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Problems continue with Metro
in Turkey, Uni Commerce and Metro AG management will meet social partners in
Istanbul Turkish Uni Commerce affiliate Tez-Koop-Is continues to encounter problems in Metro. A veritable campaign to break the union is continuing despite several attempts by Uni Commerce and the German Metro management to solve the situation. After a recent dismissal of a union representative, Uni Commerce once again raised the situation with Metro. It has now been agreed that representatives of Metro AG and Uni Commerce meet with the social partners in Metro Turkey in an effort to find a solution. The labour relations in Metro Turkey have been poor already for a long time. Two years ago, the situation escalated to a point where the company's management in Germany asked Uni Commerce to intervene to calm things down. This was done, in discussions with the trade union representatives, who agreed to build up a constructive dialogue with management. The problem was that the Turkish country management did not follow up on their part but continued with union busting activities. In November last year, a meeting was held in Frankfurt to sort things out. Here, an agreement was signed where all parties confirmed their intention to build up a constructive social dialogue. The management of Metro, including the Turkish country management, declared that they fully respect workers' and trade union rights as defined by the international labour conventions. Once again, the country management in Istanbul did not live up to the expectations. Harassment of trade union activists continued, including very questionable lay-offs. Attempts by Tez-Koop-Is to negotiate did not receive serious responses. In Germany, the group management sided with their Turkish colleagues and no concrete results were reached when Uni Commerce tried to intervene. A recent mass dismissal of some 70 workers, including a Tez-Koop-Is shop steward, brought the conflict to a new level. Uni Commerce cautioned Metro AG that the situation in Turkey is threatening the whole positive social dialogue, which has been developed in Metro over the years. If a sustainable solution is not found fast, Uni Commerce has no alternative but must launch an international solidarity campaign. Strong support was also received from the German commerce trade unions DAG and HBV, who advised the company that they are prepared to concretely support their Turkish colleagues. At a meeting between Uni Commerce, DAG and HBV and Metro AG in Cologne last week, it was agreed that a final effort would be made to find an amicable solution to the problems in Turkey. Jan Furstenborg, head of department for Uni Commerce will meet next week in Istanbul with the Turkish social partners in Metro with the two senior human resource directors of Metro AG, Mr Rainer Marschaus and Mr Klaus-Peter Dittert. Uni Commerce, supported by its German affiliates, has put forward a proposal for a long term solution to the labour relations problems in Turkey. This includes a voluntary recognition of the union and the conclusion of a voluntary collective agreement to regulate wages and working conditions. The country management in Turkey has until now refused, referring to legislation originating from the military dictatorship period, which enables them to withhold recognition if the union does not have a membership over 50 per cent in the company. Because of the campaign against Tez-Koop-Is, membership has indeed dropped from well over 50 to around 30 per cent.
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