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15 August, 2005ICEM news release No. 10/2005
In what ICEM Turkish affiliate Petrol-Is is calling the end of "a long, hard march," a favourable settlement was reached between the union and Jotun A/S, a Norwegian chemicals company which operates a paint factory in Cerkeznoy, Turkey, called Jotun Toz Boya fabrikasi.
The settlement ends an eight-month dispute that saw 45 Petrol-Is members sacked in December during a strike at the factory. The settlement in part was brought about by ICEM efforts to illuminate the labour dispute in Norway, as well as to bring senior managers of the company directly into the dispute. The efforts of ICEM Norwegian chemical workers affiliate, Norsk Kjemisk Industriarbeiderforbund, were also crucial in resolving the dispute.
The negotiated agreement means reinstatement for 20 Petrol-Is members, while the remainder will be paid proper severance payments.
According to Petrol-Is, a settlement is directly attributable to the sustained international efforts of the ICEM as the dispute was in progress. Since the December strike, ICEM kept regular contact between the two parties that not only included several letters directed at Jotun Group Worldwide in Sandefjord, Norway, but also Norwegian trade union affiliates and the Norwegian media.
"The ICEM is pleased to have played a role in ending this dispute satisfactorily for our Turkish affiliate," said General Secretary Fred Higgs. "The cooperation between the ICEM, Petrol-Is in Turkey and our chemical workers' affiliate in Norway was a key factor in bringing this to an end."
The dispute began last September when, following a two-day strike, Jotun Powder Coatings in Turkey came to a collective agreement with Petrol-Is. But management immediately began violating terms of the agreement by increasing the number of workers outside the bargaining unit in order to dilute the union's strength. When the December strike occurred, management immediately sacked the strikers and replaced them with inexperienced contract workers.
ICEM pressure on Norwegian senior managers also forced the company to join Kiplas, the Turkish chemicals and rubber employers' group, which also was involved in the settlement.
The settlement ends an eight-month dispute that saw 45 Petrol-Is members sacked in December during a strike at the factory. The settlement in part was brought about by ICEM efforts to illuminate the labour dispute in Norway, as well as to bring senior managers of the company directly into the dispute. The efforts of ICEM Norwegian chemical workers affiliate, Norsk Kjemisk Industriarbeiderforbund, were also crucial in resolving the dispute.
The negotiated agreement means reinstatement for 20 Petrol-Is members, while the remainder will be paid proper severance payments.
According to Petrol-Is, a settlement is directly attributable to the sustained international efforts of the ICEM as the dispute was in progress. Since the December strike, ICEM kept regular contact between the two parties that not only included several letters directed at Jotun Group Worldwide in Sandefjord, Norway, but also Norwegian trade union affiliates and the Norwegian media.
"The ICEM is pleased to have played a role in ending this dispute satisfactorily for our Turkish affiliate," said General Secretary Fred Higgs. "The cooperation between the ICEM, Petrol-Is in Turkey and our chemical workers' affiliate in Norway was a key factor in bringing this to an end."
The dispute began last September when, following a two-day strike, Jotun Powder Coatings in Turkey came to a collective agreement with Petrol-Is. But management immediately began violating terms of the agreement by increasing the number of workers outside the bargaining unit in order to dilute the union's strength. When the December strike occurred, management immediately sacked the strikers and replaced them with inexperienced contract workers.
ICEM pressure on Norwegian senior managers also forced the company to join Kiplas, the Turkish chemicals and rubber employers' group, which also was involved in the settlement.