The BWI-ITUC fact-finding Turkey mission to Istanbul Airport took place on 25-26 March 2019. The mission met with Turkish trade union leaders and representatives, officials of the main contractor, IGA, and workers working at the New Istanbul Airport to evaluate the information on working conditions at the Istanbul Airport construction site and the workers’ protest that happened on 14 September 2018.
On 14 September 2018, subcontracted workers at the construction site of the third Airport in Istanbul started a protest against bad working conditions after a shuttle vehicle crashed the night before, killing two workers and injuring many others. In addition, 401 workers and unionists were detained, 31 of the detainees were later arrested, while 30 others will be tried. All others were released. Following this event, the BWI-ITUC fact-finding Turkey mission on Istanbul Airport was
The delegation was composed of Jeroen Beirnaert, ITUC Director of Human and Trade Union Rights, Zamaney Menso, FNV (Netherlands) Union Officer
On 25 March, the mission visited Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions (DISK) Headquarters to meet with DISK President Arzu Cerkezoglu, DISK Board Member Kanber Saygili, Confederation of Public Employees Trade Unions (KESK) General Secretary Ramazan Gurbuz, and Progressive Union of Construction Workers (DEV YAPI-IS) President Ozgur Karabulut as well as former workers of Istanbul Airport who were arrested and released after the first hearing. The discussion on the general
On the second day of the mission, the delegation went to the construction site of Istanbul Airport to meet with officials of IGA, main contractor of the project. They were accompanied by BWI-affiliated Turkish Road Building and Construction Workers’ Union (YOL-IS) President and BWI World Board Member Ramazan Agar, YOL-IS Branch Office President Tuncay Ozbek, YOL-IS Workplace Representative Ismet Kıroglu, Celal Tozan, Social Security Advisor and YOL-IS International Relations Expert Ozgur Doruk. YOL-IS has organised the IGA workers since 2014 and have a valid collective agreement since 2015. The meeting was held with Ersan Sevim, IGA Infrastructure Deputy General Manager, Tevfik Pacaci, IGA OHS Director, and Emre Yolal, IGA Project Manager. The delegation visited the construction site and two accommodation facilities housing subcontracted workers and YOL-IS members and had the chance to visit and audit workers’ dormitories and other facilities.
BWI and ITUC will issue a joint summary of major findings.
