Turk Hava Yollari (THYAO) AO, better known as Turkish Airlines, was forced to cancel 104 flights from Istanbul on Tuesday due to an airline worker's strike. Hundreds of airline employees called in sick as a way to protest a government-proposed legislation that would make it illegal for aviation employees to strike.
"Many of them have become sick and do not feel ready to fly. In terms of flight safety, they are unable to perform their duties," Hava-Is general secretary Mustafa Yagci told Reuters.
Due to the lack of ground handlers, technicians and other workers, the airline had to cancel 104 domestic or international flights and several others faced lengthy delays. The airline's website was also hacked and not working, but there is no reported damage to infrastructure.
The private television station HaberTurk reported that because of the changes, there are many long lines and chaos throughout Istanbul's Ataturk International Airport.
Turkish Airlines has recently undergone expansion. It expanded its fleet and added dozens of new routes, bringing them closer to 200 destinations. They have 178 planes, with another 55 on order.
Aviation workers are upset, claiming that proposed legislation violates international labor laws and is unconstitutional. Workers are also angry about an outstanding dispute over pay for 2011 and 2012 between Turkish Airlines and the Hava-Is union. The head of aviation union Hava-Is said that the protest was not an official strike because workers are currently only allowed to strike after a statutory process. Workers are considering an even larger strike in the future if these issues are not resolved.
The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) has condemned the Turkish government's continuing attempts to deprive citizens of their rights and supports the workers who are trying to fight for them.
Transport minister Binali Yildirim said he would take necessary steps to end the protest if it does not end soon. The protest is expected to end on midnight Tuesday.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
