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DHL’s attempts at union busting in Turkey were strongly condemned at the International Transport Workers Federation/UNI Global Union Global Delivery Network Meeting in Nyon.



The participants heard how 37 DHL Turkey workers have been sacked on trumped up charges, in reality for exercising their democratic right to join a union. Dismissed workers have been on the picket lines for more than 300 days in Kirac, Gebze in Istanbul and in Bursa. The Turkish Labour Courts have found for all the dismissed workers whose cases have come before them and in four cases stated overtly that the dismissals were because of union membership.



Kenan Ozturk, the President of Tumtis, the Turkish union whose members have been discriminated against by DHL Turkey told the meeting how the company was also backing a fake or yellow union to push Tumtis, the legitimate union, aside. Ozturk also said there were links to Turkey’s struggle for democracy, “We need your solidarity not only for Tumtis but also for the broader democratic movement. We have seen the energy and strength of the Turkish people ready to stand up for democracy. Their spirit is a simultaneous reflection of and a reinforcement of Tumtis’ struggle. In spite of all oppression with unity we will win both struggles.”



UNI Global Union General Secretary Philip Jennings said, “We at UNI are following the situation in Turkey closely through our affiliates and via social media and we stand in solidarity with both the protestors and the sacked DHL workers. Tumtis’ President is correct when he suggests that DHL Turkey’s anti-worker behaviour is the reflection of a wider problem with Turkey’s labour laws. DHL look in the mirror and change your behaviour.”



ver.di’s Officer for the Department of Postal Services, Forwarding and Logistics, Malene Volkers, spoke of ver.di’s unwavering support for the Tumtis struggle. Volker said, “ver.di has taken part in several solidarity visits to Tumtis and will continue to do so in the future. We are committed to this struggle.”



The ITF’s Supply Chains and Organising Projects Assistant Coordinator, Alen Clifford said that the solidarity of the international union family around forcing DHL to change its unacceptable record on workers’ rights in Turkey and elsewhere was a winning factor in the fight for justice.



In a discussion of precarious work in the Global Delivery Sector, UNI and ITF affiliates revealed the extensive use of precarious work, whether agency workers or subcontracted, across DHL operations worldwide. They gave examples of successes in fighting back against this casualization, via organizing all workers regardless of permanent status, and then ultimately through CBA negotiation, EWC pressure, or through Labour Courts enforcing that workers doing equal work, must have equal status and protection. The participants recognised the size of the problem because of the sheer numbers of precarious workers and the complexity of the task but pledged to continue to face up to the challenge and break through.