Cyprus Turkish Secondary Education Teachers' Union, KTOEOS
Mr Adnan ERASLAN, President
Abdullah Parla Sokak 5,
Lefkosa-Kibris
Cyprus
Fax: +90-392-228.86.48
Brussels, 16 June 2008
Dear Adnan,
Thank you for your letter of 30 May 2008 in which you outline the current problems related to the repressive attitude of the rector and authorities following the strike at the European University of Lefke.
As you know, EI acts as a watchdog to monitor the human and trade union rights of teachers in all countries. EI also strongly advocates for the rights of higher education personnel to form unions and enter into meaningful collective bargaining to negotiate conditions of employment and status with the higher education institutions.
The facts described by KTOEOS in the context of the strike at the EUL violate a number of international labour standards. Indeed, the right to join a teacher trade union is a fundamental right highlighted by International Labour Organisation Convention 87. The right to strike is also an intrinsic corollary to the right to organize protected by ILO Convention 87. The possible consequences of strikes in the teaching sector do not justify their prohibition and the loss of a person’s trade union status as a result of dismissal for strike activities is contrary to the principles of freedom of association.
Teachers and academic staff, and especially their union representatives, should be protected against any discrimination which might be exercised because of a strike and they should be able to form trade unions without being exposed to anti-union discrimination, says the ILO jurisprudence.
In addition, the 1997 UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Higher-Education Teaching Personnel stresses that higher education institutions are accountable to ensure effective support of academic freedom and fundamental human rights, as well as to ensure that higher education personnel are not impeded in their work in the classroom or in their research capacity by violence, intimidation or harassment. “Higher-education teaching personnel should enjoy the right to freedom of association, and this right should be effectively promoted. Collective bargaining or an equivalent procedure should be promoted in accordance with the standards of the International Labour Organization.” (article 52)
Article 26 of the UNESCO Recommendation stresses that “all higher-education teaching personnel should enjoy freedom of thought, conscience, religion, expression, assembly and association as well as the right to liberty and security of the person and liberty of movement. They should not be hindered or impeded in exercising their civil rights as citizens, including the right to contribute to social change through freely expressing their opinion of state policies and of policies affecting higher education. They should not suffer any penalties simply because of the exercise of such rights.”
Regarding tenure, the UNESCO Recommendation states that “Tenure constitutes one of the major procedural safeguards of academic freedom and against arbitrary decisions.” Article 46 states that “No member of the academic community should be subject to discipline, including dismissal, except for just and sufficient cause demonstrable before an independent third-party hearing of peers, and/or before an impartial body such as arbitrators or the courts. Dismissal as a disciplinary measure should only be for just and sufficient cause related to professional conduct, for example: persistent neglect of duties, gross incompetence, fabrication or falsification of research results, serious financial irregularities, sexual or other misconduct with students, colleagues, or other members of the academic community or serious threats thereof, or corruption of the educational process such as by falsifying grades, diplomas or degrees in return for money, sexual or other favours or by demanding sexual, financial or other material favours from subordinate employees or colleagues in return for continuing employment.”
“Higher-education teaching personnel should have access to a fair grievance and arbitration procedure, or the equivalent, for the settlement of disputes with their employers arising out of terms and conditions of employment.” (article 56)
EI commends the dedication of KTOEOS to advocate to improve the working conditions and status of higher education personnel and to strive for quality education provisions for all children and students on the island of Cyprus.
Sincerely yours,
Fred van LeeuwenGeneral Secretary
cc: KTOS – OELMEK – OLTEK – POED
ETUCE
Tuesday, 24 June 2008
Friday, 20 June 2008
Wednesday, 18 June 2008
Cyprus Mail 13th June
Support across the Green Line as Turkish Cypriot lecturers battle dismissal By Leo Leonidou(archive article - Friday, June 13, 2008) A PETITION was yesterday handed in to the Turkish Cypriot ‘parliament’, demanding the reinstatement of 78 teachers at the European University of Lefke who have been fired over the past two years.
Semra Galip, a Professor of Sociology at Sorbonne University, who hails from the town and whose brother was one of those dismissed, yesterday told the Mail that the dismissals are illegal.
“Legal action has been initiated by the teachers, who include Turks, Cypriots, Americans and Britons,” she said.
According to Galip, there is, “disorder at the university, where political power is being exerted and cliques formed on the board.”
She added that many of those fired have taken to sleeping in tents outside ‘Parliament’ and the university in protest.
