Saturday, July 31, 2010
INTERNATIONAL LABOUR TURKEY:
SUPPORT TURKISH UPS WORKERS:
There's an ongoing struggle in Turkey to unionize employees of the multinational UPS. Here's an appeal from the ITF via the online labour solidarity site Labour Start for solidarity with these workers.
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Turkey: Support sacked UPS workers
UPS workers in Turkey need your support.
The ITF-affiliated TÜMTIS has been taking steps in the recent months to unionise this company and its sub-contractors. As a result, 120 employees in Ankara, Istanbul and Izmir have been dismissed without any application of the procedures stipulated by Turkish law. UPS is a global company which says publicly in its corporate social responsibility report that it supports the rights of its workers to become members of a union. The reality in Turkey, however, is very different.
All of the 120 dismissed workers are union members or sympathetic to TÜMTIS. Others are constantly harassed not to join the union. Some were taken by force to a notary to resign from the union. On 2 July, the conflict escalated in Izmir when a manager of a sub-contractor pulled out his gun and started shooting in front of a notary. More recently, a new company brought in replacement workers in Istanbul. Such action contradicts with the claim by the management that they are reducing the workforce due to economic reasons. After these recent incidents, the ITF has written to the Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to raise its concern.
The ITF and its affiliates are firmly backing TÜMTIS in their struggle against UPS. Unions from around the world have sent their messages.
Trade union delegations have been visiting the picket-line on a regular basis to show global solidarity.
However, there has been no response from the company to TÜMTIS or to the ITF. Add your concern by sending a protest letter to the Prime Minister of Turkey now. Copies of the letter will also be sent to UPS representatives including CEO Scott Davis and local management in Turkey. We want all these workers to be reinstated and all intimidations to be ceased.
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THE LETTER:
Please go to this link to send the following letter to the Turkish Prime Minister (and also to the Turkish division of UPS).
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Dear Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan,
I am writing to you to express my grave concern over the serious violations of trade union rights at UPS in Turkey.
I have reason to believe that 120 workers who work for UPS and its sub-contractors in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir have been dismissed because they support the union, TÜMTIS. Other workers are constantly harassed by the management not to join the union. There was a shooting incident in Izmir which was caused by a senior manager of the company's sub-contractor.
These recent events violate the fundamental workers' rights as enshrined in the Core Conventions of the International Labour Organization. It also goes without saying that accession to the European Union will require some fundamental changes to the current climate of industrial relations in Turkey. Actions taken by the UPS Turkish management and its subcontractors are also damaging the reputation of this global company, which enshrines in its Code of Conduct the promotion of a sound relationship between trade unions and the management.
I urge your immediate intervention to resolve this situation so that all the sacked workers are reinstated unconditionally and steps are taken to ensure that no further victimisation takes place at UPS and its subsidiaries.
Yours sincerely
Labels: international labour, ITF, labour, Labour Start, solidarity., TUMTIS, Turkey, UPS.
Friday, July 09, 2010
INTERNATIONAL LABOUR TURKEY:
KEEP UP THE PRESSURE ON PRADA SUPPLIER 'DESA':
Molly has blogged before on the case of the harassment of workers at the DESA leather factory in Duzce Turkey. Despite the signing of a protocol between DESA and its European buyers (which include the Prada brand) the company is continuing to harass union members at the workplace. The Clean Clothes Campaign is asking people to once more put pressure on DEAS and its customers to see that the agreement is actually implemented. Here's the story and appeal.
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Trade union harassment continues at Prada supplier
It is with great regret that the Clean Clothes Campaign is reopening the campaign to demand justice for workers at the DESA leather factory in Duzce, Turkey.
This decision follows failure by both DESA management and the European buyers to implement and support a protocol signed by DESA and the union Deri Is over six months ago.
