non-governmental organization dedicated to promoting public welfare through private enterprise. TUSIAD supports independent research and policy discussions on important social and economic issues in Turkey and abroad. Much like the US Business Roundtable, TUSIAD is comprised of the CEOs and Executives of the major industrial and service companies in Turkey, including those that are among global Fortune 500 companies.” [25]
32.25 The same website also stated that:
“TUSIAD has expanded its scope to include US-Turkish relations and launched its office in Washington, DC, in November 1998. Within the general framework of the mission of its parent organization, TUSIAD-US strives to:
Be a conduit for exchange of information between Turkey and the United States…

Establish its own line of communication with the US administration and agencies, congressional committees, think tanks, business organizations, media, and international organizations;

Develop suggestions and formulate policy recommendations on ways to strengthen Turkish-US political, economic, and business ties…” [25]
32.26 MUSIAD is a “BUSINESSMEN’S ASSOCIATION” founded on May 5, 1990, in Istanbul, Turkey…MUSIAD is an active and strong “NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION” that has grown to 26 branches and 2000 members since 1990; that, remaining committed to its mission, has shown concern and courage in acting in accordance with its original purposes. [67]
32.27 MUSIAD has also opened a branch in London in Whitchapel and will soon be launching its English webpage. [67]
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Annex A: Chronology of major events
(As reported in the BBC’s ‘Timeline 29 October 2008 – Turkey, A chronology of key events’ unless otherwise sourced) [66a]
2001 January: Diplomatic row with France after French National Assembly recognises the killings of Armenians under the Ottoman Empire as genocide.

May: European Court of Human Rights finds Turkey guilty of violating the rights of Greek Cypriots during its occupation of northern Cyprus.

June: Constitutional Court bans opposition pro-Islamic Virtue Party, saying it had become focus of anti-secular activities. New pro-Islamist party Saadet is set up by former Virtue Party members in July.

2002 January: Turkish men are no longer regarded in law as head of the family. The move gives women full legal equality with men, 66 years after women’s rights were put on the statute books.

February: Law No. 4744 adjusting some Turkish laws to the October 2001 constitutional amendments, was adopted by the Turkish Parliament. [71a] (p25)

March: Law No. 4748: further reform package. [71a] (p25)

July: Pressure for early elections as eight ministers including Foreign Minister Cem resign over ailing PM Ecevit's refusal to step down amid growing economic, political turmoil. Cem launches new party committed to social democracy, EU membership.

August: Parliament approves reforms aimed at securing EU membership. Death sentence to be abolished except in times of war, bans on Kurdish education, broadcasting to be lifted.

November: General election the AKP won two-thirds of the seats. President Sezer subsequently appointed AKP Deputy Leader Abdullah Gül as Prime Minister. [1a] (p1171)

December: Constitutional changes allow head of ruling AK, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to run for parliament, and so to become prime minister. He had been barred from public office because of previous criminal conviction.
2003 January: The Turkish Government passes the fifth reform package allowing Turkish citizens who are found to have been denied a fair trial by the ECtHR to be retried in Turkey. [1a] (p1171)

March: AK leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan wins seat in parliament. Within days Abdullah Gul resigns as prime minister and Erdogan takes over.

May: More than 160 people, many of them schoolchildren trapped in a dormitory, die in an earthquake in the Bingol area.

June: Eyeing future EU membership, parliament passes laws easing restrictions on freedom of speech, Kurdish language rights, and on reducing political role of military.

July: The Turkish Parliament passes the sixth reform package aimed at improving human rights. [36c] (p1-3)

September: The PKK/KADEK announced an end to their four year cease-fire with the Turkish Government. [1a] (p1171)


2004 January: Turkey signs protocol banning death penalty in all circumstances, a move welcomed in EU circles.

March: Local elections were held and were won overwhelmingly by the ruling AKP. [36g]

May: Passage of constitutional reform package. [1b] (Turkey: The Constitution)

First official broadcasts in Kurdish language take place. [4h] (p106)

September: Parliament approves penal reforms introducing tougher measures to prevent torture and violence against women. Controversial proposal on criminalising adultery dropped.

October: European Commission report gives the go ahead for talks to begin on Turkey’s accession to the European Union. [66ak]

December: EU leaders agree to open talks in 2005 on Turkey's EU accession. The decision, made at a summit in Brussels, follows a deal over an EU demand that Turkey recognise Cyprus as an EU member.
2005 January: New lira currency introduced as six zeroes are stripped from old lira, ending an era in which banknotes were denominated in millions.

April: The introduction of the new Turkish Penal Code (due to come into force on that date) is postponed. [66ba]

May: Parliament approves amendments to new penal code after complaints that the previous version restricted media freedom. The EU welcomes the move but says the code still fails to meet all its concerns on human rights.

