Turkey silent on Gama hunger strike move

THE Turkish Government last night remained silent as dozens of its citizens prepared to go on hunger strike in the Gama migrant labour scandal.

After two months of unprecedented protests by hundreds of workers at the Turkish firm, a final group of 85 are still occupying company accommodation in Dublin and have threatened hunger strike if the matter is not resolved in the Labour Relations Commission early next week.

The dispute began when Socialist Party leader Joe Higgins discovered previously unknown Dutch bank accounts holding millions in workers’ wages more than seven weeks ago. That money has been retrieved but workers claim they are owed up to e40 million in unpaid overtime payments.

According to the Turkish Workers Action Group and SIPTU, more than 200 of the original protesters have returned home in recent weeks following threats and intimidation by Gama representatives. But, despite widespread allegations of intimidation against workers’ families in Turkey, the Turkish Government has yet to address the issue.

The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ankara declined to say why Foreign Affairs Minister HE Abdullah Gül has not responded to the plight of Turkish citizens in Ireland.

A department spokesman said he had received a report from Turkish Ambassador, Ahmet Berki Dibek, following concerns raised on Thursday by Enterprise Minister Mícheál Martin.

However, asked why the Turkish authorities had failed to act for the past two months, the spokesman said he could not comment.

It is expected the Turkish Government may make its first statement on the matter next Wednesday. After Thursday’s meeting with Ambassador Berki Dibek, Mr Martin said the ambassador had taken Gama’s point of view.

Mr Martin said he was “taken aback” that so many workers had left Ireland.

Socialist Party leader Joe Higgins criticised the Turkish authorities for not acting sooner. “The embassy hasn’t come out to talk to workers, to see the conditions they are living in and hear their problems.”

In a statement, Gama said SIPTU pickets were illegal and “a pretext to force the company to make unjustified concessions” in advance of Monday’s LRC talks.