Labour Behind The Label

Includes: -

Killer Jeans campaign launch to ban sandblasting in the denim industry; Corporate response to Taking Liberties report; Playfair 2012 protests at IOC conference; Profile on Turkey and Desa case; FEI conference in Edinburgh 2011; Outreach in te Isle of Man; Global news and more.

On the eve of the European Social Forum in Istanbul, the Global Union representing workers in the sector called for a resolution to the long-standing conflict at the Turkish leather goods factory, Desa. A special workshop was be devoted to the Desa case during the Forum.

Labour Behind the Label is sad to announce the reopening of the campaign to demand justice for workers at the DESA leather factory in Duzce, Turkey.

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June 2010: Two workers have been dismissed since May 2010 and one worker has filed an harassment case against his supervisor at the intimidation of trade union members ramps up again at the DESA factory in Duzce.

Includes  -Even in the UK: Manchester Primark workers exploited, Prada: the real price of luxury, London 2012 releases sustainable sourcing policy, fashion students commited to creating more ethical industry.

August 2009: Labour Behind the Label is delighted to announce the closure of a year-long campaign against the DESA leather factory in Turkey following a protocol agreement signed by DESA and the Deri Is union.

Following thousands of emails sent by Labour Behind the Label and LabourStart supporters to the main buyers at the factory, DESA management finally agreed to meet with the Deri Is union. However despite a succession of meetings no progress has been made. Not a single buyer had agreed to meet with the Deri Is union or to attend a meeting called by the International Textile Garment and Leather Workers Union, set for the 20th December.

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.

Almost a year to the day since DESA workers began their struggle for union recognition, the Supreme Court in Turkey has confirmed that 18 of the workers sacked by the Turkish leather factory had been illegally dismissed as a result of union organising.The Supreme Court rulings represent a significant victory for the DESA workers, including worker-organiser Emine Arslan.