1 June: A revised version of the new Turkish Penal Code comes into force. [23g]

October: Turkey officially begins membership talks with the European Union. [66bi]

November: DEHAP dissolves. [23h] Democratic Society Movement (DHT) becomes the Democratic Society Party (DTP). [93b]
2006 March: 14 suspected Kurdish rebels killed by security forces.

April: At least a dozen people are killed in clashes between Kurdish protesters and security forces in the south-east. Several people are killed in related unrest in Istanbul.

May: Islamist gunman opens fire in Turkey’s highest court, killing a prominent judge and wounding four others.

July: Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline opened at ceremony in Turkey.

August-September: Bombers target resorts and Istanbul. Shadowy separatist group Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (TAC) claims responsibility for some attacks and warns it will turn ’Turkey into hell’.

30 September: Kurdish separatist group, the PKK, declares a unilateral ceasefire in operations against the military.

2007 January: Journalist and Armenian community leader Hrant Dink is assassinated. The murder provokes outrage in Turkey and Armenia. Prime Minister Erdogan says a bullet has been fired at democracy and freedom of expression.

April: Tens of thousands of supporters of secularism rally in Ankara, aiming to pressure Prime Minister Erdogan not to run in presidential elections because of his Islamist background.

Ruling AK party puts forward Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul as its candidate after Mr Erdogan decides not to stand. He narrowly fails to win in the first round.

May: Parliament brings forward national elections to 22 July to try end the standoff between secularists and Islamists over the choice of the next president.

Parliament gives initial approval to a constitutional change allowing the president to be elected by a popular vote, but the amendment is vetoed by President Sezer.

May: Tension mounts on Turkey-Iraq border amid speculation that Turkey may launch an incursion to tackle Kurdish rebels.

Bomb blast in Ankara kills six and injures 100. PKK denies responsibility.

July: AK Party wins parliamentary elections.

August: Abullah Gul is elected president.

October: Diplomatic row with United States after a US congressional committee recognises the killings of Armenia under the Ottoman Empire as genocide.

October: Parliament gives go ahead for military operations in Iraq in persuit of Kuirdish rebels.

October: Voters in a referendum back plans to have future presidents elected by the people instead of by parliament.

December: Turkey launches a series of air strikes on fighters from the Kurdish PKK movement inside Iraq.
2008 February: Thousands protest plans to allow women to wear the Islamic headscarf to university.

Parliament approves constitutional amendments which will pave the way for women to be allowed to wear the Islamic headscarf in universities.

July: A move in Turkey’s Constitutional Court to get the governing AK Party banned fails by a narrow margin. The case was brought by the country’s chief prosecutor who accused the party of undermining Turkey’s secular constitution by becoming a focus of pro-Islamist activity.

In a separate development, an indictment is filed against 86 people suspected of plotting to overthrow the government. Those named in the indictment are alleged to have links with a shadowy ultra-nationalist group known as Ergenekon.

October: Trial starts of 86 suspected members of a shadowy ultra-naltionalist group accused of plotting a series of attacks and provoking a military coup against the government.

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Annex B: Political Groups
Main parties
Information on political parties in Turkey as of 3 August 2004 can be found on:

http://www.byegm.gov.tr/REFERENCES/Structure.htm and

http://www.politicalresources.net/
Democratic Left Party: (DSP Demokratik Sol Parti)

Founded on : November 14, 1985

Chairman : Zeki Sezer

Address : Mareşal Fevzi Çakmak Cad. No: 17 ANKARA

Phone : [phone] (5 lines)

Web site: http://www.dsp.org.tr/MEP/

Nationalist Movement Party: (MHP Milliyetçi Hareket Partisi)

Founded on : February 9, 1969

Chairman : Devlet Bahçeli

Address :Karanfil Sok. No: 69 Bakanlıklar/ANKARA

Phone : [phone] (5 lines)

Web site: http://www.mhp.org.tr/

Motherland Party: (ANAP Anavatan Partisi)

Founded on : May 20, 1983

Chairman : Erkan Mumcu

Address : 13. Cad. No: 3 Balgat/ANKARA

Phone : [phone] (20 lines)

Web site: http://www.anavatan.org.tr/

Democrat Party: (DP Demokrat Parti)

Founded on : July 23, 1983

Chairman : Mehmet Ağar

Address : Selanik Cad. No: 40 Kızılay/ANKARA

Phone : [phone] (2 lines)-417 22 40 (3 lines)

Web site:http://www.dyp.org.tr/

Felicity Party: (SP Saadet Partisi)

Founded on : July 27, 2001

Acting Chairman : Recai Kutan

Address : Ziyabey Cad. 2. Sok. No: 15 Balgat/ANKARA

Phone : [phone])

