Dismissed Cargill workers to expand protests

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The workers who have been dismissed from Cargill food corporation because of becoming members of the Tek Gıda-İş union staged a demonstration in front of the Assan Gıda food company, one of the largest suppliers of Burger King in Turkey yesterday (August 24).

Reading out a statement for the press, worker İbrahim Ören said this was the 860th day of their resistance and they would continue their protests.

The dismissed had worked for the company for years and were even awarded by the company for their performance, he said.

"Our friends you fired were our pioneers in unionization. Your only concern is to prevent union organization," he remarked.

With the support of the International Union of Food (IUF), which the Tek Gıda-İş is affiliated with, they would continue and expand the protests, Ören said. Accordingly, the workers will stage protests in front of the headquarters of Cargill's customer companies, including Pepsi-Co, Coca Cola, Dr. Oetker, Eti, Mondelez, Pamir Gıda and Nestle.

"As part of this, we are in front of Assan Gıda, one of the largest suppliers of Burger King," he noted.

Why were the workers dismissed?

Tekgıda-İş union's organization head Suat Karlıkaya had told bianet about how they decided to start a resistance:

"The workers would either go and work in another factory, and when they sought their rights there they would be dismissed again, or they would resist here and fight where they were wronged. We decided on a joint fight."

Noting that the case they filed resulted in their favor, Karlıkaya said, "We have only one demand, to start work."

"The expert witness, who submitted an opinion to the court, wrote a report that the workers had been dismissed due to trade union activities, not because of the 'quotas' as the employer claimed. And the court followed that report, ruling that we are right. "The court ruled for the workers' return to work and for union compensation. Workers earned compensation starting from 4 net 12 brutes. But our request is to be reinstated.

"The employer has appealed the decision. We will continue our struggle. When this resistance is won, not just 14 workers, but the working class will win. We expect solidarity."

(AS/VK)