We are calling on supporters to contact DESA and the buyers at the factory to express your disappointment in their failure to uphold the rights of DESA workers and to urge them to ensure that the protocol is properly implemented and to take steps to proactively support freedom of association at the factory.
Latest update
In recent months workers report that harassment by supervisors of union members is increasing. At least one worker has filed a legal suit against a supervisor charging him with this offence.
Of particular concern is the decision of DESA to fire two union members, both on the ground of allegations disputed by the workers.
Ümit Ugurlu was dismissed on 13 May 2010. Allegedly, his employment contract was terminated without notice because he injured his friend’s finger. However, workers who witnessed the incident refute the allegation and claim that Necati Ata (the injured worker) pulled on the glove of Mr Ugurlu and at the same time crashed his machine. The union has started legal action for reinstatement.
On June 9th a second worker, Cemal Uyar was refused entry back into the factory following two days sick leave. The personnel department informed him that his employment contract was terminated without notice because he did not come to work without asking for permission and that during this time it was confirmed he was working at another workplace.
Given the past history of illegal dismissals by DESA, we would expect them to to ensure that any worker dismissals took place only after a full and proper grievance procedure and investigation. The fact that DESA management now feel free to start dismissing union members without due process is yet another indication of the deteriorating situation inside the factory.
Background
A Memorandum of Understanding between the union Deri Is and DESA was signed in August 2009 following a year-long international campaign against the unfair practices of DESA, a Turkish leather supplier of major European luxury brands such as Prada, Mulberry, Debenhams, Marks and Spencer and El Corte Ingles.
The MOU stated that the international campaign would be halted on the understanding that DESA would reinstate several of the dismissed workers, issue a right to organise guarantee, recognise Deri Is as the sole union at the factory and commit to expressing neither a positive or negative attitude towards the unionisation of its workers.
The CCC has continued to monitor the situation in Turkey, to check the implementation of the agreement through a permanent dialogue with the trade union. Since the beginning it was clear that the protocol was the beginning of a new stage during which workers must be made aware of their rights and be reassured that the exercise of their rights would not lead to dismissals or reprisals. To make this process credible and genuine would have required a change of direction by Desa and a proactive support by the brands.
A Clean Clothes Campaign delegation visited Turkey in December 2009, during which they met around 35 Desa workers together with Deri Is representatives. The interviews conducted revealed that the protocol had been breached in in the following ways:
•Workers identified by Deri Is have not been reinstated
•The Right to Organise' guarantee as properly drafted from ITGLWF has not been distributed to the workers
•Workers are facing again episodes of repression and harassment clearly intended to avoid their unionisation
•Desa management actively interferes to try to prevent workers from joining the union.
In the light of this, in April 2010 the CCC re-contacted all the buyers and informed them about the ongoing violations of the agreement. We urged them to work with DESA to end to the harassment of workers and to fully implement with the protocol in cooperation with Deri Is.
Only small number of buyers responded, all stating that they visited the factory and did not see any harassment taking place and were confident there was no malpractice at the factory. None of the buyers spoke to or contacted the union or union members. None of them responded at all to our detailed requests for concrete action.
Write today to Desa buyers and Desa factory management. Call on them to properly implement the protocol agreement and to take all necessary measures to ensure an atmosphere free from intimidation at the factory.
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THE LETTER:
Please go to this link to send the following letters to both DESA management and to the buyers group.
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Letter to buyers
Dear Madam / Sir,
I am extremely disappointed to learn that the Memorandum of Understanding, which was signed between DESA and Deri Is in 2009, has not been properly implemented by DESA management. I am particularly concerned at the harassment of union members and the recent dismissals of two of your workers without following proper procedure.
