The Rightfulness of HİZMET-İŞ Union Proven by Official Report: ÇSGB Penalized Altındağ Municipality for Union Repression

ANKARA - A report prepared by inspectors from the Ministry of Labor and Social Security (MoLSS) has officially proven that the SERV-İŞ Trade Union was right in its struggle against Altındağ Municipality's company Altinbel A.S. The expert panel found that Altındağ Municipality had applied union pressure, unfairly reduced workers' wages and dismissed 43 employees for not resigning from the union. The Ministry imposed a heavy administrative fine on the company for these unlawful practices.

Expert Report: Trade Union Repression

The expert report prepared as a result of the investigation initiated upon the application of the Hizmet-İŞ Union to the Ministry of Labor and Social Security (ÇSGB) revealed the extent of the scandal at Altınbel A.Ş. The report stated that Altındağ Municipality usurped the vested rights of workers by not complying with the Additional Protocol signed with HİZMET-İŞ on February 19, 2024. One of the most striking findings was that workers who were union members were paid lower wages than non-members and that irregular adjustments were made in the wages of those who resigned from the union in order to end union organization.

The report also emphasized that municipality managers held meetings at workplaces to pressure workers to resign from the union, and as a result of this pressure, 43 employees who did not resign were dismissed without any justification. In the light of all these findings, the inspectors stated, "It was evaluated that there was union pressure at the workplace."

The Cost of Unlawfulness: 531 Thousand TL Fine and Suit

In their report, the ministry inspectors stated that the unfair dismissal of 43 workers whose employment contracts were terminated was in violation of the Law No. 6356 on Trade Unions and Collective Labor Agreements. In line with this determination, it was decided that Altınbel A.Ş. should be imposed an administrative fine of 531 thousand 609 TL. HİZMET-İŞ Union stated that these practices, which are carried out without any legal basis, cause public loss and the money of the people of Altındağ is transferred to arbitrary practices.

The report also stated that the receivables arising from the Additional Protocol have not been paid and that the wages earned by the workers have been retroactively deducted. It was pointed out that this situation justifies the workers to file a "lawsuit for performance". HİZMET-İŞ announced that the legal process will be initiated in this direction and that they will continue to fight until they get back the usurped rights of their members.

HİZMET-İŞ: "Our Rightful and Legal Struggle Will Continue"

After the decision, HİZMET-İŞ Union made a press release and thanked the inspectors of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security. "This report, which justifies the administrative and legal struggle process of our union against the uncompromising, imposing, bullying and threatening attitudes of Altındağ Municipality since the Local Elections of March 31, 2024, has once again shown that our struggle is justified and legal," the union said.

HİZMET-İŞ management stated that they will continue to meticulously follow the vested rights of their members who were forcibly separated from the union and the legal struggle of 43 employees who were unjustly dismissed. They added that they will follow all the unlawfulness and union oppression in this process until the end. HİZMET-İŞ emphasized that this decision will set a precedent for all union struggles in Turkey and is an important victory for the protection of workers' rights.