News

In a statement to the Leroy Merlin workers, the Head of UNI Commerce, Alke Boessiger said, “We are very concerned that Leroy Merlin management refuses to engage in meaningful talks with our affiliate Sosyal-IS for a collective agreement as stipulated by Turkish law.



“We fully support you in your demands for decent wages and improved working conditions and call once again on the company to return to the negotiating table and show the employees and their union respect by swiftly concluding a collective bargain.”



The strike action started today at the Ankara and Bursa Leroy Merlin stores.



The General Executive Board of Sosyal-Is released a statement outlining the reasons why its been forced to call for industrial action, “Sosyal-Is, had demanded fair and reasonable financial rights and wage increase for Leroy Merlin workers, many of who, had not get any wage increase in the last two years and just received benefits of transportation and food.

“The total cost of our union’s demands equal to 15 percent. However our union’s attitude was not welcomed by the employer. Employer did not take any step for agreement and insisted on its 4.5 percent wage increase; also it did respond to any of our demands for social benefits and finally adopted a position that would leave benefits of transportation and food to employer’s own will. In addition to that, regarding working conditions, employer came up with proposition that offers worse conditions than the already existing ones. Such an approach is neither understandable nor acceptable.”

In attached files see the full Sosyall-Is press release and the letter from UNI to the CEO of Leroy Merlin outlining the case for meaningful talks.