In Turkey aviation workers and their union (Hava-Is) are under attack.

1. Turkish Airlines Dispute Factsheet
July 6, 2012
In Turkey aviation workers and their union (Hava-Is) are under attack. The Turkish
government has banned strikes by aviation workers and sacked 305 workers via text
message, telephone call and email. Turkish Airlines has also announced that it will file a
lawsuit against Hava-Is. Apparently, its aim is to smash the union. However, the workers
and Hava-Is are fighting back. They need your support.
What is Hava-Is (Turkish Civil The airline operates scheduled What is the current conflict?
Aviation Union)? services to 146 international
and 41 domestic cities (38 Since the end of 2002, Turkey
Hava-Is was established in 1962 domestic airports), serving a has been governed by an
to meet the new challenges total of 187 airports in Europe, Islamist Justice and
facing aviation workers working Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Development party (AKP)
in a fledgling industry. For more The airline’s main base is at majority government. Political
than two decades, Hava-Is has Ataturk International Airport. and religious affiliations are
been a democratic and It has secondary hubs at therefore likely to play an
campaigning union which fights Esenboga International Airport important role in the selection
for aviation workers’ rights (Ankara), Sabiha Gokcen of the top managers of the
and stands up for equality. International Airport (Istanbul- airline.
It is an active affiliate of Asia), and Adnan Menderes
the International Transport Airport (Izmir). Particularly in the last few
Workers’ Federation (ITF) and years the AKP government has
its European arm, the European The airline has 18,188 been acting in an increasingly
Transport Workers’ Federation employees (as of June 30, authoritarian manner. In
(ETF). The union believes that 2011). Turkish Airlines has been February, draft legislation
introduced by the government
being active on a global scale is a member of the Star Alliance
included a clause that appeared
essential when confronting the network since April 1, 2008.
to deliberately target Hava-Is –
challenges of a globalised Lufthansa, TAM Airlines,
the only Turkish aviation union
economy. Hava-Is has 17,000 United, Air Canada, and
– as it gave aviation companies
members. For more details Brussels Airlines are just a
the right to force 40% of their
please see few other members of the
workforce to work during
www.havais.org.tr/eng/index.p Star Alliance.
a strike.
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Currently, the Republic of Previous to that, in December,
What is Turkish Airlines? Turkey’s Prime Ministry affiliates of the Global Union
Privatization Administration Federations, including the ITF,
Turkish Airlines (In Turkish Turk owns a 49.12% interest in raised their concerns about the
Hava Yolları Anonim Ortaklıgı) Turkish Airlines, while 50.88% direction legislation was taking
is the country’s national flag of shares are publicly traded. with Turkish Prime Minister
carrier airline. It is headquar- This is likely to mean that the Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
tered in the Turkish Airlines government is closely involved Subsequently, during the
General Management Building in the appointment of senior parliamentary
in the grounds of Ataturk levels of management at the procedures
Airport in Yesilkoy, Bakirkoy, airline. considering
Istanbul.
Turkish Civil Aviation Union

2. the draft legislation, the The aim of this amendment that the freedom of association
Primary Committee took out was to introduce a full fledged provisions of ILO Convention
the strike provision and sent it ban on the right to strike in the 87, which Turkey has ratified,
back to the Plenary. aviation industry. The existing implicitly include the right to
anti-trade union legislation in strike as an essential means by
On 10th May, Metin Kulunk, Turkey that was inherited from which trade unions can protect
a deputy of the governing the third military coup period the interests of workers.
political party, proposed an already prohibits strikes in a
amendment to Article 29 of number of industries. What is the union doing?
the existing Collective Labour What are its demands?
Agreement, Strike and Lock-Out At the end of May 2012 the
Law (Law No. 2822; date of amendment was rushed Hava-Is is currently fighting
enactment: 05.05.1983) as through the general assembly a government attempt to ban
follows: and swiftly approved by Turkish aviation workers from going
President Abdullah Gul, who on strike. The country already
Article 29: It shall not be used to be one of the most has in place stringent
lawful to call a strike or order prominent leaders of the AKP. legislation prohibiting most
a lock-out in the following forms of accepted industrial
activities: Gul has refused to meet action. On May 29, 2012
with the Hava-Is leadership to workers at Turkish Airlines
1. Life or property saving; and Turkish Technic went on a
discuss the attempt to outlaw
day’s sick leave – the only form
2. Funeral and mortuary; the right to take strike action in
of industrial action allowed
3. Production of coal for the aviation industry.
to them – in protest at the
water, electricity, gas
government strike ban plan.
and coal power plants; Even worse, in a national public
Turkish Airlines responded by
exploration, production, TV interview, Metin Kulunk, the
sacking 305 workers by text
refining and distribution of deputy responsible for the
message, email and phone.
natural gas and petroleum; amendment, confessed that
petrochemical works, the top management of Turkish The union is demanding that
production of which Airlines had asked him to all 305 illegally dismissed
starts from naphtha or initiate the change in the law. workers be reinstated and that
natural gas; the strike ban be withdrawn
4. Banking and public Do these acts contravene from legislation.
notaries; internationally recognised
5. Firefighting, land, sea, core labour standards? On May 30, 2012, Hava-Is
railway urban public trans- members started an
portation and other public Turkish Airlines’ senior open-ended protest at Ataturk
transportation on rail. management, in close International Airport. Atilay
collaboration with the AKP Aycin, Hava-Is president,
Metin Kulunk proposed the government, are showing a explained: “For us this is
following amendment: flagrant disregard for core a question of
international labour standards. all or nothing.
4. Banking, public notaries We will either
and aviation services The ILO (International Labour win or be
(emphasis added) Organization) has determined
Turkish Civil Aviation Union

