Trade unions in Turkey / Friedrich Ebert Stiftung - 2. rev. ed..

FES

TEILDOKUMENT:

TURK–IS AFFILIATES (Ta - To)

TARIM-IS

(TURKIYE ORMAN, TOPRAK, SU, TARIM VE TARIM SANAYII ISCILERI SENDIKASI)
UNION OF FORESTRY, LAND AND WATER ADMINISTRATION, AGRICULTURE AND AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY WORKERS OF TURKEY

Labour union founded in Ankara on May 6, 1961 to operate in the agriculture branch, originally under the name of the Union of Production and Breeding Workers of Turkey; affiliated to Türk-Is and IUF (International Federation of Workers Employed in Food, Agriculture, Hotel, Restaurant, Entertainment, Tobacco and Related Sectors).

The union was founded by Kamil Yildirim (temporary chairman), Fazli Corapci, Ahmet Salepci, Veli Karagöz, Turgay Akyalcin, Mehmet Olgun, A. Riza Özdemir, Nazim Aybek, Kemalettin Gülcemal, Ahmet Aydin and Hasan Yavsan.

The union held general assembly meetings on: 25.3.1962, 22- 23.2.1964, 9-11.2.1966, 15.9.1966 (extraordinary), 14-16.10.1968, 7-9.12.1970, 10-12.12.1973, 24-27.1.1977, 30.12.1979, 11- 13.6.1982, 23.7.1983 (extraordinary), 2-4.12.1983, 21-23.1986, 11-12.1989, 3-4.10.1992 and 16-17.9.1995. The board elected at the last congress is composed of Sabri Özdes (chairman), Baki Basdemir (general secretary), Ibrahim Köksal (finance secretary), Emin Sener (organization secretary) and Mustafa Yaprak (education and research secretary).

The name of the union was changed to Tarim-Is (Union of Agriculture and Agricultural Industry Workers of Turkey) in 1964. The union adopted its present name in 1977.

The resolution to affiliate to Türk-Is was adopted in 1964.

The union began to organize throughout Turkey and to expand rapidly after 1964, when agricultural workers obtained the right to collective bargaining and strike. It signed its first collective labour contract in 1965 with the Directorate of State Production Farms.

At an extraordinary congress in 1966 the chairman, general secretary and three members of the union were expelled from Tarim-Is on the grounds that they estranged themselves from the ideals of the trade union movement and committed felonious actions in leadership.

Between 1973-1977 Tür-Is (Union of Agriculture and Forest Workers), Bati Anadolu Tarim-Is (Union of Agricultural Workers of Western Anatolia) and Öz Tarim-Is (Union of Agricultural Workers of Zonguldak, Kastamonu, Cankiri, Bolu and Environs) abolished themselves to join Tarim-Is.

Soon after the congress in 1977 chairman Binali Yagiskan was indicted for embezzling union funds and was replaced by Zeynel Irmak. At its first general assembly after 1980, the leadership of the union declared their support to the military regime.

In 1985 one of the largest workplaces where the union was organized, the Land and Water Administration, was abolished and the services under this Administration were shifted to departments coming under the construction branch. Consequently, Tarim-Is automatically lost its members in these workplaces.

In 1988 the council of the local officers of Tarim-Is requested Chairman Gazanfer Akcin to resign from office on the grounds that he had acted in breach of the union charter. Akcin filed a lawsuit in protest. The court ruled for a stay, but Akcin lost the election at the next congress.

In 1990 the union waged a strike that lasted for 92 days and covered 500 workers at the Atatürk Forest Farm, and a 31-day long strike involving 10,600 workers at TIGEM (Department of Agricultural Enterprises). As a consequence of the second strike the workers were able to reduce their weekly working time to 48 hours. However, a second strike called by the union at TIGEM the next year was postponed twice by the Council of Ministers despite a court ruling to the contrary. Between May 28 and July 20, 1992, 15 thousand union members waged a strike at 840 workplaces attached to the Ministry of Agriculture.

