IMF and EMF demand meeting with GEA Turkey
Amid mounting international pressure against GEA the IMF and EMF joined the picket line at GEA’s subsidiary in Turkey on December 16 to address locked-out workers and show solidarity with their struggle.
TURKEY: The international delegation was led by IMF Assistant Secretary General Fernando Lopes and EMF General Secretary Ulrich Eckelmann, joined by metal workers representatives from Turkey, Italy, France, Hungary and Germany.
The IMF launched a full-scale international campaign to protest against the anti-union actions of German-based multinational GEA. The struggle of GEA workers in Turkey, dismissed for their union affiliation in IMF-affiliated Birlesik Metal-IS, was publicised globally, and unions all over the world have pledged their support.
More than 5000 protest letters have been sent to local and German GEA managements. Still GEA continued to ignore the demand to meet with the union.
“The global labour movement, including the IMF and the 25 million members we represent, are standing shoulder to shoulder with you” said Fernando Lopes to the gathered workers at the GEA picket. “Union members from transport to mining to agricultural to aerospace stand with you in solidarity.”
“We know GEA management inside this factory is watching and listening, I am here today to ask GEA management to open the gate doors and meet us.”
Lopes enumerated GEA’s anti-union actions:”GEA has broken an agreement with our affiliate Birlesik Metal. GEA has broken an agreement with the IMF. GEA has broken an agreement with German metalworkers and IG Metall. GEA is in breach of key international business commitments and yet still refuses to meet.”
In a letter to GEA from IG Metall in Germany the union has expressed its support to the GEA workers and urged management to enter into meaningful dialogue with Biresik.
Lopes said to the picketers that IMF will support Birlesik Metal-IS’ demands before the OECD and ILO if necessary, and is prepared to break the relationship with GEA if the company fails to resolve this issue.
“We will not stop until there is justice, we will not stop until GEA workers are reinstated.”
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via IMF and EMF demand meeting with GEA Turkey – International Metalworkers’ Federation.