ISTANBUL – The Tek-İş Union has alleged that the Istanbul Provincial Directorate of Youth and Sports has subjected union officials to punitive assignments, violated employees' legal annual leave rights, and failed to pay annual leave wages in accordance with the law. The union has requested that the Ministry of Labor and Social Security initiate an investigation.

According to the union's statement, Marmara Branch President Ömer Polat was subjected to an alleged illegal and punitive job reassignment on July 7, 2025. The union claims that after Polat refused to accept this job reassignment, he was forced to complete his working hours at the workplace entrance for approximately 15 days.

The statement also alleges that exactly one year later, on July 7, 2026, a similar attempt was made to change the position of the Founding Vice President of the Tek-İş Union. The union argues that this change of position is unlawful under Article 24(4) of the Trade Unions and Collective Bargaining Agreements Law No. 6356. Furthermore, it claims that after the rejection of the change of position, the use of annual leave, which had allegedly been rejected for the previous two years, was made conditional on the acceptance of the change of position.

The union also stated that the same Head of Personnel was involved in both incidents, alleging that the official acted contrary to the principle of impartiality expected of public officials and engaged in practices that could harm the public interest.

Tek-İş Union also claimed that employees of the Istanbul Provincial Youth and Sports Directorate were arbitrarily prevented from taking their annual leave and that their annual leave payments were not made in advance before the leave began, citing "salary burden" as the reason.

The statement cited the decision of the 9th Civil Chamber of the Supreme Court of Appeals (Case No. 2025/2024, Decision No. 2025/2487), emphasizing that Article 57 of the Turkish Labor Law No. 4857 mandates that annual leave payments be made to employees in advance or as an advance before the start of the leave period. It was also noted that the Supreme Court of Appeals ruled that failure to comply with this obligation constitutes a justifiable reason for the employee to terminate their employment contract.

The union stated that the refusal to grant annual leave and the failure to pay annual leave wages as stipulated by law constitute administrative and legal liability. Accordingly, it requested the Ministry of Labor and Social Security to initiate the necessary investigation and inquiry procedures regarding the Istanbul Provincial Youth and Sports Directorate.

The statement also included the following:

"The punitive measures taken against our union and its officials are unacceptable. Türkiye's obligations under ILO Conventions 87 and 98 concerning freedom of association and the right to organize are being arbitrarily violated."

The following statements were also included:

"Labor law provisions applied in the private sector should be applied with the same rigor in public institutions. Public institutions should set an example for the private sector by ensuring full compliance with labor legislation."

Tek-İş Union reiterated that it will continue its legal and union struggle to protect the constitutional and legal rights of workers.