Between September 8 and October 27, 1995 a strike involving 22,600 workers was waged at all the enterprises organized by the union.

The union has 26 branches all over Turkey (Adana, Akcadag, Altinova, Ankara, Antalya, Aralik, Bursa, Ceylanpinar, Dalaman, Diyarbakir, Elazig, Erzincan, Eskisehir, Gökhöyük, Gönen, Istanbul, Izmir, Karabük, Kirsehir, Kocas, Kopya, Mus, Polatli, Samsun, Türkgeldi and Ulas). The union has published a monthly periodical called „Tarim-Is" until 1996.

It reported 29,031 members in 1971, 46,867 in 1988, 34,244 in 1990, 40,157 in 1992, 48,049 in 1994, 48,645 in 1996 and 45,980 in 1997.

TEK GIDA-IS

(TURKIYE TUTUN, MUSKIRAT, GIDA VE YARDIMCI ISCILERI SENDIKASI)
UNION OF TOBACCO, ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE, FOOD AND RELATED INDUSTRY WORKERS OF TURKEY

Labour union founded in Istanbul on August 19, 1968 to operate in the food industry branch; affiliated to Türk-Is and IUF (International Union of Food and Accessory Workers).

The union was founded by 45 workers including Seyfi Demirsoy, Ibrahim Denizcier, Halil Tunc, Nazmi Ceylandag, Bülent Öztug and Melih Dölen.

The union held general assembly meetings on: 19.1.1969, 3- 5.3.1972, 19-21.3.1975, 16.3.1978, 20.6.1979 (extraordinary), 15-16.5.1982, 29.8.1983 (extraordinary), 2-4.12.1983, 21-23.11.1986, 17-19.11.1989, 12-15.11.1992 and 6-8.10.1995. The board elected at the last congress is composed of Orhan Balta (chairman), H. Hüseyin Karakoc (general secretary), Korkut Güler (finance secretary), Zeki Sesen (organization secretary) and Cabbar Yildirim (education secretary).

The union was established by means of the unification of various Türk-Is affiliated unions operating in the same branch. After the union was founded by the representatives of these unions, in 1969 and 1970 Tekgida-Is (Union of Tobacco, Beverage and Food Industry Workers based in Istanbul), Türkiye Tütün Müskirat Gida Ve Yardimci Iscileri Sendikalari Federasyonu (Federation of Unions of Tobacco, Alcoholic Beverage and Accessory Workers) and the unions that were members of this Federation, and Istanbul Tekel Kutu Iscileri Sendikasi (Union of Tekel Box Manufacture Workers of Istanbul) abolished themselves to join Tekgida-Is.

By 1972 the union had about 140 thousand members. However, the salt mines and the match factory of the State Monopoly Administration where the union was organized were later shifted to other industrial branches by a governmental adjustment, and the workers employed in these enterprises were compelled to change to other trade unions.

In 1974 the board of Türk-Is decided to expel Besin-Is, the other Türk-Is member in the food branch, on the grounds that it had failed to merge with Tekgida-Is contrary to the recommendation of the Confederation.

Tekgida-Is faced yet another competitor in this branch: DISK affiliated Gida-Is. The two unions clashed often on the question of which union was authorized to conduct the collective negotiations at a certain enterprise.

In the second half of the 1970’s the union defended a coalition government of social democratic and conservative parties as the solution for the economic and political problems of the country. It recommended a change in the non-partisan policy of Türk-Is. The confederation, claimed the union, should pursue a dynamic and effective policy vis-a-vis the political parties and possibly establish a political organization itself.

In May 1980 a union member sent a letter to the Martial Law Command of Istanbul, accusing board members of Tekgida-Is of embezzling union funds. The union leaders were indicted, and the case ended with the acquittal of board members but the accounting manager of the union was sentenced to heavy fines and a temporary professional ban.

