Calls for a boycott are growing against the dismissal of 257 DGD-SEN union workers who fought back for their rights while working at Migros’ warehouse in Esenyurt, Istanbul.
Solidarity with fired workers: Batıkent women call for boycott, “Women’s power defeats Migros Grocery Chain”
Batıkent Women organizations back calls for boycott against Migros workers’ layoffs
Calls for a boycott are growing against the dismissal of 257 DGD-SEN union workers who fought back for their rights while working at Migros’ warehouse in Esenyurt, Istanbul.
The Women of Batıkent neighborhood gathered in front of Migros in Ankara’s Batıkent Ergazi Neighborhood and urged everyone to boycott Migros until the demands of Migros workers are accepted.
Buse Üçer read the statement in front of Migros. Üçer’s explanation is as follows:
Since last year, Migros warehouse workers have been carrying out strikes with various demands. Resistance grew among the workers, especially with the psychological pressures experienced by female workers in the workplace and the loud harassment of the supervisors. In front of the Migros Meadows warehouse, workers who were fired by Code 29 for wanting their union rights and resisted for 120 days ended the action due to financial impossibility. However, Migros management, which did not investigate the supervisors who harassed the women, opened an investigation against the women workers.
After all this, the workers went on strike with the strength of the growing union struggle. As poverty grew, workers opposed an 8% “misery hike” in their wages. On the night of February 2nd, Migros warehouse workers started a work stoppage in front of the warehouse. On February 3rd, 120 of the workers who refused to accept the unacceptable increase were sent text messages and dismissed from their jobs. Migros took away the bread the workers had earned with the efforts of 120 people with just a simple text message. 120 scabs brought from other provinces to break the strike also participated in the strike due to the cold, the lack of even the possibility to take a shower, and the deduction of 300 TL of food money from their salaries. There’s no heating, no hot water where the workers are staying. It’s a monopoly called Migros that makes them suffer all these conditions. A total of 250 workers have been detained by the police called by the bosses since February 2nd.
On the seventh day of Migros action against an 8 percent wage increase for its workers at its warehouse in Esenyurt, 250 workers from the Warehouse, Port, Shipyard and Marine Workers Union (DGD-Sen) were terminated. In response to the demands of the workers, a 54% increase was offered by the management after the strike. Migros has an annual turnover of 28.8 billion. A company that makes a profit of 28.8 billion a year rejects workers’ demands to work under minimum conditions.
Demands
Reiterating the demands of Migros workers, Üçer called for a boycott of Migros until the demands are met.
• Increase hourly rate by 4TL after taxes
• Legal guarantee of premium payments to social security accounts
• Take occupational health and safety measures
Hail to the workers who called for solidarity in front of the Migros warehouse, saying that “the power of women defeats Migros”. As Batıkent women, we call on everyone to boycott Migros. It’s good for you to resist, not Migros!
Sendika.Org News (MB)