Web site: http://www.sp.org.tr/

Justice and Development Party: ( AKP Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi)

Founded on : August 14, 2001

Chairman : Recep Tayyip Erdoğan

Address : Ceyhun Atuf Kansu Cad. No: 202 Balgat / ANKARA

Phone : [phone]

Web site: http://eng.akparti.org.tr/english/index.html

Republican People’s Party: (CHP Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi)

Founded on : September 9, 1923

Chairman : Deniz Baykal

Address : Çevre Sok. No: 38 Çankaya/ANKARA

Phone : [phone] (20 lines)

Website: http://www.chp.org.tr/index.php?module=news&sid=74003ad117721af2c2f87c132cb29d21

Grand Union Party: (BBP Büyük Birlik Partisi)

Founded on : January 29, 1993

Chairman : Muhsin Yazıcıoğlu

Address : Tuna Cad. No: 28 Yenişehir/ANKARA

Phone : [phone]

Web site: http://www.bbp.org.tr/

Freedom and Solidarity Party: (ÖDP Özgürlük ve Dayanışma Partisi)

Founded on : January 21, 1996

Chairman : Hayri Kozanoğlu

Address : Necatibey Cad. No: 23/10 Sıhhiye/ANKARA

Phone : [phone] 72 32

Web site: http://www.odp.org.tr/

Democratic Turkey Party: (DTP Demokrat Türkiye Partisi)

Founded on : January 7, 1997

Chairman : Yaşar Okuyan

Address : Mesnevi Sok. 27 ANKARA

Phone : [phone] 49 442 16 19
Liberal Democratic Party: (LDP Liberal Demokrat Parti)

Founded on : July 26, 1994

Chairman : Emin Şirin

Address : G.M.K. Bulvarı No: 47/14 Maltepe/ANKARA

Phone : [phone] (2 lines)

Web site: http://www.ldp.org.tr/

My Turkey Party: (Türkiyem Partisi)

Founded on : May 11, 1998

Chairman : Durmuş Ali Eke
Free Society Party: (Özgür Toplum Partisi)

Founded on : June 6, 2003

Chairman : Ahmet Turan Demir
Our Party: (Bizim Partimiz)

Founded on : August 2, 2004

Chairman : Ahmet Yılmaz
Nation Party: (MP Millet Partisi)

Founded on : November 22, 1992

Chairman : Aykut Edibali

Address : Atatürk Bulvarı No: 73/37-38 Kızılay/ANKARA

Phone : [phone]

Web site:http://www.milletpartisi.org/

Worker’s Party: (İP İşçi Partisi)

Founded on : March 2, 1992

Chairman : Doğu Perinçek

Address : Mithatpaşa Cad. No: 10/8 Sıhhiye/ANKARA

Phone : [phone]

Web site: http://www.ip.org.tr/

Labour Party: (EMEP Emeğin Partisi)

Founded on : November 26, 1996

Chairman : Abdullah Levent Tüzel

Address : Necatibey Cad. Sezenler Sk. Lozan Apt. ANKARA

Phone : [phone]

Web site: http://www.emep.org/index.php

Changing Turkey Party: (DEPAR Değişen Türkiye Partisi)

Founded on : February 24, 1998

Chairman : Gökhan Çapoğlu

Address : 6. Cad. 78 Sok. 15/2 Öveçler/ANKARA

Democracy and Peace Party: (DBP Demokrasi ve Barış Partisi)

Founded on : March 11, 1996

Chairman : Yılmaz Çamlıbel

Address : Menekşe Sok. 10A/7 Kızılay/ANKARA

Liberation Tranquility Party: (Kurtuluş Huzur Partisi)

Founded on : February 1, 1999

Chairman : Hacer Söğütdelen
Communist Party: (Komünist Parti)

Founded on : July 20, 2000

Chairman : Yalçın Cerit
National Unity Party: (UBP Ulusal Birlik Partisi)

Founded on : October 23, 1998

Chairman :Fehmi Kural

Address :Necatibey Cad. Lale Sok. 3/14 Sıhhiye/ANKARA

Phone : [phone]
Enlightened Turkey Party: (ATP Aydınlık Türkiye Partisi)

Founded on : November 27, 1998

Chairman : Ahmet Bican Ercilasun

Address : Çetin Emeç Bulvarı Öveçler 4. Cad. 52. Sk. Dikmen - ANKARA

Phone : [phone]

Web site: http://www.atp.org.tr/

The Main Road Party: (AYP Anayol Partisi)

Founded on : May 5, 1994

Chairman : Gürcan Başer

Address : İzmir Cad. Sümer Sok. Sümer Han Kat: 4 4/2021 Kızılay/ANKARA

Phone : [phone]