The union regarded favourably the military coup in 1980, stating in its activity report to the congress in 1982 that the intervention had brought peace and quiet to the country.

The union has 128 representative agency and 9 regional branches (Adana 1-2-3-4-5-6-8 and regional office of Adana, Gaziantep, Mersin, Sanliurfa, Nizip, regional office of Ankara and Ankara 1-2-3, Konya-Kayseri, Antalya, Yozgat, Nevsehir, Aksaray, regional office of Istanbul and Istanbul 2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11, Edirne, Bursa, M. Kemalpasa, Bandirma, Trakya, regional office of Izmir and Izmir 1-2-3-4-6-7, Manisa, Canakkale, Aydin, Balikesir, regional offfice of Malatya and Malatya 1-2, Diyarbakir, Bitlis, Elazig, Adiyaman, Silvan, Kozluk, Mus, Batman, regional office of Rize, Zihniderin, Gündogdu, Cayeli, Pazar 1, Findikli, Arhavi, Hopa, Iyidere, Ambarlik, Ardesen, Asiklar, Sabuncular, Ulucami, Kalkandere 1-2, Kemalpasa, Cumhuriyet, Cay Paketleme, Slarha, Camidagi, Pazarköy, Güneysu, Taslidere, Selimiye, Pazar-2, Derepazari, Ortapazar, Azakli, Büyükköy, office of general directory, Musadagi, Anatamir, Dosan, Kalecik, Kendirli, Ciftlik, Veliköy, Tersane, Melyat, Muratli, regional office of Samsun and Samsun 1-2-3, Bafra, Alacam, Ordu, Tokat, Amasya, 19 Mayis, Gebze, regional office of Kocaeli and Kocaeli-1, Eskisehir, Sakarya-Bilecik, Trabzon, Akcaabat, Of, Eskipazar, Erzurum, Hayrat, Arakli, Tirebolu, Sürmene, Bölümlü, Karaca) and publishes a journal called „Tekgida-Is Sendikasi", which was first issued in December 1985.

It reported 140,766 members in 1972, 122,621 in 1974, 132,313 in 1976, 121,887 in 1978, 171,290 in 1981, 166,704 in 1983, 192,399 in 1988, 157,811 in 1990, 186,413 in 1994, 189,001 in 1996 and 193,489 in 1997.

TEKSIF

(TURKIYE TEKSTIL, ÖRME VE GIYIM SANAYII ISCILERI SENDIKASI)
UNION OF TEXTILE, KNITTING AND GARMENT INDUSTRY WORKERS OF TURKEY

Labour union founded in Ankara on September 20, 1962 to operate in the textile branch; affiliated to Türk-Is and ITGLWF (International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers’ Federation).

Teksif was founded by the chairmen of the 24 unions affiliated to the former Teksif Federation, among them Celal Beyaz (temporary chairman), Tevfik Erdem, Bilal Sisman, Fikri Sinar, Sevki Gündüz and A.Bahir Ersoy.

The union held general assembly meetings on: 3-4.3.1963, 5.10.1964 (extraordinary meeting), 18-21.6.1965, 19-22.5.1967, 24-27.5.1969, 3-6.5.1971, 6-9.5.1974, 10-14.10.1976, 22- 25.5.1979, 26.4.1982, 21.7.1983 (extraordinary), 2-4.12.1983, 20-23.11.1986, 3.5.1989, 6-8.11.1992 and 15-17.9.1995. The board elected at the last congress is composed of Zeki Polat (chairman), Osman Yurtsever and Nazmi Irgat (vice-chairmen) and Hayrettin Devrimöz (general secretary) and Ibrahim Yalcinoglu (finance secretary).

