Victory for Texim workers in Turkey

After 4 months of struggle and the insistent campaigning of Texim workers, the union’s key demands for recognition of fundamental workers’ rights and reinstatement have been accepted.

On 2 November after negotiation with Texim management, a Turkish textile factory that produces clothing for Hugo Boss and Pierre Cardin, the company accepted the key demands of the union, Textile, Knitting and Garment Industry Workers’ Union (TEKSIF). In negotiations supported by IndustriALL Global Union the company accepted TEKSIF’s demands:

Reinstatement of all dismissed workers on increased wages,

Full salary for the 4 month picketing period,

10 months compensation in addition to the legal package for workers choosing not to return to work

Texim openly announced that they would no longer practice anti-union methods and as a result TEKSIF has managed to organize around 50 per cent of the workers and will apply for certification at the Ministry of Labour.

“IndustriALL supported Texim workers by contacting the brands and trade unions in the garment and other sectors throughout the world. This resistance by Texim workers very quickly showed its impact and is an important example of how unionization makes a difference for the working conditions of workers” said Kemal Ozkan, IndustriALL Global Union Assistant General Secretary, who was part of the latest negotiations in Istanbul.

Since 2010, TEKSIF has been campaigning for union organizing at Texim. This struggle was a resistance against the unilateral change of working conditions imposed by the employer. Workers, particularly the militant machine operators did not accept these conditions imposed by the employer and their resistance through their union TEKSIF led to their dismissal.

“We would like to convey heartfelt congratulations to all the courageous workers in Texim who resisted for 4 months … this should be an exemplary model for workers in the garment industry,” said Kemal.