ABSTRACT
The US trade unionism’s interest towards Turkey that occurred in 1950’s continued increasingly in 60’s. Moreover, the Turkish trade unionism came under the influence of the US trade unionism profoundly in 1960’s. In 1950’s, DP rule did not allow Turk-Is to become a member of ICFTU and restricted Turkish trade unions’ international relations severely. Against all difficulties, Turkish and US trade unionists corresponded even in early 50’s. In 1960’s, it was established intensive relations between Türk-İş and AFL-CIO. Letters we explore in this essay corresponded between Turkish trade unionists including Seyfi Demirsoy and Rıza Kuas; and the US trade unionists including George Meany, Jay Lovestone and Irvin Brown, who were AFL-CIO’s major figures and played crucial role in terms of US foreign policy during the cold war. In this essay, these letters, which extended in a wide range including letters about the Turkish trade unionism, complimentary letters, personal demands, information, Noel’s cards and complaint letters, etc. are analysed. Since there are no archival sources regarding 50’s and 60’s in Türk-İş, many letters have been supplied from the US archives. In order to understand the specifications and trade union approaches of the period we will try to make content, background and discourse analysis. The correspondences have been unknown up to now may contribute discussions on the Turkish-US trade union relations. Moreover, the correspondences show that the relations between Turkish and US trade unionists were not equal and Turkish trade unionists were subordinated to their US correspondents. The correspondences also gave new tangible clues in terms of the cold war trade unionism and interventions of the US trade unionism
Keywords : Trade unionism, US trade unionism, Türk-İş, AFL-CIO
