30 July, 2024For over 100 days, workers at Mersen’s factory in Türkiye have been on strike, fighting for their right to unionize and engage in collective bargaining. Represented by Birleşik Metal-İş, an IndustriALL affiliate, these workers have been struggling for their rights for nearly three years.
In July 2022, Türkiye's labour ministry certified the union's authority at Mersen’s Gebze plant, a France-headquartered electrical products sub-industry manufacturer, however Mersen management opposed this and filed a lawsuit to block the union, preventing workers from exercising their rights. Despite multiple court rulings favouring the union, the company refused to negotiate.
During mediation, the company increased pressure on workers, dismissing four union members in February, this year. This led to a strike starting in April. Mersen’s unlawful actions continued, with management forcing non-striking workers to work outside their job descriptions, to break the strike, and harassing union members.
“We have endured rain, mud, and holidays in this tent for over 100 days. We will resist until we win our rights,”
said Halil Yap, a Mersen worker.
Another worker, Mehtap Bakır, added,
“whether it is 100 days or 1,000 days, we remain strong. Our resistance is valuable and hopeful.”
Özkan Atar, general president of Birleşik Metal-İş, emphasized:
“We will persist. We urge Mersen to respect their ethical guidelines, recognize our union, and begin negotiations for a collective agreement.”
“Our full support and solidarity are with the strikers at Mersen during this time. Victory will belong to those resisting! The struggle continues,”
said Kemal Özkan IndustriALL assistant general secretary.
On 28 May Birleşik Metal-İş held a press conference in front of the French Consulae and presented officials with a file of these violations.