3. smashed. There is no other general management building, the fate of collective bargaining
option as we have no intention it “has been under systematic negotiations.
of becoming a non-functioning attack, particularly for the last
union.” five years.” He added that in In the YHK, the employers and
2008, Hava-Is’ bargaining the government have a total of
On June 13, 2012 the power came under threat. He five representatives, giving
security commission of was referring to an attempt them a comfortable majority
Istanbul’s Ataturk engineered by an Islamist metal over the two members
International Airport workers’ union Celik-Is, Turkish representing workers.
banned any protests at the Airlines subsidiary Turkish
airport. This potentially means Technic’s management and the The decisions of the High Court
that union leaders and AKP government that aimed to of Arbitration are final and
members can be arrested reclassify aircraft engineers, have the same force and
at any time. technicians and mechanics as effect as a collective
metal workers. The ensuing bargaining agreement. In short,
ITF general secretary David legal battle left members representatives of employers
Cockroft met Turkey’s Labour without a collective bargaining and the government will shape
Minister, Faruk Celik, in Geneva agreement for over two and our collective bargaining
on June 12. The minister a half years. From such agreements. This is likely to
confirmed he was ready for examples it is clear to see mean significant losses of
a dialogue on modifying the that for the last five years THY, income and worsening of
legal ban. Cockroft and other Turkish Technic and TEC have working conditions for our
leaders of the Global Unions used every possible loophole members.
also expressed to him that the and anti-democratic provision
cancellation of the dismissals in the existing legal framework Who does Turkish Airlines
was a precondition for a to derail and manipulate sponsor?
successful dialogue. Although collective bargaining processes,
the minister promised to hold leaving Hava-Is members Turkish Airlines is currently an
an urgent meeting with the without a collective bargaining official sponsor of Barcelona
airline management on 18 agreement for between Football Club, Manchester
June, THY management refused one and two years. United FC, Maroussi Basketball
to reinstate the workers to Club, Valencia Basket Club and
resolve this dispute. What is going to happen next? the Turkish Airlines Euroleague
Basketball. The airline also has
Is this attack new to the The main opposition party, the Kobe Bryant as its brand
union? Republican People’s Party (CHP) promotion ambassador, while
is going to appeal against the Caroline Wozniacki, the
This is not the first time that law by taking it to the Turkish number one female player in
Hava-Is has come under a joint Constitutional Court. However, the 2010 and 2011 tennis
and coordinated attack from this process will take many seasons, has become the new
Turkish Airlines and the AKP months. face promoting Turkish Airlines
government. As the ITF civil Business Class
aviation section secretary In the coming weeks the High and Comfort
Gabriel Mocho told our workers Court of Arbitration (the YHK) – Class through
on May 23, 2012 at a mass rally an undemocratic compulsory 2013.
in front of Turkish Airlines’ arbitration body – will decide
Turkish Civil Aviation Union

4. Who are Turkish Airlines’ of Bosnia and Herzegovina Turkish Technic Zorlu O/M: In
subsidiaries and affiliates? (50.93%), and Energoinvest 2010, Turkish Technic and Zorlu
(0.07%). Recently Turkish O&M (Zorlu O&M Enerji
Turkish Technic: A wholly Airlines decided to pull out of Tesisleri Isletme ve Bakım
owned subsidiary of Turkish this joint venture. Hizmetleri AS) signed “an
Airlines, Turkish Technic was agreement for a joint venture
established on 23 May 2006. Turkish Ground Services: company”.
Established on March 12, 2009
Sun Express: Founded in 1989, as a joint venture of Turkish Turkish Cabin Interior Systems
SunExpress is a joint venture of Airlines and HAVAS Havaalanlari Industries Inc: In 2010 Turkish
Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa Yer Hizmetleri AS in which each Airlines, Turkish Technic, and
in which each controls a 50% controls a 50% stake, TGS TUSAS - TAI (Turk Havacilik ve
stake. (Turkish Ground Services) has Uzay Sanayi AS) entered into
been in operation since the an agreement to undertake the
Do&Co: Commencing beginning of 2010. joint manufacturing of aircraft
operations on January 1, 2007, cabin interior products.
Turkish Do&Co is a joint Turkish OPET Aviation Fuels:
venture of Turkish Airlines and Turkish OPET Aviation Fuels was For further information contact
Do&Co Restaurants & Catering established on September 18, Kemal Ulker at
AG in which each controls a 2009. It is a joint venture of kemalulker@havais.org.tr
50% stake. Turkish Airlines and OPET
Petrolculuk AS in which each
Turkish Engine Center: TEC was controls an equal stake.
established on October 10,
2008. It is a joint venture of Goodrich Turkish Airlines
Turkish Airlines and United Technical Service Center:
Technologies (Pratt & Whitney) Established in 2010, Goodrich
in which Turkish Airlines Turkish Airlines Technical
controls a 51% stake. Service Center is a joint venture
of Turkish Technic (40%) and
B&H Airlines: Since 2009, B&H TSA-Rina Holdings (60%), the
Airlines has been in operation latter a subsidiary of Goodrich
as a joint venture of Turkish Corporation.
Airlines (49%), the Federation
www.reinstate305.org
Turkish Civil Aviation Union