ETF statement on DHL Turkey

28 Mar 2013

Since April 2011, 30 members of the Turkish Motor Vehicle and Transport Union, TÜMTİS have been dismissed for attempting to organise a union in their workplace and as part of a sustained anti union campaign against them. As an act of resistance, these workers have set up peaceful picket lines at two DHL workplaces in Istanbul, that have been running for 285 days as of today.

TÜMTİS – an affiliate of the ITF and ETF has made every attempt to facilitate negotiation with local DHL management and seek a resolution to the on-going dismissals. Despite this, the company continues to engage in such on-going anti-union actions as:

  • In December 2012, a newly-formed union, Taşima-Iş emerged and there is evidence that workers at DHL in Samsun, Istanbul and Ankara are being forced by DHL to join it upon threat of dismissal.
  •  On 13 January 2013 and 22 February 2013 Turkish courts upheld the claim that four workers have had their employment “terminated by the defendant unfairly and without notice for reasons of trade union [membership], and requested judgment for the reinstatement of his client to his post.” DP-DHL is appealing these rulings.

On 13 January 2013 and 22 February 2013 Turkish courts upheld the claim that four workers have had their employment “terminated by the defendant unfairly and without notice for reasons of trade union [membership], and requested judgment for the reinstatement of his client to his post.” DP-DHL is appealing these rulings.

The ETF Executive Committee condemns these dismissals and the associated anti-union campaign on the part of DHL.

We demand of that DHL CEO Frank Appel:

  1. Reinstate the sacked workers;
  2. End the campaign of intimidation;
  3. Enter into negotiations with TÜMTİS over a Collective Bargaining Agreement at DHL Supply Chain;
  4. For all DHL workers a global union agreement that ensures freedom of association and the right to organise, wherever they are in the world.

Additionally, we call on our brothers and sisters in the ETF union community to continue to participate in lawful and visible action until we win this dispute.

(Adopted at the ETF Executive Committee meeting, 26 March 2013)