Workplace representatives and officers of Türk-Metal, Tekgıda-İş, an IUF affiliate, and BASIN-İŞ trade unions organized a solidarity action in front of the PilenPak factory on April 19 after a month-long strike.
BASIN-İŞ union (the Press, Printing, Graphic and Packaging Industry Workers Union) of Türkiye, a UNI Global Union and TÜRK-İŞ Confederation affiliate, called for a strike at Turkish packaging company, PilenPak Ambalaj, where workers have had enough of the company’s union-busting and are determined to defend their rights. BASIN-İŞ decided to strike after repeated attempts to negotiate with management and after using all available legal procedures.
PilenPak workers produce packaging for food and beverage companies including Mars and PepsiCo, and so the IUF has joined with UNI Global Union in calling for respect for the fundamental labor rights of PilenPak workers and is supporting their strike.
PilenPak Ambalaj management has responded to workers seeking to exercise their fundamental rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining with:
- Dismissals
- Intimidation tactics
- The filing of frivolous legal appeals to delay the right of workers and their union to collective bargaining
Click HERE to view the video (in Turkish) of the action day!
BASIN-İŞ President Savaş Nigar stated, “First we voted, then we elected our local shop stewards. Then we came to our strike tent in front of the PilenPak factory for our future. We will continue our struggle until we get our way. Long live unionization, long live organized struggle!”