At the general assembly meeting of the Türk-Is affiliated Teksif Federasyonu (Federation of Unions of Textile and Knitting Industry Workers) on 3-6.11.1961 a decision was adopted to convert the federation into a national type of union. The unions affiliated to the federation were to abolish themselves and join the new union. By end-1963, 23 unions had been abolished and converted into branches of Türk-Is. In 1964 the unions of textile workers in Bursa and Antalya, and in 1965 the union in Nazilli also joined Teksif.

Soon after the congress in 1965, some leaders of the Istanbul branch of Teksif left the union to found Istanbul Tekstil Örme ve Giyim Sanayii Sendikasi (Union of Textile, Knitting and Garment Industry Workers of Istanbul).

Teksif Chairman Sevket Yilmaz was elected to the post of deputy chairman in Türk-Is in 1966.

In 1967 Milli Mensucat Fabrikasi Iscileri Sendikasi (Union of Workers of Milli Mensucat Factory based in Adana) and Aksif union based in Antakya joined Teksif, and all members of the Akdeniz Mensucat Fabrikasi Iscileri Sendikasi (Union of Workers of Akdeniz Mensucat Factory) resigned from their union to organize in Teksif.

In 1969 Sevket Yilmaz was elected to the parliament on the Justice Party ticket.

The union criticised the military coup in 1971, stating that the martial law practices and the changes effected in the legislation had restricted trade union rights.

In 1976 Tüm-Is, a union based in Tarsus, and in 1978 Öz-Teksif Sendikasi, a Hak-Is affiliated union based in Diyarbakir, joined Teksif.

At the congress in 1976 Sevket Yilmaz criticised DISK, alleging that DISK had become a bridge for foreign „red ideology" in Turkey, in contrast to the Turkish nationalist outlook of Teksif. In 1982 he voiced support for the military intervention in 1980, claiming that some trade unionists had also taken part in the provocations that led to the coup which restored the peace in the country. Sevket Yilmaz was elected to the chairmanship of Türk-Is on 8.5.1982.

The union has 39 branches and 6 liaison offices (Adana, Adiyaman, Antalya, Avcilar, Aydin, Bakirköy, Balikesir, Bergama, Beyoglu, Bursa, Pilot Sanayi, Bünyan, Büyük Cigli, Camdibi, Cerkezköy, Corlu, Cukobirlik, Denizli, Diyarbakir, Edirne, Eregli, Erzincan, Eskisehir, Eyüp-Yenibosna, Gaziantep, Hereke, Isparta, Inegöl, Izmir, Kahramanmaras, Karaman, Kocaeli, Kayseri, Malatya, Manisa, Nazilli, Nevsehir, Tarsus, Tasköprü, Topkapi, Usak, Yavuzlar, Yedikule, Develi, Cubuk) and one liaison office. It publishes the monthly journal „Teksif".

It reported 100,334 members in 1971, 111,178 in 1974, 118,110 in 1976, 87,890 in 1979, 114,000 in 1984, 177.000 in 2986, 267,085 in 1996 and 296,603 in 1997.

TES-IS

(TURKIYE ENERJI, SU VE GAZ ISCILERI

SENDIKASI)
UNION OF ENERGY, WATER AND GAS WORKERS OF TURKEY

Labour union founded in Ankara on July 21-23, 1983 to operate in the energy branch; affiliated to Türk-Is, ICEM (International Confederation of Chemical, Energy, Mining and Service Workers) and ICFTU (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions).

Pursuant to the new Trade Union Act of 1983 that abolished the federative type of unions, Tes-Is Federasyonu (Federation of Energy, Water and Gas Workers of Turkey) held a congress on 21-23.1983 and adopted a resolution for conversion to a national type of union: Tes-Is. The 35 unions that were members of the Federation became branches of the new union. The last board of the Federation, under the leadership of Orhan Ercelik, was appointed as the temporary board of the new union.

