18 May, 2011Birlesik Metal-IS members protest the firings by marching from the factory gates to the company headquarters, a week-long, 219 km march from Duzce to Istanbul.
TURKEY: On April 4, 2011, all Birlesik Metal-IS members at the MAS-DAF Makina Sanayi factory were fired, a total of 110 workers. Since that time workers have held simultaneous pickets outside the factory gates in Duzce and at MAS-DAF headquarters in Istanbul.
On May 10, a group of about 20 dismissed workers embarked on a week-long, 219 kilometer journey from the factory to company headquarters to raise awareness over the labour rights violations committed at MAS-DAF, and to garner support for their quest for reinstatement.
The marchers are expected to arrive in Istanbul on May 18, where the union will hold a massive demonstration outside of MAS-DAF headquarters. The IMF and EMF sent a letter to MAS-DAF management calling for the immediate and unconditional reinstatement of all Birlesik members.
The mass dismissals come just months after the same company attempted to undermine union organizing efforts in August 2010 by firing 22 of the union's strongest supporters when the trade union applied for the authorisation to the Labour Ministry. Birlesik, with coordination with the EMF and IMF, won reinstatement for the workers, but five declined to return to the company.
IMF and EMF Spanish affiliate CC.OO sent a letter to the HR manager of Spanish company, Bombas Ideal SA, a leading customer of MAS DAF products.IMF affiliates are invited to send letters to the company urging immediate reinstatement of Birlesik members.
Send letters to:
MAS DAF MAKINA SANAYI A.S.
Tayfun Basaran, MAS DAF General Manager
Ozer Polatoglu, owner of MAS DAF
Atasehir Bulvari, Ata Carsi Kat:4 No:59
34758 Atasehir, Istanbul, TURKEY
Tel: +90-216-456 47 00
E-mail: [email protected]
MAS-DAF Makina Sanayi A.S. Factory
1,Organize Sanayi Bolgesi Parsel 249/5
Beykoy, Duzce, TURKEY
Tel: +90-380-553 73 88, Fax: +90-380-553 71 29
(Please cc: [email protected] and [email protected])