TURKEY ANALYSES January 2013 A GENERAL EVALUATION OF TURKEY’S NEW ACT ON TRADE UNIONS and COLLECTIVE AGREEMENTS Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aziz Çelik Kocaeli University, Labour Economy and Industrial Relations Department „ „ Contrary to expectations, Turkey’s new act on trade unions and collective agreements does not further rights and freedoms. „ „ The new law is not in harmony with ILO’s convention number 87 and with international work norms and thus also not with Turkey’s constitution. „ „ The new law was passed notwithstanding the negative reaction of both national and international labour organisations. „ „ The new law maintains the basic parameters and general principles of the union regulations introduced im­mediately after the military coup.