Workers' Council of Turkey

The efforts to constitute Workers' Council started in January, 2003. After the draft of declaration, including the principle approaches and views, had been discussed among the first participants for 2 months, the council was established with 81 participants in 15th March, 2003. The agenda of the meeting, in which “Workers' Council Declaration for a New Workers Movement” was announced, included “Iraq War”, “European Union and Labour”, “Labour Acts” as well.

In the meeting of establishment, an executive committee, consists of 14 members was elected to organize and exercise the activities of Workers' Council.

The activities of Workers' Council since it was constituted have been organization, issues, actions, training and workers' rights.

To be organized

Workers' Council, as it announced in its Declaration and other issues, is a central organization without any branches and sub-units. The goal of the organization is to comprise socialist, progressive workers and trade union activists all around Turkey .

The number of the participants of Workers' Council, since it was established arrived at 150.

In Workers' Council, there are 24 people working in medical area, 19 people in education, 12 trade unionists, 10 retired, 6 lawyers, 4 engineers, 4 trade union experts, 3 lecturers, 3 students, 2 architects. Others are progressive public employees

and workers of private companies.

41 participants of Workers' Council are members of KESK, 23 participants are members of DİSK and one participant is a member of HAK-İŞ.

Issues

The issues of Workers' Council since it was constituted:

“The Declaration of Workers' Council and Bulletins of The Establishment Assembly” (March, 2003)

“The First Labour Symposium of Workers' Council” (June, 2003)

“Labour Act-Act of Slavery” (August, 2003)

“What has to be done in TÜRK-İŞ?” (November, 2003)

“Acts of Bourgeoisie Attack” (December, 2003)

“What has to be done in DİSK?” (January, 2004)

“What has to be done in TMMOB?” (March, 2004)

“What has to be done in Eğitim-Sen?” ( November, 2004)

“What has to be done in KESK?” ( May, 2005 )

Actions and Activities

Nearly 1000 workers participated in “The First Labour Symposium of Workers' Council”, held in Istanbul in 15th June, 2003. In this meeting the bulletins which were presented are as follows; “Capitalism in Turkey and The State of Labour (1980-2003), “Unemployed and Informal Sector, Conditions and Perspectives of Organization”, “New Legal Modifications and Workers Movement”, “The Effect of European Union on Labour in Turkey and the State of Labour in European Union”, “Comparative Evaluation of the Three Actions of the Working Class in Turkey.”

Workers' Council organized forums with participation of hundreds of workers on 1st November 2003, in İzmir, on 27th. December 2003, in Ankara , on 10th and 11th January 2003, in Istanbul , 22nd February 2003 in İzmir and 21st march 2004 in Kocaeli. As far as we are concerned, making workers an active agent of these forums, this kind of meeting is an important model of meeting that should be carried on during the coming season.

Training

One of the issues Workers' Council has taken into consideration is training. For a period, especially before 12th September 1980, trade union movement experienced successful training examples, whereas recently it suffers from serious deficiencies and defects in terms of training. In many trade unions systematic training is being ignored. If it is not, this training generally is being distant from class view and class policy and sometimes having a tone of either nationalist, or liberal-left. Yet, thousands of young workers who are the members of trade unions and their representatives need training in each level and they are insistent on this kind of training.

The Executive Committee of Workers' Council has decided on “Training Schedule for Trade Union Activists” to fulfill this need and demand.

Training Schedule for Trade Union Activists, considered as a model study, has been prepared to improve trade union activists' knowledge, accumulation and class-consciousness in fields of politics and trade union movement. With the participation of 44 trade unionists, it was first applied in 17th-18th January, 2004 in Istanbul . The Schedule had been continued in other cities and important industry areas (such as Gebze) of Turkey .

Trainings for trade unions, with its many subtitles, require a complete, systematic and organized labour. The efforts of Workers' Council in this field has been improved, became more systematic and intended to be permanent after this model study.

Training Schedule for Trade Union Activists includes as follows;

The History of Labour Acts in Turkey

Labour Act- Act of Slavery

Trade Union Organizations in Turkey

Collective Agreements

European Union Social Policies and Trade Union Movement

The Culture of Working Class

Law

One of the specific matters of Workers' Council is the law concerning employment. There is much to do in this field, as well. On one hand, Workers' Council underlines first and foremost the struggle against the Act of Slavery; it also emphasizes the struggle to make the Act of Slavery and other acts against working class actually invalid, cancelled and to prevent the government to pass these acts. On the other hand, the council is very well aware that law is also a field of class conflict, so the council is making an effort to comprise this field with the lawyers who are in favor of labour.

The Organization and Administration

Workers' Council 1st General Assembly took these decisions concerning organization and regulations of administration:

Workers' Council is a central organization without any branches or sub-units. Every local activity takes place in line with the decision and under the control of Administrative and Executive bodies.

The workers, retired, unemployed, trade union activists and intellectuals who share the views and approaches which are expressed in “Workers' Council Declaration for a New Workers Movement”, later issues and meeting decisions and who are able to take an active part in a collective struggle, as well are apt to being the members of Workers' Council. The process of membership is completed with the member applying to the administration of Workers' Council.

Workers' Council General Assembly, which is held once in two years, is the most authorized body of Workers' Council. Workers' Council Executive Committee is elected in this assembly.

Executive Committee consists of 17 members. Executive Committee assembles once in three months at the latest. In its first assembly a chairman, a deputy chairman and a secretary constitute the Committee.

Executive Committee assembles once in a week to execute everyday activities of Workers' Council.