As‌ Plastics Factory Workers in Istanbul Enter Sixth Day of Strike

Workers at ‌the ⁢As Plastics factory ‍in Istanbul have entered their sixth day of strike after⁢ ten workers were fired for​ unionization. The strike began on September‍ 19, with workers demanding the reinstatement of the fired union members, the resumption of collective bargaining, and the restoration of peace in the workplace.

Background of the Strike

The company has a history of attempting to bust the unions. In 2022,⁣ management​ pressured workers to stop unionizing, but the workers persisted. In February 2023, the company fired⁢ 28 workers, but the workers responded with a work stoppage,‌ forcing management to reinstate their colleagues.

However, shortly before the strike vote, on August 29, the company fired another 10​ workers under⁣ code 49, which states the reason for termination as “the ​employee insists on not performing the duties he has been assigned to perform despite being reminded.”​ This code is marked on the workers’ permanent record and ‍disqualifies them from unemployment benefits.

Workers’ Demands

Savaş Çakmak, a workplace representative who had worked at As Plastik for nine years ⁤and was fired on August 29,‍ said,⁤ “The employer fired ten ​people who brought the union to the workplace to give‍ pressure on those still ​inside. Despite all the pressure, we​ are ⁣here. The machines have completely stopped.”

Çakmak added,‍ “Before our colleagues were fired, we‍ wanted the employer to sit down at the table. Now, with ten of our ​friends fired, our priority is to ⁢recover​ them. After that, we will​ return to the bargaining table. Once these conditions are met, we will return to work and maintain peace ⁢in​ the workplace.”

Working Conditions

Çakmak described the working conditions in⁢ the plastics sector ⁤as difficult, with⁤ workers facing a hazardous environment in terms of health due to smoke and fumes. Workers were forced to work 12-hour shifts, and many got sick. Overtime ⁢was not compensated fairly, and workers were​ forced to ‌eat inedible​ food.

Another worker, Ebubekir Taşkın, added, ⁣”In May, we started collective bargaining, and all the legal clauses were passed. But when we got to the financial stages, the boss started saying they didn’t ⁣have the money to raise money.”

However,‌ the same boss offered ⁣some workers ​50 percent and others 100 percent ⁤raises to break‍ the union. “How can someone without money offer 100%? Obviously, he has money. He⁢ does not desire the union. ‌We are unionist, and we will not change our minds,” ‌Taşkın said.

Workers’ Determination

The workers vowed to continue their strike until their‌ fired colleagues were reinstated. Kenan⁤ İncekaş, ‍who had worked at As Plastik for nine years, said, “On August 29, the ⁣boss called me in for no reason and said he couldn’t like me, that he tried but couldn’t. Then he fired me under code 46 (employee disloyalty, theft). We know this is not true; this is entirely due to union activities.”