Turquía - Police use force to end protest against anti-union dismissals (2012)

On 12 April, the police ended a 12-day protest by workers at a cigarette factory in Samsun using tear-gas and water cannons. The workers were demonstrating against 110 lay-offs on 31 March in the wake of the sale of the formerly state-owned company to British American Tobacco (BAT). Although a BAT spokesperson claimed the dismissals were necessary because of shrinking market share, the workers pointed out that those dismissed were union members. The company continued to employ outsourced workers, who had lower pay and benefits.