News

Our affiliate Basin-Is has reported an important legal breakthrough in their campaign for union rights at E-Kart. On July 16th the Labour Court has decided in favour of the union finding that:

- Basin-Is strike in front of E-Kart is legal,

- Basin-Is has a sufficient membership level to continue the strike.

UNI Global Union affiliates around the world congratulate the striking workers and their trade union Basin-is on this important breakthrough.

For UNI and all our affiliates who support Basin-Is’s campaign for freedom of association and the right to bargain collectively for E-Kart workers, the verdict of the Court is an important step in the right direction.

This legal hearing was not the first to be initiated by E-Kart management against the union members. Decisions of previous courts hearings were also in favour of the union.

This time the E-Kart management used the argument that Basin-Is’s membership level is not sufficient to continue the strike.

E-Kart is a joint-venture of socially responsible German-based Giesecke&Devrient and Turkish Eczacibasi. Despite this, E-Kart management is in conflict with its workers, bringing one court case after another, in the hope that one day Basin-Is members will give up.

Now, after two years’ industrial action and a 31-day strike picket in front of the E-Kart plant, Basin-Is has become even more determined to succeed.

With today’s Court decision there are no more obstacles for E-Kart management to start collective bargaining with Basin-Is.

We call upon E-Kart management to start collective bargaining with Basin-Is. A peaceful resolution will be found through negotiation and not in a spurious legal action.

UNI and Verdi together with other affiliates will continue to support E-Kart workers and their trade union Basin-is and will intensify the international campaign.