An Evaluation of Trade Unions’ in Turkey over Political and Sociological Features in Historical Process

Having emerged upon the industrial revolution, the trade unions have soon assumed key roles in sociological and political arenas, let alone their basic economical considerations. unlike the developments specific to western countries, the state has been one of the basic determinants in the political and social life in due course and therefore, it has been driving force in the progress of the trade unionism in turkey. the state’s determinant role in the trade union movement has been attributable to its leading role in economic life, let alone its prime role in political and social life. the right for the trade unions to conduct collecting bargaining and similar benefits had been acquired upon consent of the state as a grant, rather than the outcomes of their political and social struggles. lack of trade unions in turkey to undergone the process of trade unionist struggle as in the case in western countries was the main obstacle for occurrence of a sense of solidarity based on the organization formed by participation of rank and file. this was the basic motive in turkish trade union movement vulnerable to the international and political influences, which can be classified as the manipulations. the trade unionism in turkey can be analyzed on the basis of two distinct features, namely, pre-republican and post republican eras. post-republican trade unionism can, however, be classified as being corresponding to the periods between 1923-1947, 1947-1963, 1963-1980 and post 1980.