JINHA

ANKARA - Union women protested the exclusion of women's demands from the bargaining table by pro-government union leadership, in a press conference held yesterday in Turkey's capital of Ankara.

During collective bargaining at the Ministry of Labor in Ankara, Gülistan Atasoy--women's secretary for the public workers' union confederation KESK--attempted to present demands at the table related to women's needs. However, the leadership of another union known for its alliance with the ruling government (Memur-Sen) joined the Labor Minister in opposing the presentation of women's demands at the bargaining table.

Yesterday, women union activists protested the patriarchal union leadership with a press conference at KESK headquarters in Ankara. Saziye Köse, general co-chair of the opposition union KESK, critiqued the pro-government unionists' entrenched attitude of signing off on any agreement presented by the Ministry of Labor.

"Why are you scared of women speaking?" asked Saziye. "Are you blanching at the thought of the male leaders you've latched on to being shaken from power?"

(de/gc/cm)