Organised workers from over 40 cities across the world rhave allied outside the offices of US-based freight-carrier UPS in solidarity with 157 Turkish employees who have been summarily laid off by the firm.
The protests, in Turkey as well as countries including India, South Korea Argentina, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, South Africa and the US, called for the reinstatement of the workers, who were apparently dismissed without any application of the procedures specified under Turkish law, and an end to UPS's hostile anti-union approach in Turkey.
The workers were dismissed after an organising drive by the Turkish union TUMTIS, affiliated to the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF).
In July the conflict escalated in Izmir when it was reported that the manager of a UPS subcontractor had pulled out a gun and started shooting at protesting workers.
TUMTIS president Kenan Ozturk said: "UPS workers in Turkey face aggression.
"International support will send a clear message to UPS that anti-union activity is not acceptable - global workers' solidarity will defeat employers' attacks."
ITF general secretary David Cockroft welcomed recent mediation efforts from UPS headquarters in Atlanta and Brussels and expressed the hope that "the managers in Turkey will pay attention to their colleagues' concerns.
"If those Turkish managers choose not to do so, then we will prepare for further worldwide action in a second global day on September 15," Mr Cockroft said.
For more information visit: www.itfglobal.org/campaigns/ups-justice.cfm
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