The Physician Association reacted to the re-introduction of the 5 percent union threshold.
The union reminded that the previous 1 percent and 2 percent threshold regulations were annulled by judicial decisions, and announced that they took action to bring together unions in the health and social services business line on a common struggle platform.
The Physician Association Union made a statement regarding the 5 percent union threshold regulation being brought to the agenda.
The statement noted the following:
"The 1 percent union threshold regulation introduced in the 2021 collective bargaining negotiations was canceled by the decision of the 12th Chamber of the Council of State dated March 16, 2023. The subsequent 2 percent union threshold regulation was canceled by the decision of the General Assembly of the Constitutional Court dated January 18, 2024, and the decision was published in the Official Gazette dated March 5, 2024. While the judicial decisions are clear, today the 5 percent union threshold is brought back to the agenda, union freedoms and the right to democratic organization It is an unacceptable initiative.
The freedom to establish and become a member of a union, guaranteed by Article 51 of the Constitution, cannot be limited based on the political power, size or number of members of any union. As the Physician Association, our power does not come from political structures, administrative authorities or privileged legal regulations; "We get it from our righteous struggle, our principled stance and the trust our members have in us."
"A PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITY"
"We do not need dams, regulations that hinder our competitors, or political support to grow! We gain our members by believing in our rightness, trusting in our struggle, and resolutely defending the rights of physicians. Dams cannot stand in our way! However, it is a principled responsibility for us to stand against every obstacle that will be put in the way of the freedom of association of other unions and public officials.
Union competition should be conducted through better defense of employees' rights. Unionism cannot be carried out by narrowing the fields of activity of other unions, restricting the economic rights of its members, or creating privileges that will direct employees to certain unions. Unions should not be the backyard of politics, but should be independent and free organizations of employees. "As the Physician Association Union, we have decided to take action in order to bring together the unions operating in the health and social services business line under a common platform against the 5 percent union threshold initiative."
"THE AIM IS TO CARRY OUT THE NECESSARY STUDIES TO PREVENT THE REGULATION"
"In this regard, negotiations have been initiated with union presidents, and our efforts continue to ensure that all unions that defend union freedom form a common ground for struggle. Our goal is not only to protect the rights of our own union. Our goal is to defend the freedom of all public servants to choose a union, union pluralism, the right to organize and democratic unionism.
In this context; It is aimed to bring the unions in the health and social services business line together on a common platform, to create a joint struggle and action plan with the participation of the union presidents, to inform the public and raise social awareness, to take initiatives before political parties and MPs, and to carry out the necessary democratic and legal studies to prevent the regulation before it comes to the agenda of the Turkish Grand National Assembly.
We see such an anti-democratic regulation, let alone becoming law, even being brought back to the agenda and considered as an option, as a serious threat to union freedoms. No union should be allowed to gain power through regulations that hinder other unions. What will determine the size of the unions should not be political bargaining, but the free will of the employees and the struggle put forward by the unions.
Today, the issue is not about which union is big and which is small. Today, the issue is about protecting union freedom and protecting the will of the employees. "An unlawful act that remains silent today may be exposed to all unions and public officials tomorrow."