I urgently call upon you to take immediate and transparent action to ensure that the protocol is fully implemented. Specifically I call on you to:
•Contact DESA management and ask them to immediately halt the harassment of union members, and to abide by the letter and spirit of the August protocol;
•Demand the reinstatement of both Ferda Yilmaz and Emel Yavuz as agreed in the August negotiations;
•Ensure that an official Right to Organise guarantee is distributed, based on the model drafted by the ITGLWF;
•Support and monitor an official complaints mechanism. Such a mechanism must include a worker representative nominated by the union;
•Ask DESA to ensure regular meetings take place with Deri Is representatives and to send notes from each meeting to all interested parties including Deri Is and the major buyers;
•Include trade union representatives in any ongoing monitoring and maintain regular contact with them;
•Specify that you expect orders for your company to be completed at the Duzce factory and not subcontracted to other suppliers in Turkey
•Carry out training for management, supervisors and workers on the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining. Such training should be carried out by parties agreed upon by Deri Is and ITGLWF.
Yours sincerely,
Letter to DESA
Dear Mr. Celet,
I am extremely concerned about the breaching of the Memorandum of Understanding which was signed between your company and Deri Is. I am particularly concerned at the harassment of union members and the recent dismissals of two of your workers without following proper procedure.
While initially shocked by the working conditions and workers rights abuses found in your factory I was hopeful that DESA was now moving towards being a factory where workers fundamental rights were respected.
I urgently call upon you to fully respect the protocol signed with Deri Is.
Specifically I call on you to:
•immediately halt the harassment of union members and to abide by the letter and spirit of the August protocol;
•reinstate both Ferda Yilmaz and Emel Yavuz as agreed in the August negotiations;
•ensure that an official Right to Organise guarantee is distributed, based on the model drafted by the ITGLWF;
•establish an official complaints mechanism, including a buyers representative, which can receive and investigate complaints of harassment or intimidation and support re-mediation in each case. Such a mechanism must include a worker representative nominated by the union;
•ensure that regular meetings take place with Deri Is representatives and send notes from each meeting to all interested parties including Deri Is and the major buyers;
•include trade union representatives in any ongoing monitoring and maintain regular contact with them;
•carry out training for management, supervisors and workers on the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining. Such training should be carried out by parties agreed upon by Deri Is and ITGLWF.
I look forward to hearing that DESA is once again working towards a more positive relationship with the Deri Is union.
Yours sincerely,
Labels: Clean Clothes Campaign, DESA, international labour, labour, Prada, solidarity., Turkey
Saturday, July 03, 2010
Turkey: Free jailed trade unionists now
Five trade unionists belonging to PSI affiliates in Turkey are currently in prison on trumped up accusations of "belonging to illegal or terrorist organisations" or making propaganda on behalf of such organisations. The prison conditions are harsh and concern is growing over the mental and physical health of the imprisoned unionists. PSI contends that these arrests are part of a deliberate policy by the Turkish authorities to misuse the courts in order to harass and intimidate trade unionists, particularly those belonging to the largely Kurdish confederation, KESK.
During the International Labour Conference in June, Turkey was questioned about the spate of arrests of trade unionists. The cases of Meryem Özsögut and Seher Tümer from SES were specifically mentioned, as well as those of Metin Findik and Ferit and Bestas Epözdemir of PSI affiliate Tüm Bel Sen.
A cloak of secrecy surrounds each case, on orders of the public prosecutor. This means that lawyers are denied access to the detainees and are unable to view their case files.
You can help by sending a letter of protest to the Turkish government.
Dear President,
I write to the Government of Turkey to protest in the strongest terms possible against the continued judicial persecution of trade unionists.
Ms Meryem Özsöðüt, Executive Board member of PSI affiliate SES (trade union of Public Employees in Health and Social Services) was arrested on 19 June 2010, in connection with her trade union activities. This is the second time Ms Özsöðüt has been imprisoned on allegations of terrorist activity. She previously spent 8 months in an F-type prison without any clear evidence being presented of her involvement in or membership of a terrorist organization.
