|
Turkish Airlines workers vote in favor of strike |
 |
 |
 |
|
Written by AP
|
|
Thursday, 09 August 2007 16:54 |
|
Thousands of aviation workers voted in favor of a strike over a pay dispute with national carrier Turkish Airlines, the company said Thursday.
Crew, ground staff and technical workers across Turkey voted in favor of a strike action, following the collapse of pay increase negotiations between Turkish Airlines and the aviation workers' union, Hava-Is, said Candan Karlitekin, deputy chairman of the airline company's executive board.
Voting which began Monday and ended Thursday resulted with 5,115 votes in favor and around 4,555 against a strike, the Dogan news agency reported.
The decision, however, does not mean an imminent strike. Hava-Is leaders are expected to re-enter negotiations, their hands considerably strengthened with the workers' backing for a strike.
Karlitekin said, however, Turkish Airlines had made its best offer.
"We have gone to the furthest point possible," Karlitekin said. "It is not possible for us to go any further." "We stand behind the offer we put on the table," he said.
A strike could disrupt air travel at the height of the tourism season. Business groups have also expressed concern over a possible strike.
The union has been negotiating for improved pay and work conditions for its members for the past five months. Hava-Is last month rejected a pay package offered by the company, saying it did not meet the union's expectations.
|