The Scottish Trade Union Congress (STUC) today passed an emergency motion expressing strong support for Kurdish self-determination and ongoing peace efforts, while condemning Turkish state repression and calling for international action to advance democracy and human rights. The motion, titled “Turkish Oppression, Kurdish Self-Determination & the Free Öcalan Campaign”, was adopted during the Congress’s annual gathering in Dundee and was moved by Mike Arnott on behalf of Dundee Trades Union Council.
The motion highlights recent developments in Turkey and the broader region, noting mass protests for democracy following the arrest of Istanbul’s mayor and presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu, alongside the detention of 2,000 individuals including students, journalists, lawyers, and the entire executive board of the teachers’ union under house arrest.
In contrast to this repression, the STUC acknowledged positive but fragile steps in the Kurdish peace process, referencing last year’s congress motion demanding freedom for imprisoned Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan.
The motion welcomed Öcalan’s recent meetings with family members and a delegation from the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party, during which he proposed a plan for peace and democracy, including the dissolution of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). The PKK responded positively with a ceasefire, and the DEM Party engaged opposition parties and President Erdoğan to build support for the proposal.
However, the STUC expressed concern over the Turkish government’s failure to take concrete steps to advance the peace process, condemning ongoing Turkish military airstrikes targeting PKK bases in northern Iraq. The motion also cautiously welcomed the 10 March agreement between the Autonomous Administration’s Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Syria’s interim president, which preserved Kurdish-majority neighbourhoods in Aleppo and secured protection for the vital Tishreen Dam.
In a show of solidarity, the congress voiced support for the Kurdish Unity Conference held on 26 April in Qamishlo (Qamisli), which aimed to strengthen cooperation among Kurdish political actors.
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As part of its action plan, the STUC called on its General Council to lobby the UK Government to support Öcalan’s peace proposals, remove the PKK from the list of terrorist organisations, officially call for Öcalan’s release as a necessary step towards peace, and back the united Kurdish parties’ demand for an inclusive, democratic, and decentralised Syria. The Congress also pledged support for Turkish trade unions facing oppression under the current regime.
Speaking after the motion passed, Mike Arnott described it as a vital act of solidarity:
“At a time when Kurdish communities and democratic movements are under attack, our message is clear: we stand with those fighting for peace, justice, and dignity.”
Background: British trade unions and Kurdish solidarity
The STUC’s motion aligns with a longstanding tradition of solidarity between British trade unions and the Kurdish cause. In 2016, the Freedom for Öcalan campaign was launched in the UK Parliament by Unite and GMB unions, advocating for the release of Abdullah Öcalan and a peaceful resolution to the Kurdish question. This campaign has since garnered support from 14 major trade unions and the Trades Union Congress (TUC) .
The TUC has consistently called for an end to human rights abuses in Turkey, the release of political prisoners including Öcalan, and meaningful engagement in peace processes. In its “Solidarity with Turkey” campaign, the TUC emphasises the need for the UK government to pressure Turkey to respect democratic norms and human rights, highlighting the mistreatment of the Kurdish community.
Moreover, the STUC has actively engaged in international advocacy, exemplified by its letter to UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy in October 2024, urging the UK government to take action for Öcalan’s release and to support democratic and autonomous governance for the Kurdish people.
These efforts underscore the British trade union movement’s commitment to international solidarity and the pursuit of justice and peace for the Kurdish people.