I also voice outrage at the sentencing of Ms Seher Tümer, Branch Secretary of SES, and the on-going detention of Mr Metin Findik, Mr Ferit Epözdemir and Mrs Belkýza Bestas Epözdemir, members of PSI affiliate Tüm Bel Sen (Union of All Municipality Civil Servants).
I call on your government to take the necessary steps to secure the immediate release of Ms Özsöðüt and her fellow trade unionists and request once again that Turkey abides by its international obligations to secure the human and trade union rights and freedoms of its workers.
Yours sincerely,
Labels: international labour, labour, Labour Start, solidarity., Turkey
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Dear Prime Minister,
I write to demand the immediate release of Ms Seher Tümer, Branch Secretary of SES (Trade union of public employees in health and social services), Turkey, an affiliate of Public Services International (PSI).
Ms Tümer has now been detained in an F-type prison for almost a year, with no clear charges being brought against her. We are convinced that her arrest is linked to her trade union activities.
We are sure that, as a member of the International labour Organisation and an aspiring member of the European Union, your Government will want to act swiftly to ensure that this breach of fundamental human and trade union rights is corrected.
Yours sincerely,
Labels: international labour, labour, Labour Start, Seher Tumer, solidarity., Turkey
Monday, December 28, 2009
Urgent Action 22-12-2009
Workers, their family members and supporters have been demonstrating in near-freezing temperatures in protest against a snap government decision to close their workplaces at the end of January 2010.
The protest began in front of the headquarters of the AKP (the political party in power), but the police cleared the area on 16 December and forced the demonstrators to a nearby park. The following day, police put up barricades around the park and then used water hoses and tear gas against the demonstrators. Police violence escalated and clubs were used against the demonstrators, many of whom had to be hospitalised. Mustafa Türkel, president of IUF-affiliate Tekgida-Is, which represents these workers, and general secretary of the national confederation Türk-Is, was arrested, but then released later that evening.
The police violence caused an outcry in the Turkish Parliament, but the ruling party continues to refuse to accede to the workers' demand that they be given alternative employment with their full employee benefits, as the law on privatisation provides.
The protesters are now gathered in front of the headquarters of the Türk-Is national trade union confederation, while about a dozen workers remain in the the park on hunger strike (picture below). Despite police attempts to prevent further busloads of TEKEL workers from entering the city, their numbers are steadily increasing. The city of Ankara has provided them with shelter in sports facilities and Tekgida-Is is providing food and transport.
Act Now! - PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEND A MESSAGE TO THE GOVERNMENT OF TURKEY AS A MATTER OF URGENCY!
These workers are determined to carry on their protest until the government accedes to their demands. And they urgently need your support!
Dear Mr. Erdogan,
It is with extreme concern that I note your government's decision to close the former TEKEL warehouses, a decision that involves the dismissal of some 12,000 workers. I call on you to ensure that negotiations with their trade union TEKGIDA-IS begin immediately with a view to ensuring that these workers are transferred to other public enterprises with their full employee benefits in accordance with the law.
Yours sincerely,
Labels: international labour, IUF, labour, solidarity., TEKEL, Turkey
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Some 10,000 workers, family members and supporters are currently demonstrating in Ankara in near-freezing temperatures in protest against a snap government decision to close their workplaces at the end of January 2010.
Following the sale of the TEKEL (Turkish tobacco and alcohol monopoly) tobacco manufacturing activities to BAT in February 2008, the state retained control over the 40 warehouses where leaf and semi-processed tobacco was stored. IUF-affiliated Tekgida-Is, which represents the workforce at TEKEL, continually sought negotiations with the government over the future of the 12,000 warehouse workers. And now, after having ignored the union's calls for negotiations, the government has taken the drastic decision to close these warehouses, leaving 12,000 workers jobless and affecting a further 40 thousand people together with their families.
The workers began arriving in the capital city of Ankara on 15 December in buses from 106 provinces throughout the country. The protest is taking place in front of the headquarters of the AKP, the political party in power. Currently, the demonstrators are surrounded by police barricades and police are preventing further busloads of TEKEL workers from entering the city centre.
