22 February, 2012Labour rights violations continue at Trexta, a manufacturing company in Turkey. Nine workers were dismissed because of their membership of Deri-Is, a local union affiliated to the Textile Garment and Leather Workers' Federation (ITGLWF) in Turkey.
TURKEY: On February 15 three workers were dismissed at Trexta, and six more on February 17. The dismissed workers together with their trade union Deri-Is which is an affiliate of the Textile Garment and Leather Workers' Federation (ITGLWF), have been protesting in front of the factory since February 15.
Trexta is a Turkish manufacturing company that produces mobile phone covers for international companies such as Blackberry, Nokia and Iphone. Union members at Trexta were dismissed because of their union work and membership and other workers have been subjected to threats by management not to join the union. Both the European Trade Union Federation of Textiles, Clothing and Leather (ETUF-TCL) and the ITGLWF have given support to Deri-Is on this case.
In November 2011, Nokia representatives visited Trexta at the request of IMF to investigate the labour rights violations. As the violations continue, Deri-is members are again requesting that Nokia intervene and support workers by cutting orders from Trexta until management recognizes the union and reinstates the workers that were dismissed unfairly. The IMF has joined the call from Deri-is, urging Nokia to follow-up on the situation at Trexta in a letter sent on February 22.