The union held general assembly meetings on: 2-4.12.1983, 7- 9.11.1986, 20-22.10.1989, 16.9.1990 (extraordinary), 18-20.9.1992 27.7.1995 and 10.8.1996 (extraordinary). The board elected at the last congress is composed of Mahmut Özonur (chairman), Hayrettin Erdogan (deputy chairman), M. Murat Aytemiz (general secretary), Mustafa Kumlu (finance secretary), Hasan Saygili (education secretary), Kamil Özdemir (research and social affairs secretary) and M. Ali Ersoy (organization secretary).

The organization secretary of the union, Nevzat Biyikli, was elected to the parliament in 1983.

The union supported at first the military coup of 1980, but the activity report presented to its second congress was extremely critical of the legal and economic transformations put into effect by the military regime.

Tes-Is members played an active role in the 1989 Spring Actions organized by Türk-Is and waged various other actions on their own. Since with the new legislation they were put under a strike ban and had difficulties in obtaining their rights fully and on time, they also continued actions such as slow-downs, boycotting meals, growing their beards, reporting sick collectively, etc., in 1990 and 1991. In June 1991, for example, 95 thousand workers boycotted meals when the collective negotiations at TEK (Turkish Electricity Institution) were deadlocked. Tes-Is protested strongly against the privatizations, as most of its members were employed in the public sector, and it suggested that if TEK was to be sold energy workers would be willing to buy it collectively. In fact, when certain units of TEK were privatized, Tes-Is bought some shares on behalf of its members, but could not attain a level as to be influential in the decision-making processes of these companies.

Tes-Is waged the first strike in the energy branch after the military coup between 25.6-11.10.1990 at a private enterprise in Diyarbakir. Also in the same year 400 members of the union waged a 109-day strike at the construction site of the Kralkizi Dam, and the action ended with a collective labour contract.

The union has 45 branches (Adana 1-2-3, Adapazari, Afsin, Afyon, Ankara 1-2-3, Antalya, Aydin, Balikesir, Bursa, Cayirhan, Diyarbakir, Diyarbakir 1-2, Edirne, Elazig, Erzurum, Eskisehir, Hirfanli, Isparta, Istanbul 1-2-3-4-5, Izmir 1-2, Kayseri, Kahramanmaras, Kesan, Konya, Kütahya, Malatya, Mus, Samsun, Sivas, Soma, Sanliurfa, Tavsanli, Trabzon, Van, Yatagan, Zonguldak) and publishes a bimonthly journal called „Tes-Is" and a biweekly bulletin called „Tes-Is Haber Bülteni".

It reported 75,000 members in 1983, 78,177 in 1984, 100,265 in 1986, 116,878 in 1988, 120,000 in 1989, 119,769 in 1992, 123,987 in 1996 and 122,685 in 1997.

TEZ-KOOP-IS

(TURKIYE TICARET, KOOPERATIF, EGITIM, BURO VE GUZEL SANATLAR ISCILERI SENDIKASI)
UNION OF COMMERCE, COOPERATIVE, EDUCATION, OFFICE AND FINE ARTS WORKERS OF TURKEY

Labour union founded in Ankara on November 26, 1962, originally under the name of Tez-Büro-Is (Union of Sales Assistants and Office Workers of Turkey) to operate in the commerce, office, education and fine arts branch; affiliated to Türk-Is and FIET (International Federation of Commercial, Clerical and Technical Employees). The union was founded by Ali Tuncel, Ismail Inanc, Cemalettin Olgun, Ömer Gündogdu, Dervis Özdemir, Zekeriya Basaran, Muharrem Nazenin, Hasan Cüce, Sevket Comoglu, Mustafa Bayramoglu and Dervis Emre (all of them employed in various outlets of the state-owned Sümerbank) and Sina Pamukcu, manager of the education department of Türk-Is.

