Fight the hazardous health and safety conditions in the Turkish shipyards!
Put a stop to fatal accidents involving workers in Turkish shipbuilding!
Stop the violation of trade union rights in Turkey !
Mobilise globally against precarious work!
Members of the “Shipbuilding Industry Committee” of the European Metalworkers’ Federation (EMF) are today holding a joint meeting with representatives of the Turkish shipbuilding workers’ union, Limter-Is and the metalworkers’ trade union, Birlesik Metal-Is.
Participants of the two day conference have already come to the conclusion that urgent and meaningful action is required to undo the abysmal health and safety record that has been further worsened in recent times by a horrifying number of fatal accidents in the Turkish shipyards situated in the region of Tuzla. The scores of temporary shipyard workers hired by the countless subcontractor agencies operating in the area are particularly vulnerable to accidents and occupational illnesses.
“The workers are working under the worst form of precarious employment; they are exposed to inhuman and totally unacceptable working conditions and run a daily risk of losing their lives. This has to be stopped now” demanded Peter Scherrer, EMF General Secretary, at the conference. The participants underlined the need for European and worldwide action against the massive increase of precarious work. They fully supported the ongoing global campaign of the International Metalworkers’ Federation (IMF) and EMF to stop the expansion of precarious work.
The trade union organisations agreed on a joint declaration (available below in Turkish, German, French and English) which will be forwarded to national governments, to the European institutions and to the respective employers’ associations.
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PRESS 25/2008
The EMF is the representative body defending the interests of workers in the European metal industry. The EMF has a mandate for the external representation and coordination of the metalworkers' unions and a mandate to engage in bargaining at European level.
For further information please contact:
Editor, Peter Scherrer, EMF General Secretary
Andrea Husen, EMF Policy Advisor on Shipbuilding +32(0)2 227 10 14
