Recognition of Labour Rights (Freedom of Association & Collective Bargaining)

1. Institutional Commitment

Atatürk University explicitly recognizes and guarantees labour rights, including the freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining, for all employees — academic, administrative, contract, outsourced, female, and international staff.

These rights are safeguarded under Turkish national law and institutionalized within the university’s governance framework through collective agreements, union representation, and internal regulations that ensure participation, non-discrimination, and equity in all employment relations.

2. Legal and Regulatory Framework

Atatürk University, as a public higher education institution, operates under a comprehensive set of laws, regulations, and decrees that collectively ensure full recognition of worker and union rights.

A. Core National Laws Governing Labour Rights

B. Supporting Regulations and Presidential Decrees

3. Institutional Practice and Union Recognition

A. Collective Agreements

Atatürk University regularly engages in collective bargaining processes with recognized unions.
A recent collective labour agreement was signed between Atatürk University Rectorate and Tez-Koop-İş Sendikası on June 9, 2023, reaffirming the recognition of organized labour and joint decision-making on employee rights.
📄 Source: Tez-Koop-İş Sendikası – Agreement Announcement
📄 University Confirmation: Atatürk University – Official Announcement

B. Freedom of Association for All Staff

All employees — regardless of gender, nationality, or employment category — have the right to:

• Join or form trade unions of their choice.

• Participate in collective bargaining and union-organized activities.

• Elect union representatives in accordance with national legislation.

• Access non-retaliation protection for union participation.

Women and international staff are explicitly covered by these guarantees, and their participation is encouraged through inclusive HR policies.

4. International and Ethical Frameworks

Atatürk University aligns its labour policies with international norms, including:

• ILO Conventions No. 87 & 98 – Freedom of Association and Right to Collective Bargaining

• ILO Conventions No. 100 & 111 – Equal Remuneration and Non-Discrimination

• United Nations SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth

• Higher Education Institutions Code of Ethics (Yükseköğretim Kurumları Etik Davranış İlkeleri), adopted institution-wide in 2019.

These frameworks ensure that all employees—Turkish and foreign—are entitled to fair work, equal pay, safe conditions, and a dignified working environment.

5. Institutional Regulations and Accessibility

• All staff rights, union laws, and collective agreements are publicly available through the Atatürk University Personnel Department’s Regulation Portal:
  🔗 https://atauni.edu.tr/personel-daire-baskanligi

• The Personnel Department maintains updated links to:

  • Kamu Görevlileri Sendikaları ve Toplu Sözleşme Kanunu

  • İş Kanunu ve İlgili Yönetmelikler

  • Yükseköğretim Kurumları Etik Davranış İlkeleri

  • Sözleşmeli Personel Çalıştırılmasına İlişkin Usul ve Esaslar

This transparency ensures every employee—domestic or international—can easily access current legislation and institutional protections.

6. Gender and International Inclusion

Atatürk University integrates gender equality and international staff inclusion within its labour-rights framework by:

• Ensuring women’s representation in union delegations and collective negotiation committees.

• Applying equal pay and promotion policies (see SDG 8.2.7).

• Providing legal and administrative support for foreign academic staff through the YÖK circular “Yabancı Uyruklu Öğretim Elemanı İstihdamı Usul ve Esaslar” (24.11.2021).

• Guaranteeing maternity/paternity leave equality under Law No. 6663 (2016).

7. Monitoring and Reporting

• The Personnel Department and Big Data Management Office monitor employee demographics, union membership ratios, and pay scale data disaggregated by gender and nationality.

• Annual Sustainability and SDG Reports include metrics on:

  • Percentage of staff represented by unions

  • Number of collective agreements signed

  • Gender composition of union representatives

  • Number of international employees with recognized labour rights

References

• Atatürk Üniversitesi Rektörlüğü – Toplu İş Sözleşmesi Haberi (2023)

• Tez-Koop-İş Sendikası – Atatürk Üniversitesi Rektörlüğü Toplu İş Sözleşmesi (2023)

• T.C. Resmî Gazete – 4857, 4688, 657, 2547, 2914, 5510 Sayılı Kanunlar

• Yükseköğretim Kurumları Etik Davranış İlkeleri – YÖK Etik İlke Portalı

• Atatürk Üniversitesi Personel Daire Başkanlığı – Mevzuat ve Usul Belgeleri