DESA: Update
Monday, 09 February 2009 11:19
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| DESA: Update |
| Union discrimination |
| Brands - no responsibility |
| Our response |
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In November 2008 the Clean Clothes Campaign and LabourStart put out an urgent appeal for action to support sacked and exploited Turkish leather workers producing for some of Europe's most luxurious brands. Since then the Turkish court has upheld our claim that workers at DESA were sacked for union activity, and several meetings have taken place between the union and DESA management. Despite these apparent victories, little has changed for the workers on the ground as none of the union's demands have been met.
It is now nine months since DESA workers stood up to demand their right to a union. More pressure is needed to make DESA and its buyers take responsibility for these workers and protect their right to join a union.
More talk, still no action:
Our initial appeal called on all the buyers we had contacted to join a meeting coordinated by the International Textile Garment and Leather Workers Union, set for the 20th December. To our knowledge none of the buyers agreed to attend the meeting. Most simply never responded, one responded negatively, others just had better things to do that day.
Luckily for them the focus shifted from pushing for a buyers meeting when DESA suddenly agreed to meet with the union to discuss their demands. The first meeting took place on Friday 19th December and according to those present was useful and constructive. However no agreement could be reached on the reinstatement of the sacked workers and it was agreed to continue the meeting the following Monday.
On Monday 22nd December Deri Is representatives again met with DESA management, but this time the meeting was less successful. Not only was no agreement reached regarding reinstatement, but the atmosphere became less constructive and DESA backtracked on some of the other points discussed on the 19th.. DESA was asked to provide written documents clarifying their position on all of the Deri Is demands. Until now no such document has been provided.
Since the 22nd December several other meetings took place, the last on the 13th January. No progress was made and no written notes or documents produced. We are concerned that DESA is now using these meetings to stall the campaign, as it is unclear why they continue to refuse to provide any written documents. It is important to show DESA that meeting for meetings sake will not bring a resolution and to urge them to resume a positive approach aimed at reaching a resolution.
