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5 May, 2009The International Metalworkers' Federation and the European Metalworkers' Federation are calling on Sinter Metal Imalat Sanayi A.Ş to immediately reinstate unjustly dismissed workers, stop violations of rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining, and start negotiations with the union, Birlesik Metal-IS, leading to a fair and just resolution.
Workers at the Sinter Metal Imalat Sanayi A.Ş plant, located in the Dudullu Organized Industrial Zone in Turkey, are fighting for their jobs and basic labour rights.
On 18-19 December 2008, management at Sinter Metal Imalat Sanayi A.Ş used false pretexts to fire 38 workers involved with trade union activity. Fellow workers immediately joined the union in a show of solidarity with the dismissed workers, and called for their reinstatement. In response, the company fired an additional 312 workers, most of whom the company had learned were trade union members.
The Labour Ministry in Turkey issued a report on 12 January, 2009 upholding the union's assertion that the reason for the dismissal of the 350 workers was not the economic crisis as the employer attempted to claim, but rather their trade union membership. Sinter Metal's actions contravene ILO conventions 98 and 87.
The International Metalworkers' Federation and the European Metalworkers' Federation are calling on Sinter Metal to immediately reinstate unjustly dismissed workers, stop violations of workers' rights, and in good faith consider the workers' demands and promptly start negotiations to reach a fair and just settlement.
Take Action in support of Sinter Metal workers NOW!