The EMF expresses support to shipyard workers in Tuzla, Turkey
The European Metalworkers Federation wrote today to Commissioners Vladimir Spidla and Olli Rehn -responsible respectively for Social Affairs and Enlargement - to draw their attention to the worrying, hazardous health and safety conditions and trade union rights violations in the Tuzla Shipyards in Turkey.
Workers in Tuzla were informed of the death of two of their colleagues on 21st February 2008. The two employees were said to have suffered smoke poisoning and subsequently died from heart failure, one at the workplace, the other one in hospital later the same day. These deaths bring the number of workers who have died at this Turkish shipyard in the last eight months to 18.
Tuzla shipyards have a sad record of fatal accidents and, in recent years, the situation has worsened rather than improved. In fact, since 2000, 31 workers have died as a result of health and safety hazards at the workplace.
Workers and their trade unions have appealed to the employer to ensure a secure and safe working environment. But in the Turkish context, where basic trade union rights are not respected and where trade unions are frequently victimised, these demands are hardly heard by managers or the Labour Ministry.
The failure of the Turkish Labour Ministry to enforce social security legislation in the shipyards also aggravates the situation as some workers who suffer from injuries are not covered by health insurance and are unable to access medical treatment.
Today, a demonstration took place in front of the Shipyards in Tuzla, in memory of the dead employees. The local police arrested 70 participants alleging that they disturbed public order. The 70 participants were later released after employees protested at this unfair arrest.
“Expressing legitimate discontent at unsafe and, at times, deadly working conditions, should not be assimilated to a “threat to public order” in so-called democratic States” said Peter Scherrer, EMF General Secretary.
Press 9/2008
For further information please contact:
Editor, Peter Scherrer, EMF General Secretary
