In July, the public sector workers’ union Belediye-Is, affiliated to the European Federation of Public Service Unions and Public Services International (PSI) reported repression and intimidation towards its members in a series of municipalities. Workers were being intimidated into cancelling their union membership with Belediye-Is and to join another union organisation supported by the management. In the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, Belediye-Is members were being forced to quit the union through threats exerted by Municipality officials.
It was reported in July that managers of the Metro Istanbul government had been threatening and intimidating workers, forcing a number of them to quit the union. Those who later chose to return to Belediye-İş were punished with forced relocation to other jobs elsewhere inside the municipality. The workers most concerned were municipality employees in parks, gardens, social facilities, and municipal police services.
