Turkey: New victims of the new decree law

Published: 11 July 2018

Following the events of 20 July 2016, 18,632 public workers were dismissed with the new emergency state decree law No 701 on 8 July 2018 in Turkey.

Eğitim Sen clarified that nearly 60 members of KESK (Confederation of Public Employees' Trade Unions to which the union is affiliated), among them 20 academics who have signed the peace declaration and 26 Eğitim Sen affiliates have been targeted by the new decree law.

“Any institution or anyone who is not within the framework set by the government in terms of political opinion, ethnic identity, religious belief, or even a lifestyle, is targeted”, explained Eğitim Sen.

“We will never give up on our legal, legitimate and organised struggle despite any kind of illegal initiatives and attacks. We will fight by expanding solidarity in the international area until all our dismissed and suspended members are returned to their duties”, added Eğitim Sen.

Stressing ETUCE’s enduring commitment to support education personnel in Turkey, Susan Flocken, ETUCE European Director, stated “We continue supporting teachers and academics dismissed from their positions, and stand together against the abuse of power in Turkey that is undermining trade union rights”.