Turkey: Union Leaders Face Government Crackdown Amid Wage Protests

In Turkey, a wave of protests has erupted due to soaring living costs, leading to widespread strikes. The unrest began following the government's announcement of a new minimum wage at the start of the year, which saw an increase from 20,000 Turkish Lira to 26,000 Lira (approximately 651 Euros). Many workers and unions deem this rise insufficient, especially given the high cost of living.

Among the notable figures caught up in the turmoil is Mehmet Türkmen, a leader from the Birtek-Sen union, who was arrested in mid-February. Authorities have accused him of inciting workers against their employers and restricting their freedom to work. This crackdown on union leaders has drawn widespread criticism and raised concerns about the government's stance on labor rights.

The Turkish Confederation of Trade Unions, Türk-Is, reports that the poverty line for a family of four stands at 75,973 Lira, while the threshold for a single individual is 30,206 Lira--both figures exceeding the current minimum wage. This economic strain forces many families to seek additional employment, further complicating their financial situation.

Additionally, the textile sector, which plays a critical role in Turkey's economy, has been under scrutiny for its reliance on child labor. An NGO, Temiz Giyisi, highlighted that the exploitation of child labor has worsened since 2011, coinciding with an increase in the number of refugees entering the country. Particularly affected are children from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Somalia, who are often employed as cheaper labor to reduce production costs.

Gaziantep, a key hub for textile production, has seen these issues manifest prominently. Despite over 1.1 million individuals working in the sector across the nation, only about 9.24% are members of a union. The barriers to union membership are significant, with Turkish labor law requiring unions to represent at least 51% of a company's workforce and to have a minimum of 1% representation across the sector nationwide.

Smaller unions like Birtek-Sen, claiming a grassroots structure with over 1,000 members, struggle to meet these requirements. The NGO Temiz Giyisi advocates for the removal of these barriers and calls upon international fashion companies to recognize and uphold workers' rights to unionize within their supply chains.

The recent surge in spontaneous strikes reflects a growing dissatisfaction among workers, particularly as inflation rates have soared, at times reaching 60%. Although inflation has recently dipped below 40%, additional tax increases for consumers have compounded the financial pressure on families.

Protests in regions like Gaziantep, where political affiliations are divided between the ruling AKP party and the Islamist Yeniden Refah Party, present an opportunity for unions to engage politically with the workforce. Historical patterns suggest that such strikes can help diminish skepticism towards unions and leftist activists, although this has occurred against a backdrop of governmental repression.

Mehmet Türkmen's detention has garnered support from various international labor organizations, including members from Germany, who have condemned the arrest as a direct attack on union rights. Critics have labeled a recent 15-day ban on strikes and gatherings imposed by the Gaziantep governor as scandalous, asserting that states should not interfere when unions advocate for their rights. In a bid to counter these governmental actions, Birtek-Sen is pursuing legal avenues to challenge the measures taken against them.