TUC protests to Turkish Embassy about UPS dispute

Solidarity with Turkish workers

UPS dispute

27 September 2010

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber has written to the Turkish Ambassador to the UK protesting about the violation of workers' rights at UPS in Turkey, as part of the global campaign in solidarity with TÜMTIS.

The letter is as follows:

Ambassador Alpogan
Embassy of the Republic of Turkey
43 Belgrave Square
London SW1X 8PA

Dear Ambassador

Detention of management board member SES - Ms Meryem Özsögüt

The TUC is deeply concerned over the serious violations of trade union rights at UPS in Turkey. I would be grateful if you could convey our concerns to the Government of Turkey, and I would welcome your views on the matter.

We understand that more than 150 workers who work for UPS and its sub-contractors in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir have been dismissed in the recent months because they support the union, TÜMTIS. Other workers are constantly harassed by the management not to join the union. There was, we have heard, even a shooting incident in Izmir involving a senior manager of the company's sub-contractor - although fortunately no one was hurt.

The actions of UPS Turkey are not just doing representational damage to the company but are a blatant breach of Turkish workers' rights to freedom of association which needs to be addressed by the Turkish Government. The TUC supports the view of TÜMTIS that this breach can only be remedied if:

• all the sacked workers are reinstated unconditionally;
• steps are taken to ensure that no further victimisation takes place at UPS and its subsidiaries; and
• the local management enters into formal dialogue with TÜMTIS to establish a sound industrial relationship.

The TUC believes that the Turkish Government should intervene to ensure that the workers' right to freedom of association is guaranteed.

Yours sincerely

BRENDAN BARBER

General Secretary