“We have the support of numerous civil organisations from both sides of the Green Line as well as from Greek Cypriot teachers,” she said.
“If there is no positive response in the next week, we plan on staging a huge demonstration.”
A man teaching at the university for over ten years before being sacked said the problems began with the appointment of a new rector two years ago.
“Teachers have a constitutional right to join the Cyprus Turkish Secondary School Teachers Union (KTOEOS) and we cannot lose our jobs for doing so,” he explained.
Two half-day warning strikes took place in March, with everybody participating receiving warning letters.
A week-long strike was then arranged beginning on May 11, with 18 people sacked by the university five days later.
“Eventually, the staff felt that more needed to be done to make a stand and save the university from the actions of the current administration and that’s why we have handed in the petition,” the man said. “We need to exert pressure on the government to bring about the reinstatement of the teachers.”
He added that, “after working there for so long, I am feeling very bitter about what has happened.”
A British lecturer said she was “in shock” over the sackings.
“These people are being denied their rights. We simply want to be able to be part of the union,” she said.
The woman added that she was told she would have her contract terminated if she joined.
Costis Achniotis, a member of the Greek Cypriot United Cyprus Teachers Union, also said he backed the teachers.
“We are fully behind them and must try to show our support and solidarity in any way we can,” he said.
Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2008
Semra Galip, a Professor of Sociology at Sorbonne University, who hails from the town and whose brother was one of those dismissed, yesterday told the Mail that the dismissals are illegal.
“Legal action has been initiated by the teachers, who include Turks, Cypriots, Americans and Britons,” she said.
According to Galip, there is, “disorder at the university, where political power is being exerted and cliques formed on the board.”
She added that many of those fired have taken to sleeping in tents outside ‘Parliament’ and the university in protest.
“We have the support of numerous civil organisations from both sides of the Green Line as well as from Greek Cypriot teachers,” she said.
“If there is no positive response in the next week, we plan on staging a huge demonstration.”
A man teaching at the university for over ten years before being sacked said the problems began with the appointment of a new rector two years ago.
“Teachers have a constitutional right to join the Cyprus Turkish Secondary School Teachers Union (KTOEOS) and we cannot lose our jobs for doing so,” he explained.
Two half-day warning strikes took place in March, with everybody participating receiving warning letters.
A week-long strike was then arranged beginning on May 11, with 18 people sacked by the university five days later.
“Eventually, the staff felt that more needed to be done to make a stand and save the university from the actions of the current administration and that’s why we have handed in the petition,” the man said. “We need to exert pressure on the government to bring about the reinstatement of the teachers.”
He added that, “after working there for so long, I am feeling very bitter about what has happened.”
A British lecturer said she was “in shock” over the sackings.
“These people are being denied their rights. We simply want to be able to be part of the union,” she said.
The woman added that she was told she would have her contract terminated if she joined.
Costis Achniotis, a member of the Greek Cypriot United Cyprus Teachers Union, also said he backed the teachers.
“We are fully behind them and must try to show our support and solidarity in any way we can,” he said.
Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2008
Thursday, 12 June 2008
KTOEOS Launches petition campaign
The President of the Cyprus Turkish Secondary Education Teachers’ Union- Adnan Eraslan has announced that a petition campaign has been launched for 11 academicians, who were laid-off at the
The President of the Cyprus Turkish Secondary Education Teachers’ Union- Adnan Eraslan has announced that a petition campaign has been launched for 11 academicians, who were laid-off at the
Mr Eraslan said visits have been paid to all political parties and civil society organizations for the petition campaign.
In a written statement today, KTOEOS President said the petition campaign also includes the
Eraslan stated that the signatures collected will be presented to Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer at the Republic’s Assembly later.
The Union President underlined the need for providing an urgent solution to the problem at LAU and called on the government to make efforts towards doing so.
11 June 2008, Wednesday 19:28 BRT
Support from Malaysia
The Malaysian Academic Movement (MOVE) is an umbrella organization representing the academics in all universities in
We are sadden to hear about the sufferings of our brothers and sisters at the
One of the fundamental rights of academic is the right to organize. We condemn the actions taken by the management of EUL in blocking the formation the academic union at EUL and in punishing those involved the organizing the union. We demand that the union be recognized and that those punished be reinstate.
Wan Manan Wan Muda,
Chairman, Malaysian Academic Movement (MOVE)
Rosli H. Mahat,
Assistant Secretary (International Affairs), Malaysian Academic Movement (MOVE)
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