Background
Background
Emine Arslan worked at the DESA's Sefakoy factory for eight years in the control department. Recognised as a hard working, experienced member of staff, she is popular with other workers. She was dismissed after joining the union to stand up for herr rights and those of other workers. In the following months Emine campaigned hard, protesting every day outside the factory. As a result she was constantly harassed and members of her family were threatened.
This is her story.
Act Now
There are 1200 workers in DESA. The company has two factories in Düzce and Sefaköy and tanyard in Çorlu. Approximately 500 women employees work under harder conditions because they also have responsibilities at home.
According to DESA the staff turnover rate is extremely high: one look at the long hours and terrible conditions suffered by DESA workers gives us a clue to why.
Long hours, low wages and appalling conditions were the norm for DESA workers, until in April 2008 they decided to do something to try and change them. With the support of Deri Is (Leather Workers Union) DESA workers started to organise their own trade union in order to demand that things improve.
Since then the management at DESA has been running a campaign of harassment and intimidation against anyone they suspect of being a member of the union. From April to July 2009, 44 workers from the factory were dismissed and a further 55 were forced to resign from the union.