Tez-Koop-Is held general assembly meetings on: 22-23.2.1964, 14-16.2.1966, 18-19.8.1967, 5-7.5.1969, 9-12.3.1971, 20-24.5.1974, 16-19.3.1977, 16-17.9.1978, 28-29.11.1980, 1.9.1983 (extraordinary), 3-4.1.2.1983, 6-7.7.1986, 29-30.11.1986, 12-13.12.1987 (extraordinary), 3.12.1989, 9-10.3.1991 (extraordinary), 3-4.10.1992, 30.9-1.10.1995 and 13-14.9.1997 (extraordinary). The board elected at the last congress is composed of Murat Dizdar (chairman), Faruk Ustün (general secretary), Seyfettin Bozkaya, Hasan Topaloglu, Cengiz Armisen, Ismail Kinis, Soner Emek, Sinan Kahraman, Sedat Ölmez.

The roots of the union go as far back as Ankara Sümerbank Iscileri ve Tezgahtarlari Sendikasi (Union of Sümerbank Workers and Shop Assistants in Ankara) that was founded in 1948. Tez-Koop-Is founder Ali Tuncel was the chairman of this union in 1960.

In 1957 Ankara Tezgahtar Sendikasi (Union of Shop Assistants of Ankara, founded on 25.7.1950) decided to join Ankara Sümerbank Iscileri ve Tezgahtarlari Sendikasi, and the latter union affiliated to Türk-Is in 1957.

There are other theories about the foundation of Tez-Koop-Is which suggest that a local union called Ipek Iscileri Sendikasi (Union of Silk Workers) founded in Ankara in 1952, or Ankara Mensucat, Dikim ve Kesim Iscileri Sendikasi (Union of Textile and Garment Workers of Ankara) founded in 1951 formed the basis of the union.

In 1967 the union waged its first strike that lasted 77 days at the Adana Office of SSK.

In 1969 TEDLIS (Union of Pharmacy Workers) abolished itself and joined Tez-Koop-Is.

In 1971 Tez-Koop-Is was among the 12 unions that submitted the report titled „Social Democratic Order for the Turkish Workers Movement" to the leadership of Türk-Is. The union adopted the view that the „non-partisan" policy of Türk-Is had to be changed, but until that time the union would comply with this policy.

Between 1974-1977 the independent Noter-Is and Garanti-Sen, the enterprise union organized in Garanti Bank, abolished themselves to join Tez-Koop-Is. The union later waged a strike at 46 branches of Garanti Bank.

In the mid-1970’s the union pursued a policy of supporting the social democratic CHP against the coalition governments of three right-wing parties. It denounced the austerity program adopted by the government on 24.1.1980 as an assault against the working class. In November 1980, however, the chairman of the union Ugur Batmaz said that they considered the military coup as a necessary and appropriate intervention and criticised those who declared that the coup targeted the unions and workers.

The union adopted its present name at the congress on 1.9.1983. At this congress the charter was changed to promote a more centralized structure in the union, in accordance with the new trade union legislation.

After 1983 the primary problem for the union was passing the 10% barrier. When the Ministry of Labour determined its membership as being under this level, the chairman of the union resigned. However, soon after a new chairman had been elected the labour court ruled in favour of the objection of the union.

In 1984 and 1985 several unions joined Tez-Koop-Is, including Bagimsiz Tez-Büro-Is, Dev-Bes-Is, Paksel-Is, Mete Bilgi-Is and Samsun Kar-Bir-Koop-Is.

In 1987 the union waged a 132-day strike involving 1100 workers at the Migros supermarket chain in Istanbul. Although an agreement was reached as a result, Migros workers organized another strike that lasted for 16 days in September 1989, when the employer fired four leaders of the local branch and a shop steward. At the congress of the union on 3.12.1989 Aynur Karaaslan, the chairman of the branch responsible for the Migros strikes was expelled from the union on the ground that she did not comply with the aims and principles of the union.

In 1990 the decision of the union to conclude the collective bargaining at SSK offices without informing Türk-Is led to a conflict between the leadership of the union and the confederation, and finally chairman Kenan Gürbüz was dismissed from his office temporarily by the disciplinary and audit commissions of the union.

