Turkish postal workers win recognition fight

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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A long and courageous battle against discrimination, mass sackings and victimisation has ended in a notable victory for Turkish workers over a giant multinational postal company.

Determined work in recent years by members of the country's Motor Vehicle and Transport Workers Union has finally forced logistics operator DHL to withdraw its objections to the formal recognition agreement that the union had been seeking for employees.

Speaking last week as the news broke, delighted union president Kenan Ozturk said: "After a long struggle we now have the collective bargaining competency notice from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security for DHL Turkey."

Following a similar initiative at Turkey's UPS sites from 2009 to 2011, the union started its DHL organising and recruitment drive some two-and-a-half years ago and the campaign quickly struck a chord among the workforce.

But their success led to increasing hostility from management at DHL Turkey, who victimised employees for joining up - in 2012, the union accused the company of sacking dozens of members on trumped-up charges.

But the sacked workers refused to give up, holding continuing protests outside DHL sites, taking legal action against the firm, and also appealing to the international trade union movement for support.

As well as lodging official complaints through Turley's own judicial system, the workers also won the backing of international union federations ITF and UNI - to which CWU is affiliated - and this international coalition opened a new front in the battle by bringing pressure to bear directly on DHL in their home country of Germany.

Back in May, ITF and UNI held a joint protest at DHL's annual general meeting in Frankfurt, Germany, and unions around the continent - including our own CWU - supported the Turkish workers' case and sent messages of full support for their fight.

Kenan Ozturk praised the DHL workers who began the fight and described the recognition as a "victory of collective struggle and international solidarity.

"I thank each union, sister, brother and comrade that put great effort in this victory," he added.

Welcoming the news, CWU head of international affairs John Baldwin said: "This outstanding victory for our comrades in Turkey demonstrates the value and power of international trade union solidarity and perseverance."

[Shambles]

Turkish Delight all round, well done