Turkish union Petrol-Is, affiliated to IndustriALL Global Union, conducted an organizing campaign at Kosan Kozmetik, who produces for global cosmetics brand Yves Rocher.
In April, local management dismissed 14 members of Petrol-Is due to their union membership. In addition, management continued to pressure and intimidate workers, undermining their legitimate rights to join a union at the plant.
As the workers refused to give up their affiliation with Petrol-Is, management dismissed six more union members on 11 May. On 15 May, Kosan Kozmetik sacked 65 workers over their involvement in trade union work, bringing the total number of dismissed workers to 85.
The situation in Turkey is deteriorating; local management of Yves Rocher continues to dismiss union members and as of 18 May a total of 115 workers have been dismissed.
Petrol-Is and its members are picketing in front of the factory and taking action, and legal steps have been taken for all cases of dismissal as the termination of contracts due to union membership is unjustified.
IndustriALL Global Union is calling on Yves Rocher’s management to respect trade union rights, reinstate the dismissed union members and enter into dialogue with Petrol-İş.
Valter Sanches, IndustriALL general secretary says:
It is completely unacceptable for such well-known global brand not to respect fundamental rights in its subsidiaries. We expect Yves Rocher to immediately address the situation.
Kosan Kozmetik’s behaviour is in blatant violation of Turkish labour law, as well as fundamental international labour standards, including Convention 87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize, and Convention 98 on the Right to Organize and Collective Bargaining of the International Labour Organization.
Based in Rennes, France, Yves Rocher is a worldwide cosmetics and beauty brand. The company is present in 88 countries and employs 13,500 people, not including more than 215,000 people employed through indirect jobs. Kosan Kozmetik employs 400 workers, and produces the brand Flormar, the number one make-up brand in Turkey with a 21 per cent market share. The plant also exports products to the markets of 104 countries, primarily in developing countries.
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