335 citizens express support for Migros warehouse workers' resistance

335 writers, scientists, academics, politicians, deputies, journalists, representatives from democratic organizations and activists say, “We stand by the resisting Migros workers”, 257 of whom have been dismissed during their protests.

İstanbul

335 citizens express support for Migros warehouse workers' resistance

* Photo: DGD-SEN - Twitter

Click to read the article in Turkish

Amid the protests of workers at the warehouse of Migros, one of the largest supermarket chains in Turkey, 335 writers, scientists, academics, politicians, deputies, journalists, representatives from democratic organizations and activists have expressed their support for the resistance.

"We side by the resisting Migros workers," say the 335 citizens in their joint statement. Their statement reads as follows:

"In the face of Migros Esenyurt warehouse workers who have been objecting to the wage increases of misery for daily bread and a humane life, the boss has responded by having the police storm the warehouse and by dismissing 300 workers. Like the laborers all across the country, Migros warehouse workers are still resisting the slavery, wage increases of misery, exploitation and inequality that are desired to be imposed on them.

"In a country where the vast majority cannot meet their basic needs, one can talk about neither being a society nor staying human or democratic rights and freedoms. We support the rightful resistance of Migros warehouse workers and we join voices with the women laborers of Migros who have made a call for boycotting Migros markets."

Migros workers' resistance

Protesting in the face of an 8-percent pay rise, 257 workers of the Migros Depo, the warehouse of Turkey's one of the largest supermarket chains, have been dismissed. The dismissed workers are also the members of the Warehouse, Port, Dock and Maritime Workers Union (DGD-SEN).

Sharing the news with a message on its social media account on February 9, 2022, the DGD-SEN briefly said, "Today, our fellow workers who were shown to be on administrative leave and were inside the warehouse have been dismissed because of solidarizing with our fellow dismissed workers at the door. Migros has dismissed our 257 fellow workers."

Releasing a statement on February 11, Migros admitted the dismissal of 257 resisting workers from the Migros Depo.

Halting work in protest, the workers of the Migros Depo were waiting inside the warehouse in İstanbul's Esenyurt as part of their strike action the other night when the police stormed the warehouse and detained three executives of the DGD-SEN and over 150 workers. The detained people were released from the Kıraç Police Station later in the day.

Workers' requests

Workers of Migros demand that their net hourly wages be increased by 4 TRY, the payment of premiums be legally guaranteed and the necessary measures be taken for labor health and safety.

Who owns Migros?

One of the largest supermarket chains of Turkey, Migros Inc. belongs to the Anadolu Group. With Tuncay Özilhan as the Head of the Executive Board, Migros' firm value increased by over 75 percent in2020.

Of the companies of the group open to the public, Adel Kalemcilik (ADEL), Anadolu Efes (AEFES), Anadolu Isuzu (ASUZU), Coca-Cola İçecek (CCOLA), Migros (MGROS) and Yazıcılar Holding (YAZIC) shares are traded at Borsa İstanbul (İstanbul Stock Exchange).

Anadolu Group has the following companies:

Migros Inc.
Macro Center
Anadolu Efes (Efes Pilsen, Bomonti)
Ramstore
CCI (Coca Cola, Fanta, Sprite, Cappy, Burn, Fuse Tea) - (Sale distribution)
Anadolu Motor, Çelik Motor
AND Gayrimenkul
Efestur