Ditas workers continue strike against anti-union employer

TURKEY: The 400 workers at Ditas, a company producing automotive spare parts and situated in Nigde, Central Anatolia, have been on strike since July 2002. The workers are all members of the IMF-affiliated Birlesik Metal-Is trade union. The main reason for this industrial action is the employer's refusal to respect trade union rights at the workplace, and to bargain with the union. Since the beginning of the strike, the company has been attempting to destroy the union in the plant by offering increased wages to the striking workers, but with the condition that they quit the union. Of significance, also, is the fact that the union has been the first in Turkey to organise workers at a subcontractor. Such anti-union behaviour on the part of the company and its major shareholder, the Dogan Group, is blatant, even though the Turkish Constitution, Article 52, stipulates that organising in a union is a fundamental right of all Turkish workers and no one can be forced to resign membership in a trade union. Also, the government of Turkey has ratified ILO Convention No. 87 on the freedom of association and the right to organise in 1993, and Convention No. 98, on the right to organise and bargain collectively in 1952. The International Metalworkers' Federation has stated in letters to government officials and to the Dogan Group that "the trade union movement will not stand idly by and watch the blatant disregard of the Ditas management for internationally-established fundamental human and trade union rights." The company's actions will only bring the government considerable embarrassment if it does not fulfil its responsibility to uphold these rights, says the IMF, even more so in view of Turkey seeking membership in the European Union. "Such an EU integration will not only be economic, but it will have to be accompanied by social and labour rights as well," states the IMF. The IMF is asking its affiliates to join in protesting the anti-union behaviour of Ditas.