NEWS CENTRE (DİHA) - The Bill related to making amendments on Public Workers' Unions Act has been discussed in the Commission of Health, Family, Work and Social Affairs despite protests by unions and union confederations.

The Confederation of Public Workers' Unions (KESK) members held demonstrations against the bill today in Ankara, Adana, Mersin, Van and İzmir. KESK General Secretary İsmail Hakkı Tombul said the bill proposed a step backward in terms of collective bargaining and the unions' demands were ignored and added: "The AKP [Justice and Development Party] is preserving the obstacles in front of the right to organize as well as striving to disable the existing organisations and unions."

The bill was also criticized by confederation presidents in the meeting of the Commission. Confederation of Public Servants' Trade Unions President Ahmet Gündoğdu emphasized the need of a law that would give the public servants the right to organize, meet the public servants' expectations and conform to collective bargaining whereas KESK President Lami Özgen said the bill would mean a step back from the system brought in 2011 and the confederation demanded the authority to sign as well as the right to object the agreement. Kamu-Sen (The Confederation of Public Workers' Union of Turkey) President İsmail Koncuk noted the bill does not fit the standards of ILO (International Labour Organisation) whereas CHP (People's Republican Party) Istanbul MP and former DİSK (The Confederation of Revolutionary Workers' Unions) President Süleyman Çelebi demanded the bill needs to be revised accordingly to the objections of the confederations.

Yet another criticism came from DİSK General Secretary who said it was obvious that the bill was prepared in favor of the employers and did not bring any increase of union rights and liberties.

(bş/gü)