FLASH: Police violence is escalating in Ankara - demonstrators have been taken to hospital and Tekgida-Is president Mustafa Türkel has been arrested and taken into custody.
Act Now! - PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEND A MESSAGE TO THE GOVERNMENT OF TURKEY AS A MATTER OF URGENCY!
According to Tekgida-Is president Mustafa Türkel, "The TEKEL workers who turned out will not leave until a solution is found. TEKEL workers are demanding their legal rights through this protest. Politicians have decided to close the TEKEL workers’ workplace. In light of this, what is right and legal is to transfer these workers to other institutions."
Dear Mr. Erdogan,
It is with extreme concern that I note your government's decision to close the former TEKEL warehouses, a decision that involves the dismissal of some 12,000 workers. I call on you to ensure that negotiations with their trade union TEKGIDA-IS begin immediately with a view to ensuring that these workers are transferred to other public enterprises with their full employee benefits in accordance with the law.
Yours sincerely,
Labels: international labour, IUF, labour, solidarity., TEKEL, Turkey
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Labels: A-Infos, anarchism, anti-militarism, demonstrations, international anarchist movement, Israel, militarism, protests, Turkey
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Labels: international labour, KESK, labour, Labour Start, repression, solidarity., Turkey
Friday, July 17, 2009
Another peak gathering to protect the benefits of capitalist sovereigns, where economic packages which have no other use than adding another ring to the exploitation chain for poor billions and for the future of the planet that we live on, reconstructions and austerity policies, constitutional accordance conditions will be discussed…
The experiences of real life (Argentina, Jamaica, Ecuador, Nigeria, Kenya etc.) evidently showed that the World Bank and the IMF policies that are applied have no benefit to people other than offering indigence and exploitation, and there is no other way. The IMF and the World Bank which are the leading architects of globalism of capitalism, are the primary responsible instruments for the banishment of poor people from their habitats and their homes by urban transformation policies (to ennoble the term), having property rights on water which is the primary need of life by a few companies, by condemning the local breeder to global capitalist patrons via agriculture policies, to add new rings to the chains of people who work by new employment legislation.
13.000 robbers and many more armed forces who take orders to protect them will be walking amongst us in those days. Probably, they will show us hell! Frisks, ID checks, road blocks, fencing etc…
Come on, let us show hell to them in those days! Let’s turn our bonfire into their nightmare!
We would like to organise some concerts, workshops, exhibitions, movie presentations, conversations and activities against the IMF and the World Bank between 1-8 October. Sheltering needs for those coming from other cities and other countries will be met. People who want to participate in preparations for the activities and organisations can get in touch with us via the contact information. Also, those who want to receive regular information regarding the preparation phase of the activities can visit our web site that will be updated periodically.
Hoping to raise the international solidarity in the bonfire days of resistance!
Autonomy of the People Against Global Capital!
Add Your Voice to the Outcry Against National and International Capital!
http://resistanbul.wordpress.com
Labels: anarchism, anarkismo.net, Centrum Informacji Anarchistycznej, current events, demonstrations, international anarchist movement, International monetary fund, Resistanbul, Turkey, World Bank
Monday, May 18, 2009
IKEA and Household Retailers Abet Union Busting at Turkish Supplier:
Background
Menderes Tekstil in South-Western Turkey produces bed linen for the home market and for export. Over the last years, four Menderes workers died due to work-related injuries. In the most recent accident, on November 20, 2008, one employee died when he fell into the funnel of a coal boiler. Workers reported that the boiler had no safety measures to prevent such an accident. After the tragic accident, the factory management reportedly ordered three colleagues of the victim to climb into the funnel to retrieve the body. Again, no safety measures were taken, and the three had no protection against toxic gases inside the boiler. They suffered respiratory poisoning and had to seek treatment in a nearby hospital.
