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7 February, 2023A large polyester, fiber and polymers producer in Turkey is urged to fulfil its obligations for workers’ rights in line international norms and standards.
It is reported that SASA Polyester Sanayi A.Ş. is exerting pressure on workers, conducting anti-union practices, and violating the right of workers to freedom of association. The company’s management, in the last two months, has put in place a series of practices to de-unionize the workplace.
The measures include conducting individual and collective meetings with union members to force them to leave IndustriALL’s Turkish affiliate Petrol-İş. The company has offered financial advantages, like wage increments, to workers deciding to resign from Petrol-İş. Those who refused to leave their union were not given any wage increment.
This is a clear violation of the right to free choice to be a union member. The anti-union practices aim to undermine and reduce union membership preventing Petrol-İş from renewing its collective bargaining agreement certificate from the Minister of Labour and Social Security.
Petrol-İş president Süleyman Akyüz says:
“Petrol-İş has organized at SASA, negotiating CBAs with the company, since 1975. The violations and deterioration is unacceptable. We thank IndustriALL Global Union for intervening and supporting the struggle of SASA workers.”
SASA Polyester Sanayi A.Ş has systematically refused Petrol-İş' ,the authorized bargaining agent, offer to engage in dialogue.
Petrol-İş general organizing and education secretary Niyazi Recepkethüda underlines that:
“The union busting are a clear violation of trade union rights and we cannot accept that. We call again on management to respect the organizing rights of SASA workers.”
Major customers and business partners of SASA Polyester Sanayi A.Ş. are called upon to conduct due diligence at the company’s operations in Adana.
