Ford Discharges, Turkish Metal Union Member Attacks

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Two workers were discharged last Saturday (January 23) over “underperformance” from the factory in Kocaeli of Ford incorporated in Koç Group.

The workers discharged who are members of All Automative and Metal Workers Union (TOMİS) protested against discharges by holding a press statement. The workers discharged have seen support from the workers laid off in the previous periods.

According to union member workers’ statements, Turkish Metal Union member Murat Nadir tried to rip off the banner by approaching the workers. Police intervened as the tension continued and have taken the attacker into custody.

The discharged workers continued to wait. Offensive group left the scene after a while. The discharged workers in their press statement have called on their friends working at the factory to “embrace their friends”.

They will file a criminal complaint

According to information given by TOMİS, the workers attacked will file a criminal complaint via their lawyers.

The union emphasizes that pressures in the factory have been increasing and that working conditions of the workers are being aggravated by moving them to different departments than they work at.

Hundreds of workers resigned from Turkish Metal Union claiming the union cooperated with factory management in the metal resistance started by Renault workers in Bursa in May of last year and didn’t defend their rights. These workers have been discharged for various reasons.

Attack on workers at EGO

On the other hand, a similar attack took place in Çorlu in the previous weeks. DİSK members gathering in front of EGO factory to protest against discharge pf DİSK/United Metal-Labor workers were attacked by a group of Turkish Metal Union members, and DİSK member workers were taken into hospital wounded. (ÖÇ/NV/TK