Over the last years, four Menderes workers died due to work-related injuries.Brand responses
Menderes' main international clients have known about the problems at the factory for months but the only actions they have taken is to deny the problems, conduct investigations while refusing to release the results, or promise to take action on the matter, only to drag their feet. In doing so, they are also not living up to their own ethical codes of conduct.
Urgent Action needed
The CCC and TEKSIF demand that Menderes and its buyers ensure:
**reinstatement with compensation and pay-back of salary arrears where appropriate for those workers who are currently engaged in court proceedings against Menderes Tekstil following their dismissal due to union activity;
**acknowledgement of TEKSIF as a legitimate union at your factory and to recognise their right to represent their members in factory matters, and to provide all workers with a guarantee that the company will respect their rights to organise and to bargain collectively.
**involvement of TEKSIF in the discussions around the company’s restructuring plans and the criteria for necessary dismissals.
**review of occupational health and safety measures at both factory plants, as well as a review of certain disciplinary and grievance handling mechanisms;
Please take action now! Support our action and send letters to IKA, Wal-Mart, Carrefour, Kohl's, Ibena and Otto. See sample letters below....
Dear Madam, Sir,
**reinstatement with compensation and pay-back of salary arrears where appropriate for those workers who are currently engaged in court proceedings against Menderes Tekstil following their dismissal due to unionisation;
**acknowledgement of TEKSIF as a legitimate union at your factory and to recognize their right to represent their members in factory matters, and to provide all workers with a guarantee that the company will respect their rights to organise and to bargain collectively.
**involvement of TEKSIF in the discussions around the company’s restructuring plans and the criteria for necessary dismissals.
**review of occupational health and safety measures at both factory plants, as well as a review of certain disciplinary and grievance handling mechanisms;
Yours sincerely,
SAMPLE LETTER FOR IKEA
**reinstatement with compensations and pay-back of salary arrears where appropriate for those workers who are currently engaged in court proceedings against Menderes Tekstil following their dismissal due to unionisation;
**acknowledgement of TEKSIF as a legitimate union at your factory and to recognize their right to represent their members in factory matters, and to provide all workers with a guarantee that the company will respect their rights to organise and to bargain collectively.
**involvement of TEKSIF in the discussions around the company’s restructuring plans and the criteria for necessary dismissals.
**review of occupational health and safety measures at both factory plants, as well as a review of certain disciplinary and grievance handling mechanisms;
In addition to these demands towards the management of the Menderes factory, I urge IKEA to take up the moral commitment it makes in its IWAY code of conduct and not to diminish or lessen orders at Menderes just because of the labour-related problems there. Reduced production or even a closing down of the Menderes factory is not in anybody's interest, and a ”cut-and-run” scenario would not reflect favourably on IKEA's social responsibility profile.
Labels: Clean Clothes Campaign, international labour, labour, Menderes factory. IKEA, petitions, solidarity, Turkey
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Labels: international labour, labour, Labour Start, Sinter Metal, solidarity, Turkey
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
by Coalition Against Water Privatisation - CAWP
WWF nothing more than a gathering of the world’s water mafias
The Coalition Against Water Privatisation and the SA Municipal Workers Union are participating in the alternative People's Forum
1 7 Turkish activists from the "No to commercialisation of water platform" were arrested, mostly women who couldn't escape fast enough and one high-profile leader of anti-dam movements. Arrested activists are now in hospital, waiting for their transfer to Vatan police station where they might be prosecuted for illegal protest. The renowned Turkish hospitality seems to not apply to those critical of the World Water Forum.
Labels: Coalition Against Water privatization, CUPE, international politics, Istanbul, repression, South Africa, Turkey, World Water Forum
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Trade unionists from around the world made their mark at the fifth World Water Forum, and are leaving Istanbul with stronger and broader connections to the global water justice movement. They exposed the forum’s bankrupt agenda of privatization, and are demanding that policies about water be decided in a transparent, open and participatory space.