In 1991 the union started to organize the workers at the Bilkent University, and when the employer responded by a massive layoff various actions were staged with the support of the students.

Another important action in the 1990’s was the strike at the plant producing Coca Cola, during which 350 union members cooperated with 650 members of the Tek-Gida-Is union. The striking workers appealed to the public for a boycott on Coca Cola, and organized other actions that included the barricade of the main highway in Istanbul. The strike lasted 65 days and ended with the signing of an agreement.

In 1992, 1721 union members waged a strike at the state-owned supermarket chain GIMA for 5 days. The chain was later privatized.

The union has branches in Adana (No.1 and 2), Ankara (No.1, 2 and 4), Antalya, Bursa, Diyarbakir, Edirne, Erzurum, Eskisehir, Giresun, Gebze, Gaziantep, Istanbul (No.1, 2 and 4), Izmir and Zonguldak.

Its monthly publication „Tez-Koop-Is Dergisi" was converted in 1990 into a more comprehensive bimonthly journal. It also publishes from time to time news bulletins and books on special subjects.

The union reported 2,505 members in 1964, 6,500 in 1974, 10,000 in 1977, 31,218 in 1990, 34,674 in 1991, 36,787 in 1992, 41,271 in 1993, 44,082 in 1994, 45,084 in 1995 and 51,298 in 1997.

TGS

(TURKIYE GAZETECILER SENDIKASI)
JOURNALISTS UNION OF TURKEY

Labour union founded in Istanbul on July 9, 1952 to operate in the press and printing branch, originally under the name of Istanbul Union of Journalists; affiliated to Türk-Is and FIJ (International Federation of Journalists).

The union is based in Istanbul and was founded by 16 journalists, including C.Fehmi Baskut, Melih Yener, Sami Tezis, A.Ihsan Gögüs and Ahmet Ihsan who were the editors-in-chief of the dailies Cumhuriyet, Vatan, Posta, Dünya and Hürriyet, respectively.

The union held general assembly meetings on: 12.9.1952, 14.4.1953 (extraordinary), 17-18.11.1953, 18.4.1955, 14.12.1955, 4.1.1957, 8.4.1958, 29.9.1958 (extraordinary), 4.9.1959, 5.11.1960, 5- 8.3.1961 (extraordinary), 6.9.1961, 10.9.1962, 30.9.1963, 7.9.1966, 31.1.1967, 26-27.3.1969, 7-8.4.1971, 16-17.11.1974, 20-21.11.1976, 1-2.12.1978, 19.3.1982, 4-5.8.1983, 26-27.11.1983, 4-5.11.1986, 7-8.10.1989, 19-20.9.1992 and 16-17.9.1996. Currently the board is composed of Ziya Sonay (chairman), Kadir Özen (deputy chairman), Yusuf Duyar (general secretary), Adigüzel Demirtas (organization secretary), Hasan Ercan (finance secretary), Fikret Ay (education secretary), Sükrü Akin and Murat Ali Sakal as members.

TGS was at the beginning an organization to which only press members subject to the Press Labour Act could join. The union could start organizing all press workers only in 1969.

It was converted into a national type of union in 1963, when it also adopted its present name.

Soon afterwards, the journalist unions in Bursa and Eskisehir joined TGS and were converted into local branches. In June 1971, following the military coup, the union sent a letter to the government criticising the proposals for amending the Constitution of 1961 to the detriment of the working class and the freedom of press.

In 1976 the charter of the union was amended to read: „TGS... shall adhere to the principles of social justice and social democracy, in compliance with human rights and the rules of free democracy.."

The request of Türkiye Teknisyen Gazeteciler Sendikasi (Union of Technical Newspaper Employees of Turkey) to join TGS was accepted at the congress in 1976, although not without objections.

In 1983 the charter was modified again to include, among the principles of the union, the phrase „to participate with utmost effort in the protection of the indivisible unity of the state with its land and nation.."

