Kazova Resistance Ends With Victory

Struggling for the past 10 months over their factory by occupying premisses, Kazova workers finally declared their victory after a court ruled that their former employers  Ümit Somuncu and Mustafa Umut Somuncu will hand them their machines in return to their unpaid salaries. 

Now Kazova workers are planning to found a cooperation and produce for their themselves. 

“We have rented another establishment in Istanbul for production and retail. We will move there in a month,” Kazova worker Bülent Ünal told bianet. 

Previously, they started fabricating sweaters out from what was left in the facility. They sold their products at a counter in front of the factory as well as in various Gezi Forums in Istanbul.

Ünal said they will also remove the resistance tent that they have set up at the factory courtyard. 

What happened?

Shut down 7 months ago, Kazova Factory left 94 workers unemployed with no repartitions or deserved wages. Factory owners Ümit Somuncu and Mustafa Umut Somuncu vanished over a night after filling out the most equipment in the facility. 11 factory workers have been resisting ever since by setting up their tents in front of the factory. 

They also attended group protests on every Saturday, marching in downtown Istanbul with other workers who demand their deserved rights and wages. 

However, everything changes on May 1. Police broke up their demonstration with tear gas and water cannons. On June 28, they have occupied their factory with “a strength that Gezi Resistance bolstered them”. 

On September 14, they started fabricating sweaters out from what was left in the facility. 

First products will be sent to female and child inmates who sent support letters, Kazova workers said. 

They are also planning to sell their products at a counter in front of the factory as well as in various Gezi Forums in Istanbul. (AS/BM)