European Trade Union Committee for Education

On 8 February 2017, EĞİTİM-SEN reported that the adoption of emergency decree No. 686 by the Turkish authorities on 7 February 2017 resulted in the unjustified dismissals of 2,585 education personnel employed in the Turkish Ministry of Education, among whom are Mr. Mesut FIRAT, EĞİTİM-SEN General Secretary, and several EĞİTİM-SEN administrative officers.

EI/ETUCE expressed their strong resentment over the ongoing punitive measures taken against the Turkish education community that not only infringe human and trade union rights but also poses a serious threat to quality education for all.

In the last few months, EI/ETUCE together with other stakeholders have repeatedly appealed on the Turkish government to rescind the unlawful measures and to respect its international commitments and obligations.

Reaffirming their solidarity with EĞİTİM-SEN, its affiliates and the Turkish education community, EI/ETUCE are organising a new mission to Ankara, Turkey, on 27-28 February 2017 in order to obtain a direct insight into the impact of how the emergency measures have impacted on Turkish education personnel and to reaffirm their support for colleagues in Turkey.