"Migros admits dismissing resisting workers", 11 February 2021

Migros has released a statement about the workers protesting the 8-percent wage increase and admitted 257 workers have been dismissed. It has said:

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"...some employees at the European Distribution Center have unfortunately interrupted the supply chain in the West Marmara region using misleading information and manipulation.

"The relevant distribution center employer, Us Group, increased the income of the employees by an average of 54 percent including bonuses. In the first week of February, the increased income payments were made to their accounts.

"...the average hourly wage has been increased by 6.6 TRY and hourly income including premium has been increased by 9.7 TRY by Us Group. Should an additional 4 TRY per hour be added, the income increase including the premium corresponds to 80 percent, which unfortunately has no economic rationale.

"Some who did not find this increase sufficient and did not want to work, unfortunately stopped their colleagues who wanted to continue working and prevented their right to work. They continued their actions despite all transparent communication, close dialogue, reminders, two warnings and repeated efforts to tell the truth verbally.

"The Us Group had to part ways, even if it was the last thing desired, with the protestors, who caused many days of disruption to the operations of the European Distribution Center and breaking the food supply chain...

"As Migros, of course, we understand protestors' financial difficulties...In the Distribution Center, Us Group has created a salary increase with the maximum possible raise by making maximum efforts and forcing all economic conditions. We would like to assert that our door is open to our colleagues who find these working conditions suitable and who respect their workplace responsibilities."

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What happened?

Protesting in the face of an 8-percent pay rise, 257 workers of the Migros Depo...have been dismissed. The dismissed workers are also the members of the Warehouse, Port, Dock and Maritime Workers Union (DGD-SEN)...

Halting work in protest, the workers of the Migros Depo were waiting inside the warehouse in İstanbul's Esenyurt as part of their strike action the other night when the police stormed the warehouse and detained three executives of the DGD-SEN and over 150 workers. The detained people were released from the Kıraç Police Station later in the day.

Workers' requests

Workers of Migros demand that their net hourly wages be increased by 4 TRY, the payment of premiums be legally guaranteed and the necessary measures be taken for labor health and safety.

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