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27 August, 2026For over two years, 670 workers at YKK's Çerkezköy factory in Türkiye have been systematically prevented from exercising their basic right to unionize and bargain collectively. YKK management has used threats, coercion and disciplinary action to crush the union, despite workers' successful organization with Petrol-İş and the union's official recognition from Türkiye's labour ministry.
The pressure on workers has been relentless. In the three days following the union’s successful authorization in May 2024, 44 members resigned under employer intimidation. Mid-level managers pressured employees directly. In one case, a shift supervisor demanded that a union member provide a screenshot proving she had resigned from Petrol-İş. She complied—a clear violation of human rights.
The company created a management-controlled committee to undermine the workers’ chosen representatives. It refused dialogue. It relied on legal delays, now in their third year, to exhaust both workers and union resolve.
An independent investigation by the Fair Labor Association in 2025 documented these violations, confirming findings that included:
- Workers’ ability to effectively exercise their rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining has been significantly hindered
- There has been a failure by YKK Türkiye to engage in constructive social dialogue with the legitimately organized union
- Elements of managerial conduct and insufficient oversight have contributed to an environment in which workers’ rights were not fully respected
- The absence of good-faith engagement has prevented the establishment of collective bargaining despite clear worker support for union representation.
Yet brands continue to source from YKK.
Mehmet Kaya, Petrol-İş executive committee member, said:
“All we have experienced at the YKK workplace is a clear violation of not only freedom of association and right to bargain collectively, but fundamental human rights.”
Adidas, H&M and Puma have signed joint statements calling on YKK to engage in dialogue. IndustriALL has formally endorsed the FLA’s findings. But signing statements is not enough. As long as these brands continue to order from YKK without demanding concrete change, they are complicit in the violation of workers’ fundamental rights.
Says IndustriALL general secretary Atle Høie:
“For nearly three years, YKK has used legal delays to deny workers their fundamental right to unionize and bargain collectively. This is not acceptable from a global company that positions itself as aligned with international labour standards.
“It is equally unacceptable for brands that source from YKK to stand by while this happens. We call on every brand sourcing from YKK to use their leverage now—to demand that YKK engage in meaningful dialogue with Petrol-İş without delay, and to hold the company accountable for implementing concrete change.”