The European Trade Union Confederation expresses it support for trade unions in Turkey trying to improve the conditions of construction workers at the new Istanbul Airport.
“This dispute cannot be resolved by the police but has to be resolved by negotiations between trade unions, the employers and the Government.”
“There have already been 37 deaths including serious accidents causing death and injuries” said Luca Visentini, ETUC General Secretary. “One problem is that more than 8 out of 10 workers on the site are sub-contracted and employed by over 250 companies.
“An independent and official review of the incidents and health and safety is urgently needed.
“All workers who have been arrested should be released immediately, including Özgür Karabulut, the President of Turkish trade union DİSK/Dev yapı-iş.
“Then the complaints and concerns of the workers have to be properly addressed. In the longer run subcontracted workers in Turkey, including at the new Airport site, need to be guaranteed decent work, decent wages, and proper labour and human rights.”
