Cablegate: February 4 General "Work Stoppage" Gathers Steam

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ELAB TU
SUBJECT: FEBRUARY 4 GENERAL "WORK STOPPAGE" GATHERS STEAM

REF: ANKARA 174

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1. (SBU) SUMMARY. The looming February 4 nationwide "work
stoppage" by six major labor confederations is garnering extensive
media coverage but few reliable predictions on the extent of
participation. Turk-Is President Kumlu has carefully emphasized
that what they will launch should not be termed a "general strike,"
because that would be illegal. Turk-Is said most of its workers
will "consider themselves on leave" February 4. The main opposition
Republican People's Party (CHP) has indicated that its employees
will also not work February 4 to show its support for the protesting
TEKEL workers. The government so far has refrained from issuing any
warnings or threats to the unions. However, Turkish Airlines has
stated that the employment contracts of those workers who
participate in the strike may be cancelled. END SUMMARY.

2. (SBU) The actual extent of the one-day general strike February 4
called by the Turk-Is Labor Confederation (REFTEL) remains
impossible to predict. But the inclusion of five other labor union
confederations of public and private workers -- DISK, Hak-Is,
Memur-Sen, Kamu-Sen and KESK - suggests the impact may be
significant. All have announced they will participate between 8
a.m. and 5 p.m. Turk-Is President Mustafa Kumlu has carefully
emphasized that what they will launch should not be termed a
"general strike" (as it is illegal) but instead a "one day work
stoppage." Another confederation, the Independent Public Employees
Unions Confederation (BASK), has announced that it will provide
outside support to the six confederations and will also participate
in the work stoppage. Meanwhile, the main opposition Republican
People's Party (CHP) has indicated that its party employees will
also not work February 4 to show its support to the TEKEL workers.

3. (U) Mustafa Turkel, President of the Food Workers Union
(Tek-GidaIs) with whom the TEKEL workers are affiliated, insisted
that the work stoppage would take place "with zero failure" in all
establishments where the union is organized. He estimated that one
million workers would participate. Kamu-Sen President Bircan
Akyildiz said the strike should be seen as a serious warning to the
political administration. He accused the government of trying to
put the blame for unemployment on the shoulders of the TEKEL
workers. He declared that if the GOT continues to be indifferent,
the protests will continue.

4. (SBU) Turk-Is Labor Confederation Press official Sevkutan
Nevsuhan told us that workers affiliated with unions attached to
Turk-Is will "consider themselves on leave" February 4. She
declined to predict the number of participants, but emphasized that
all workers of the six labor confederations are involved.
Meanwhile, Hak-Is labor confederation is somewhat more equivocal.
Although known to be close to the government, Hak-Is has indicated
that due to its "responsibilities and principles as a labor
confederation," it has joined the other confederations in this
protest. Hak-Is International Relations Officer Osman Yildiz
informed us that Hak-Is will issue a statement expressing its
optimism that a solution will be found prior to the beginning of the
strike. Still, the confederation has issued circulars to its
affiliated unions instructing them to prepare for the work
stoppage.

5. (SBU) An Anatolia News Agency correspondent who follows labor
issues, Goksel Yildirim, told us that most workers will simply not
show up for work, but that some would gather in front of Turk-Is
headquarters to demonstrate their support for the TEKEL workers. He
said workers affiliated with DISK will gather in two places in
Istanbul at 11 a.m., and would march to Sarachane Park to issue a
press statement. He noted that at this point it is difficult to
estimate the scope of participation.

6. (U) The first warning to the workers came from the Turkish
Airlines (THY) administration. Turkey Civil Aviation Workers Union
(Hava-Is) issued a circular to its members instructing them to
participate in the strike tomorrow. However, THY sent e-mails and
posted announcements stating that while expressing demands is the
most natural right of workers, according to the current legislation,
what they would do on February 4 would be illegal. THY noted that
the employment contracts of those who participate in the work
stoppage may be cancelled.

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7. (SBU) Meanwhile, an official with the Turkish Employers Unions
Confederation (TISK) told us, predictably, that TISK does not
approve of the work stoppage. He said that national economy will
suffer, and there would be production losses. He added that the
employers are not a party to this dispute, and believe that such
frictions pull labor relations into a deadlock. He said TISK urges
the parties to act with common sense and hopes dialogue will
prevail.

8. (SBU) COMMENT: The TEKEL dispute continues to escalate. We
sense a hardening of positions on all sides. It seems likely that
this one-day work stoppage will prompt investigations into
individual cases, as happened after the November 25 general strike.
Opposition parties will certainly exploit the situation. The
government finds itself in an unfamiliar position - pitted against
workers - and may opt to navigate more carefully in subsequent
privatization efforts.

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