Read this article in:
26 February, 2007
The first ever strike by workers in a Turkish free-trade zone continues unabated. Since late September 2006, some 300 workers of German-headquartered Fresenius Medical Care have been on strike in Turkey’s Antalya Free Trade Zone. The strike was called by ICEM affiliate Petrol-Iş, Turkey’s oil, chemical and rubber workers’ union, some 18 months after the union successfully organised the workers.
For a full year, the company, which manufactures bloodline and kidney dialysis equipment, refused to recognise the union. When it finally did, bargaining began with workers’ representatives of Petrol-Iş on 19 April 2006. The company, however, continued its practice of union repression, failing to even come close to an agreement.
Some 98% of the striking workers are women.
Prior to the union organising the facility, working conditions were so bad that women were forced to apply to the company for permission to marry, and talking on the job was forbidden. It became a habit for managers to insult women workers. Following the successful organising, conditions improved somewhat, but managers continued subtle harassment and openly pressed workers to resign from the union.
IGBCE and the European Mine, Chemical and Energy Workers’ Federation (EMCEF) have brought the inhumane conduct and union repression of Antalya’s Novamed GmbH to the attention of the German parent company. The two unions have also brought it before Fresenius Medical Care’s Works Council.