28 November, 201162 workers at a Turkish subsidiary of German-owned GEA have been locked out since July. An international delegation of some 60 representatives from 20 countries visited the plant and called on the company to reinstate the workers immediately.
TURKEY: "If GEA has enough courage, then let GEA go to Germany and do the same to German workers ─ dismiss the German workers because they are unionized," challenged Adnan Serdaroglu, leader of the Turkish metal union Birlesik Metal-IS referring to the German company's illegal and anti-union behavior in Turkey.
Serdaroglu spoke to a crowd of over 100 on Novermber 18, including some 60 international trade union representatives from 20 countries, gathered outside of GEA Klima Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş., a subsidiary of GEA Group, to protest the company's illegal lock-out of 62 workers, all members of Birlesik Metal.
The protest was part of this year's Labourstart annual world conference, held in Istanbul November 18-20 and themed, "From Social Networking to Social Revolution."
"The WORKERS, UNITED, will never be defeated" chanted the crowd in Turkish and English amidst a backdrop of heavy police presence in riot gear inside the company gates. "You don't often see the police on the other side of gate," commented Derek Blackadder from the Canadian Union of Public Employees, "I guess it really tells you just how powerful this company is."
At the center of the struggle is GEA's open hostility and aggressive attacks on members of Birlesik Metal employed at its Turkish plant. The company's blatant anti-union behavior runs contrary to GEA Group's professed respect for Freedom of Association and a 2003 Code of Conduct agreement signed with the IMF and renewed in 2007.
Watch GEA video on IMF TV:
"We are outraged by the trade union rights abuses that are occurring here, we are outraged that the company refuses to meet with the union," said IMF Director for Trade Union Rights & Campaigns, Kristyne Peter. "The unions and the workers we represent around the world are here to say that we are not going to let GEA get away with this. We are Turks, we are Germans, we are Australians, we are Norwegians, we are Americans. We are everywhere this company operates and everywhere it wants to operate," added Peter.
Both ITUC, ICEM IUF and ITF have expressed their support to the GEA workers and urged management to enter into meaningful dialogue with Birlesik Metal-Is representatives to find a resolution.
The IMF in partnership with Labourstart has launched an international campaign in support of GEA workers fighting for reinstatement and the respect of fundamental rights for GEA workers worldwide. Get involved and join the campaign!!
CLICK THROUGH TO LABOURSTART CAMPAIGN
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