In November 1989 the union organized a demonstration with hundreds of participants to protest the murder of journalist Kamil Basaran.

In 1990 the union lived a period of expansion, becoming organized in all major dailies and press agencies. The next year, however, the crisis in the press sector also effected the union. In 1991 and 1992 the union waged a series of actions at the daily „Günes" to protect the rights of its members.

In 1995 the union made the necessary changes in its charter to enable those employed in the news sections of radios and televisions to affiliate to TGS.

The union has branches in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir, and a representative office in Adana. It does not have a periodical publication.

The union reported 1,123 members (49 of them women) in 1970, 6,318 in 1975, 4,520 in 1982, 4,376 in 1996 and 4,382 in 1997.

TOLEYIS

(TURKIYE OTEL, LOKANTA, EGLENCE YERLERI ISCILERI SENDIKASI)
UNION OF HOTEL, RESTAURANT AND ENTERTAINMENT FACILITY WORKERS OF TURKEY

Labour union founded in Istanbul on January 1977 to operate in the accommodation and entertainment facilities branch; affiliated to Türk-Is.

The union was founded by Esat Özada, Kazim Gül, Ahmet Toprak, Iskender Tunc, Mustafa Aksoy, Kadir Basural, Riza Güven, Sait Erbozkurt and Hasan Balamber.

The union held general assembly meetings on: 27.8.1977, 13.1.1979, 13.6.1982, 3.4.1983, 28.8.1983 (extraordinary), 11.3.1984 (extraordinary), 18-19.8.1984, 21.7.1985 (extraordinary), 26-27.4.1986, 20-21.7.1985, 2.7.1989, 16- 17.11.1991, 28-29.5.1994 and 4-5.11.1995 (extraordinary). The board elected at the last congress is composed of Cemail Bakindi (chairman), Necati Aktas (deputy chairman) and B. Ali Dönmez (finance secretary).

In 1978 Türk Oley-Is union based in Erzurum joined Toleyis and was converted to its local branch, while another union based in Izmir in the same branch decided to amalgamate with Toleyis in August 1981.

The union affiliated to Türk-Is in March 1979. Between 1977-1983 it used the name „Toreyis".

Toleyis leadership declared at the congress of the union in 1982 that they „respected and assisted" the military government and that trade union activities were being conducted according to the conditions prevailing at that time. They criticised at the same time the rival union, DISK affiliated Oleyis, for hoisting the red banner instead of the Turkish flag in First of May demonstrations and provoking workers to illegal strikes, thus opening the way for the coup. In 1983 the union made an application to the Ministry of Labour and requested that in the future the union fees of Oleyis members be deducted from the payrolls in the name of Toleyis, since Oleyis had been closed by the martial law command.

In 1983 TUMIS (Union of Music and Scene Workers) abolished itself to amalgamate with Toleyis. In 1984 the independent Turizm-Is joined Toleyis and was converted into its Marmara Regional branch. In 1986, some of the members of Tursan-Is decided to leave their union and to organize in Toleyis.

Between 1983 and 1990 there were many disputes and conflicts in the union, and numerous congresses were held to solve these problems. The conflicts climbed to the level of armed fights in 1989, when the finance secretary stabbed the chairman of the union at a restaurant. In recent years Toleyis has called a number of strikes at various enterprises, including the Hilton Hotel (49 days), Inci Patisserie (92 days), Usas (17 days).

It has been a member of IUF (International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations since May 30, 1995.

The union has Marmara Region, Aegean Region, Central Anatolian Region, Antalya Region, Istanbul Region, Marmaris Region, Bursa Region, Mersin, Istanbul No.1, Samsun and the Black Sea Region branches. It publishes a periodical called „Calisanlar-Toleyis".

Toleyis reported 319 members in 1979, 766 in 1981, 16,000 in 1990, 31,675 in 1996 and 32,865 in 1997.