IKEA ignores labour rights violations at Turkish supplier
Thursday, 28 May 2009 14:22
While a serious case of union-busting at Turkish supplier factory Menderes Tekstil is happening right under their noses, retail giant IKEA chooses to stand by idly, ignoring the basic labour rights violations against hundreds of workers by their suppliers.
Support the Turkish union in their struggle to improve labour conditions and safety at this factory. Write a letter to IKEA demanding fair working conditions!
Menderes Tekstil in Denizli in South-Western Turkey produces bedlinen for the home market and for export.
Over the last years, four Menderes workers have died due to work-related injuries. In the most recent accident, on 20 November 2008, one employee died when he fell into the funnel of a coal boiler. Workers reported that the boiler had no safety measures to prevent such an accident. After the tragic accident, the factory management reportedly ordered three colleagues of the victim to climb into the funnel to retrieve the body. As, again, no safety measures were taken, the three had no protection against toxic gases inside the boiler. They suffered respiratory poisoning and had to seek treatment in a nearby hospital.
In March 2008, the national textile workers union TEKSIF started organizing workers at the factory. Since then, the Menderes management called the union leaders into their offices one by one, and gave them the choice between renouncing the union and being sacked. Turkish law allows for unionisation and prohibits dismissals or transfers as a means of intimidation.
Still, Menderes Tekstil continues their anti-union campaign. The management has repeatedly threatened workers whom they suspect of being union members, forcing them to step out of the union or to sign documents indicating voluntary resignation. In some cases, workers have been assigned to new jobs for which they were not trained or qualified. If these workers refused to renounce their union membership or refused to accept the transfer or dismissal, the management has been known to harass affected workers' relatives who also work at the factory.
In August 2008 workers and union representatives started protests outside the Menderes factory. The protests lasted for 190 days and were aimed at gaining acceptance of their union. Despite these actions, the company has continued to harass the unionists and has refused any dialogue with the union.
Meanwhile, eight court cases of wrongfully dismissed employees are currently before the magistrate. However, the judicial process could take years before producing any verdict.
IKEA's Response
Labour Behind the Label and its trade union partners have approached IKEA many times over the last few months, only to have the furniture giant refute that problems at the factory exist, let alone take steps to resolve them.
IKEA commissioned an audit into the labour conditions at Menderes Tekstil, and concluded that there are no major labour problems at the factory. Although Labour Behind the Label was never given a chance to view the audit report, the campaign has in the past raised serious concerns about the use of industry-commissioned audit reports that often lead to biased conclusions.
Labour Behind the Label urges IKEA to use their influence and insist that their Turkish supplier enters into a direct dialogue with trade union TEKSIF.
Urgent Action needed
Labour Behind the Label and TEKSIF demand from Menderes and IKEA that they ensure:
- all workers who are currently engaged in court proceedings against Menderes Tekstil following their dismissal due to unionisation are reinstated and reimbursed any unpaid salaries since the time of dismissal and paid compensation where appropriate
- TEKSIF is acknowledged as a legitimate union with the right to represent their members in factory matters
- all workers are guaranteed that the company will respect their rights to organize and to bargain collectively
- TEKSIF is involved in any discussions around the company’s restructuring plans and the criteria for necessary dismissals
- occupational health and safety measures are reviewed at both factory plants
- certain disciplinary and grievance handling mechanisms are reviewed
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