Fifty-four workers of the ASD Laminat Factory in Düzce, Turkey, were dismissed as a result of their membership to the Turkish Wood and Paper Industry Workers’ Union (AGAC-IS). The company refused to recognise the union and resorted to union-busting schemes, such as arbitrarily dismissing unionists and pressuring other workers to renounce their union membership. After a four-year legal battle, a local court ruled in favour of the workers’ reinstatement earlier this year. However, the company continued to defy the court’s decision and has intensified its anti-union practices.
On 30 June, it started dismissing workers immediately after the pandemic “lay-off ban” was lifted. As of 14 July, another 19 workers were fired. AGAC-IS started organising protest actions in front of the company to press for their rights. It said that it is expecting authorisation in a few months to start the process of collective bargaining negotiations, even as it prepares to fight for the reinstatement of the remaining dismissed workers.