CUPE 1978 member Kim Manton and general vice-president Kevin Rebeck were among the 55-person Public Services International delegation attending the fifth World Water Forum in Istanbul, Turkey this week. The forum, a trade fair for the privateers, is organized by the unelected and unaccountable World Water Council. High registration fees and a tightly-controlled agenda mean grassroots voices are all but frozen out.
The PSI delegation members, many of them water workers, intervened at the official forum to challenge the pro-privatization messages that dominated the event. Their work helped turn public solutions – relegated to ‘side events’ at the forum – into the main event. They also deepened their connections with the many environmental, indigenous and social justice groups brought their struggles to Istanbul.
Manton says the week has left her moved, inspired and motivated. “I can’t wait to get home so that I can share the global water struggle. I promise to take Hasan’s story of his arrest in the protest on Monday to Canada. I know that when Virginia turns the tap on in Soweto and no water comes out, she will not feel alone,” she says. “I am committed to take the international fight back home and ensure that this trip builds new connections. Happy World Water Day! Water Warriors Unite!”
Rebeck says “There is no more basic fight around the world today than the fight for access to water. Our arguments for accountable, community controlled public water and sanitation keep growing stronger, as the examples of private sector failure pile up. We need to continue the push and support our global partners where communities and workers are dying. Together we can win this battle.”
Manton and Rebeck joined other PSI members at three separate alternative forum events, including an international People’s Water Forum [link to other story] that drew nearly 700 people. The event n showcased success stories of of public and community-led water governance structures, the application of local indigenous water conservation techniques and other alternatives to the models of large-scale water privatization and high technology solutions promoted by the World Water Forum.
Over the course of the week, nightly activist meetings allowed workers and the broader movement to strategize, share, and support each other. The sometimes-raucous meetings have forged many friendships and alliances.
Speaking at a major labour-NGO press conference yesterday, PSI utilities officer David Boys summed up PSI’s participation at the forum. “The divide remains deep, between the people who want quality water and sanitation and the bankers and corporations who control the World Water Council. Their vision is the same one that brought us the financial crisis – a shrinking government, unregulated markets and corporate profits. Our vision is governments that deliver quality public services, financed by fair taxation, with decisions made under conditions of transparency, accountability and participation. The divide has not been bridged here in Istanbul.”
CUPE worked closely with its Canadian allies, the Council of the Canadians and the Polaris Institute, over the week.
“It is becoming increasingly evident that the World Water Forum and everything it represents is a cause of the world water crisis and not the solution,” says Maude Barlow, Council of Canadians chairperson and senior advisor to the President UN General Assembly. “The World Water Forum is morally bankrupt, financially bankrupt and bankrupt of ideas.”
Labels: Canadian labour, CUPE, international labour, Istanbul, labour, Turkey, water, World Water Forum
Monday, March 09, 2009
Join us by sending a worldwide message to Prada, one of the primary buyers at the DESA factory, that union organising is a right not a luxury. Take action now!
The Clean Clothes Campaign has called on the factories’ buyers to put a stop to repression and discrimination in their supply chains. Many of the buyers, including Prada, have failed to take responsibility for the workers who produce their goods.
Ms. Arslan, who is joined on the tour by Deri Is union organiser Nuran Gulenc, will speak with government officials, trade unions and NGOs in Italy, France and Spain.
Dear Mr Bertelli, et al,
I am shocked to hear about the repression of workers’ rights at two Prada suppliers in Turkey. It is important that these workers can join the union of their choice in order to improve the conditions at the factories, which include low wages, long working hours and unhygienic conditions.
Union organising is a right not a luxury.
Please take action today to ensure that all the dismissed workers are immediately reinstated and that the Deri Is union is allowed to organise the workers.
Sincerely,
Labels: Clean Clothes Campaign, international labour, labour, Prada, solidarity, Turkey