Brussels, 19 June 2009: The ITUC strongly has protested to the Turkish authorities against the arrest of yet another eight leaders and members of its affiliate, the Confederation of Public Employees’ Trade Unions (KESK), and KESK-affiliated teachers’ union Egitim-Sen.

This is the third series of arrests in little more than two weeks. On 29 May and on 15 June the ITUC protested against the excessively forceful interventions by the Turkish police against KESK and Egitim-Sen (see previous OnLine ).

Fourteen of the people who were arrested after the police invasion of the KESK headquarters in Ankara and of KESK’s local branch offices in Istanbul, Izmir, Van and Manisa, remain in custody to date. According to the information received by the ITUC, eight more union members were arrested last Tuesday.

“This is clearly a serious case of anti-union harassment” declared Guy Ryder, ITUC general secretary. “Turkey ratified ILO Convention 87 in 1993, but these facts are totally in contradiction with this international instrument. Moreover, it is alarming that the government shows no sign of responding to international protests over its acitons,” he added.

In a letter sent to the Turkish government, the ITUC once again pressed for the immediate and unconditional release of all the arrested KESK and Egitim-Sen members and leaders.

The ITUC represents 170 million workers in 312 affiliated national organisations from 157 countries. http://www.youtube.com/ITUCCSI

For more information, please contact the ITUC Press Department on: +32 2 224 0204 or +32 476 621 018

Photo: Sizemore