Court Asks Turkish Government About Nature Of National Security Concerns Behind Strike Suspension

The council of state has asked the government to clarify the reasons for suspending a strike by steel workers, questioning the nature of the "national security" concerns behind the cabinet decision.

The Birleşik Metal-İş trade union said in a statement February 12 the court has demanded a "clear explanation that would not give room to any doubt" on how it concluded the strike would pose a risk to national security and what criteria was used in this decision.

The court also ruled Feb. 9 that it would evaluate the union's demand for a stay of execution of the suspension after the 10-day deadline granted to the government for a clarification, the union said.

The union staged a strike on January 29 to protest poor wages in the sector and demand a better collective bargaining agreement with employers in the industry, as another group was planning to go on strike on Feb. 19, increasing the total number of striking workers to 15,000.  However, a cabinet decision published in the Official Gazette on Jan. 30 said the strike at particular workplaces was delayed for 60 days.

The union blames the Metal Industrialists' Union (MESS) for consolidating a system of cheap labor through a policy of providing smaller wage increases to low-paid workers - who form close to 70 percent of the total number of workers in the sector - and higher raises to better-paid workers.

(PHOTO) - Istanbul