State Council Demands Annulment of 4C Regulation

The Administrative Division of the State Council General Commission applied to the Constitutional Court to annul the 4C Article on "temporary personnel".

The State Council decreed that the regulation paves the way to inequality related to social security rights and is contrary to the law in respect to leaving the full authority with the Council of Ministers.

The case had been filed by the Tobacco, Alcoholic Beverages and Food Subsidiary Workers Union of Turkey (Tek Gıda-İş) on behalf of the Tekel workers.

The Tekel workers have been carrying on with their resistance for 79 days now. They were made redundant with the closure of the Tekel leaf tobacco factory and stores. The workers refused the transfer to other public enterprises under the scope of 4C and demanded to keep their previous status as employees.

The government held on to the 4C regulations and suggested several minor improvements to the workers like a pay raise, a working period of 11 months, 22 days of leave and severance pay.

The first case, the State Council decreed that the one month duration given to Tekel workers for their applications by the Council of Ministers was contrary to the law and dimissed the procedures.

The 4C regulation would deprive the workers from their right to collective agreement and to strike. 4C furthermore includes a cut of salaries and severance pay without job guarantee. (TK/VK)