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Turkey: Conflict resolved at sock and underwear factory

13 July, 2017IndustriALL Global Union intervening with well-known brands have successfully ended the conflict at Beks Sock and Underwear Factory, with the employer recognizing the union.

IndustriALL’s affiliate Öz İplik-İş faced difficulties while conducting an active union organizing campaign at the Beks Sock and Underwear Factory in the city of Çerkezköy.

The Beks plant, which employs 2,000 workers, is a major supplier of Tchibo, H&M and M&S, who all took action to ensure that management took corrective measures following the dispute. Earlier this week, Beks management met with IndustriALL Global Union and Öz İplik-İş in Istanbul and a protocol towards resolving the ongoing issues was signed.

Beks openly declared that they respect the right of freedom of association of its employees over their own free choice,  and recognize Öz İplik-İş as legitimate representative for a constructive dialogue.

“IndustriALL Global Union’s support and intervention has been vital and instrumental in this successful result with Beks,” said Murat İnanç, General President and Raif Ay, General Secretary of Öz İplik-İş.

“This case once again demonstrated that global framework agreements with multinational brands are incredibly important and useful for our day-to-day actions.”

The signed protocol also provides the opportunity for the dismissed workers to return to their jobs. The union and management agreed to clear up all the ongoing court cases, and to instead undertake regular dialogue sessions.

“IndustriALL Global Union is satisfied with this solution,” said IndustriALL Assistant General Secretary Kemal Özkan, who was present in the last session with the company management.

“I congratulate our affiliate for its determination in the organizing drive and its constructive behaviour in the final solution. Likewise I commend Beks' management actions in reaching a final deal.

"Our GFA partners, Tchibo and H&M, genuinely and sincerely fulfilled the requirements of the provisions of our global agreements”