15 November, 2011A four month lock-out at the Turkish operations of German-owned GEA is gaining worldwide attention as an international delegation prepares to visit the picket site and pledge global action.
TURKEY: 62 locked-out members of Birlesik Metal-IS, an affiliate of the International Metalworkers' Federation, have been holding picket action outside of GEA Klima Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş. (ATR) in Gebze, Turkey for more than four months demanding their reinstatement and a respect for workers' rights.
The workers, whose contract is up for renegotiation December 31, 2011, report a heavy police presence at the plant. The company claims the workers were dismissed because they took part in illegal strike action. Birlesik Metal argues the dismissals are due to their union membership. Two separate court investigations petitioned by GEA and the union respectively have observed that workers have not taken any illegal strike action.
An international delegation will visit locked-out workers at GEA ATR to show solidarity and pledge global support and action. The delegation is part of a world conference on labour rights to be held in Istanbul November 18-20, sponsored by Labourstart.
In 2003 GEA signed an international framework agreement with the IMF that established full respect and compliance with internationally-recognized worker and trade union rights at its operations and those of its business partners. The agreement was renewed in 2007.
Birlesik and the IMF are calling on GEA to respect its commitment to uphold internationally recognized labour rights and meet with Birlesik representatives immediately to find a resolution.
IMF affiliates and global union partners are urged to support GEA workers in Turkey and send letters to (please cc: [email protected]):
Mr. Jürg Oleas, CEO
GEA Group
Peter-Müller-Str. 12
40468 Düsseldorf, Germany
fax: 0049 211 91363 2201
Jan Siebert
GEA Heat Exchangers GmnH
Dorstener Str. 484
44809 Bochum, Germany
email: [email protected]