TRADE UNIONISM IN TURKEY: THE SELF-UNDERSTANDING OF TÜRK-İŞ AND ITS ROLE IN SOCIETY AND POLITICS (1950-1982)


YİRMİBEŞOĞLU Ş. G.

Vdm Dr. Müller Verlag Publishing, Londra, 2009

  • Publication Type: Book / Research Book
  • Publication Date: 2009
  • Publisher: Vdm Dr. Müller Verlag Publishing
  • City: Londra
  • Akdeniz University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The arguments concerning the trade unionism and working class
movement in Turkey as well as the largest confederation, Türk-s, in
relation to the involvement in the political arena is debated in this thesis by
underlining the lack of class identity among the workers. The main
argument is that Türk-s was not established by the will and efforts of the
workers. Another major discussion point of the thesis is the nonpartisanship
policy of Türk-s. It has been found that Türk-s participated
quite actively in the political sphere until the 1980 military intervention.
However, the limits of this participation were widely drawn by the major
political parties of the country. The thesis defends that there are problems
stemming from the lack of class consciousness among the Türk-s
workers, the hierarchal structure of Türk-s and the profit oriented
approaches of the political parties towards Türk-s.
Keywords: Trade Unionism, Türk-s, Working Class, Non-Partisanship Policy, Political Sphere