News

Sosyal-Is demanded a collective agreement for three years, better working conditions, improvement of job security and a wage increase that would compensate financial loss of Leroy Merlin workers, many of whom, did not get any wage increase in the last two years. Employer did not respond to any of these demands, hence strike actions were engaged in Ankara and Bursa stores of the company on 3^rd October 2013. UNI supported the strike action from the very first day of it.

Despite the illegal attempts of employer to break the strike, the first strike in do-it-yourself markets and in stores located within shopping malls in Turkey, has been maintaining for two weeks with great faith and enthusiasm. Revitalising the spirit of Gezi/Taksim Resistance, more than a hundred striking workers, have been receiving a great amount of support from local unions, occupational organisations, political parties, customers and Turkish people as well.

Metin Ebeturk, President of Sosyal-Is, addressed participants at UNI Global Commerce Conference held in Buenos Aires and asked for their support and solidarity. The petition circulated by the union was signed by all 210 delegates and observers of the Conference from 50 unions and 35 countries. The petition reads as follows:

“We are supporting strike of Leroy Merlin workers in Turkey and declare that we are in solidarity with them. We call Leroy Merlin employer to respect workers’ rights to organise, bargain collectively and strike and to respond to workers’ legitimate and reasonable demands.”

Besides, UNI Global Commerce Conference also adopted a solidarity statement in support of striking Leroy Merlin workers and Sosyal-Is. The solidarity statement can be found in the Related Files tab.

Sosyal-Is, welcomes solidarity messages from UNI affiliates and contributions to strike solidarity fund.

For contact with Sosyal-Is: onursosyal@gmail.com