07 May 2010
Support sacked UPS workers in Turkey

Solidarity updates Take action: send a letter of protest to UPS CEO, Scott Davis >> 25 August 2010: International action to back UPS workers in Turkey 25 August 2010: Organise solidarity action with UPS workers on 1 September, demand that UPS delivers justice not abuse. Read more here. 9 July 2010: The ITF sends a protest letter to the Prime Minister of Turkey 2 July 2010: The ITF has received reports of shootings against TUMTIS workers employed at UPS in Turkey and further sackings. For more information visit: ITF News Online - 02 July 2010 ITF condemns shootings and further dismissals at UPS in Turkey To view a video clip from the picket line visit here

A large number of workers have lost their jobs in UPS Turkey in what the ITF believes is an outright attack on its affiliate TÜMTIS, which organises drivers. Whilst UPS is a company which recognises and negotiates with trade unions in other countries - including in the United States - management at its Turkish operations appear to be promoting a campaign of anti-union activities intended to intimidate the workers.

The ITF has written to the manager in Turkey already - and ITF General Secretary David Cockroft has also sent a letter to its CEO Scott Davis. We are now asking others to join us, by sending similar protests.

Take Action: Send a Protest Letter

UPS’s Middle East District Manager, Mr Haluk Ündeger appears to have been targeting members of the ITF’s affiliated trade union, TÜMTIS, who are employed by UPS and by its subsidiary, C.I.B.

The ITF understands that over the past few weeks, more than 60 UPS workers have lost their jobs in Istanbul and that additional dismissals have taken place in Ankara and Izmir. TÜMTIS has initiated legal action in response. According to the union, Mr Haluk Ündeger has openly stated to employees that he does not want any trade union members in UPS Turkey. The ITF has reason to believe that large-scale intimidation is taking place across UPS Turkey’s different sites, and that this is being done with the specific intention of quashing the workers’ trade union sympathies. The ITF has written to Mr Haluk Ündeger to raise these concerns, requesting him to meet with TÜMTIS to resolve them. Regrettably, no response has been received to date.