Background to the dispute
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Here is a chronological background to the dispute:
26 November 2009
Three workers in Ankara are made redundant. The management says this is due to the economic downturn but the union notices more recruitment after this incident. These workers are members of the ITF's affiliate, TÜMTIS.
14 April 2010
One worker in Istanbul loses his job. It is understood he had agreed to the management's instruction to relocate his workplace within the city, but such a job was not available. Upon return to his former job, he is told that it is no longer available.
16 April
Eight more workers are now dismissed in Istanbul. Workers allege employees are told by the company that if they join the union there will be consequences.
19 April
The total number of dismissed workers is now 26. The ITF sends a protest letter to Haluk Ündeger, UPS district manager in the Middle East (based in Turkey). The dismissed workers are leaders of, or sympathisers with, the unionisation campaign. Allegations emerge that the management is intimidating the other staff, saying that the same will happen to them if they show their support for trade unionism. Reports come in that management is demanding some of the dismissed workers sign a form of undertaking not to make any claims against their termination of employment contract. They refuse to do this.
20 April
ITF affiliates begin to respond to the Federation's request for lawful solidarity.
21 April
Ten more workers are dismissed in Ankara and Izmir. The union holds a press conference. An intervention is made by the Teamsters’ Union at the highest level of UPS management in the USA.
22 April
24 workers are reportedly reinstated in Istanbul.
28 April
ITF updates its affiliates with the development. A meeting of UPS workers in the UK arranged by UNITE earlier in the week resolves to support the Turkish workers. Colleagues including those in South Africa (SATAWU), Canada (CUPW), Austria (VIDA), Germany (Ver.di), Japan (Zenkoku Kowan, JRU), Thailand (SRUT), Italy (FIT-CISL), Belgium (ACV TRANSCOM), Norway (Fagforbundet), Malawi (TGWU), Swedish Transport Workers Union and UNI have sent their messages.
29 April
PSI and Spanish CC.OO send protest letters.
30 April
A worker in Istanbul is dismissed. He had only been reinstated the previous week. All company mobile phones are taken away from the activists. Nine Global Union organisations meet in Istanbul to discuss workers' rights in Turkey with their counterparts and resolve to coordinate their solidarity activities.
1 May
The May Day celebration takes place at Taksim Square in Istanbul for the first time in 33 years.
2 May
ITF sends its second protest message to Haluk Ündeger.
3 May
Transport Workers Union, Fiji sends its protest letter.
4 May
Another three workers are dismissed in Istanbul. UPS's subcontractor, CIB informs 27 workers that they have lost their jobs because the firm no longer supplies the "morning shift" to UPS. It is reported that in the cities where UPS operates, management continues to intimidate the employees not to join TÜMTIS. It appears that the threat is even taking place in worksites where TÜMTIS has no presence. Haluk Ündeger is allegedly saying, "I don’t want any worker linked to the union in my workplace". The union believes that the Turkish national trucking association, Kagider is behind Haluk Ündeger.
The union establishes a picket-line in front of the company in Istanbul and prepares to file a court case.
6 May
The total number of dismissed workers reaches 60.
7 May
ITF General Secretary writes to Scott Davis, CEO of UPS and urges his intervention "to resolve the situation, reinstating the dismissed workers and introducing working practices which will lead to the development of positive and profitable industrial relations in UPS Turkey".
