In a remarkable demonstration of worker solidarity and determination, employees at Polonez, a prominent food manufacturing company in Turkey, have achieved a groundbreaking victory following a six-month struggle for their labor rights.
In a powerful display of solidarity and resilience, workers at Polonez have secured a historic victory after a six-month fight for their labor rights.The resolution, reached this month marks a significant milestone in Turkish labor relations and worker organizing efforts.
The conflict began when 146 workers at the Polonez facility exercised their legal right to join Tek Gıda-İş, one of Turkey’s leading labor unions representing food industry workers. The company’s response was swift and severe: all unionized workers were terminated from their positions, a move that sparked immediate controversy and led to widespread criticism from labor advocates and community organizations.
Rather than accepting their dismissal, the workers launched what would become a campaign of sustained resistance. Their peaceful included maintaining a continuous presence outside the Çatalca Courthouse, where they established a protest camp that became a symbol of their unwavering commitment. The workers’ dedication was further demonstrated through their decision to undertake a hunger strike, drawing national attention to their cause and garnering support from various sectors of Turkish society.
The breakthrough came during negotiations at the Turkish Ministry of Labor and Social Security, where representatives from the Jordanian-owned company finally met with union officials to hammer out an agreement. The resulting settlement addressed the workers’ core demands, representing a complete reversal of the company’s initial stance and a validation of the workers’ collective action strategy.
Suat Karlıkaya, an Organizing Expert from Tek Gıda-İş Union, emphasized the broader implications of this victory: “This struggle has become a beacon of hope for millions of workers whose labor is disregarded in thousands of factories across Turkey. It sends a clear message that positive change is possible through collective action and solidarity.”
The workers marked their victory with a traditional celebration featuring the folk dance “Erik Dalı” outside the factory gates, a moment that symbolized not just the end of their struggle but the beginning of a new chapter in Turkish labor relations. As one worker noted during the celebrations, “This victory belongs not just to us, but to all workers who dare to stand up for their rights.”