International Centre for Trade Union Rights

British dockers' solidarity with Turkish workersSource: International Union Rights, Vol. 3, No. 3, Labour Codes: Key to workers' rights?(1996), p. 18Published by: International Centre for Trade Union RightsStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/41937046 .

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ICTUR IN ACTION □

British

dockers'

solidarity

with lïirkish

workers

Following a meeting of ICTUR's British Committee earlier this year which was addressed by two representatives of the sacked Liverpool Dockers, contact was established between representatives of Turkish migrant workers in Britain and the Merseyside Dockworkers Shop Stewards Committee. Subsequently, a delegation of dockers visited Turkey in July and issued the following declaration: "Following the deaths of many hunger strikers in Turkish prisons, and in view of the concessions belatedly announced by the Turkish government, we are launching a campaign for human rights in Turkey to ensure that these commitments are honoured.

"We call on all governments and organisations which respect human rights, particularly within Europe, to insist on the suspension of the European Union's co- operation agreement with Turkey until the prisoners and their supporters in Turkey are satisfied that the threat of further human rights violations has been removed.

"Evidence of the government's good intentions must include: 1. An end to the practice of imprisoning and torturing people for membership of political or trade union organisations. 2. An end to the attempts to terrorise and ban all genuine opposition, whether in the form of political parties, workers' organisations, and other democratic organisations or the media. 3. An end to the terrorising of workers exercising their legal right to strike. 4. An end to the barbaric police and army attacks on peaceful demonstrators, including children and women. 5. An end to the war against the Kurdish people and the violent repression of other ethnic minorities."

INTERNATIONAL union rights Page 18 Volume 3 Issue 2 1996

In 1993 ICTUR was granted accredited status with both the United Nations and the International Labour Organisation

The fundamental right of workers to organise is under global threat. From Britain to Bulgaria, from North America to New Zealand, from the Philippines to Saudi Arabia anti- union laws undermine the right to organise.

But union rights are not only under legal threat. In Africa and Latin America, and elsewhere, trade unionists face assassination, assault, kidnapping and detention. Much violence is state-sponsored and carried out by employers.

Sometimes it is carried out by the military or law enforcement agencies, sometimes by secret or special forces, sometimes by employers' forces with state approval.

Trade union rights are vital for workers facing the global power of employers. With economic integration, uncontrolled capital flows and new technology, labour everywhere depends on its right to organise.

Active globally ICTUR was established in 1987. It aims: # to defend and extend the rights of trade unions and trade unionists around the world # to collect information on and increase awareness of trade union rights and their violations # to carry out its activities in the spirit of the United Nations Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Labour Organisation Conventions and appropriate international treaties # to use its influence to extend and strengthen the rights of trade unions in line with the above declarations.

Active locally ICTUR has established National Committees in 23 countries covering Europe, Africa, Asia, America and Australasia.

The work of these Committees is complemented by a network of international correspondents including journalists, lawyers, trade union leaders and academics.

As well as the members of the National Committees, ICTUR is also open to all international, regional, national trade union centres and all bodies or individuals working to defend trade union rights.

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