Polonez workers continue their 140-day resistance
Polonez workers, who have been on strike for 140 days, continue their struggle against being fired for joining a union. The workers, who wanted to march to Ankara today, were met with police obstruction.
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Workers at the Polonez Food Factory, who were fired for joining a union and have been on strike for 140 days, once again faced police obstruction while defending their rights.
Organizing against harsh working conditions, low wages, and long working hours, 146 workers wanted to march toward the Çatalca Courthouse today. However, in the morning hours, the police surrounded the workers and tried to block them, saying, "We will not allow you to carry out this march. Your place is Çatalca."
DETENTIONS AND THE STRUGGLE TO OVERCOME THE BARRICADE
In recent days, five of the workers whose march was blocked were detained with reverse handcuffs, but were released shortly after. The workers, who managed to overcome the police barricade, marched to the Çatalca Courthouse and spent the night there.
THE STRUGGLE BEGAN FOR UNION RIGHTS
The resistance of the Polonez workers began due to the anti-union stance of the Jordan-based company Siniora Food. Following the dismissal of 13 employees, the workers decided to go on strike and began their resistance. However, police pressure has continued throughout the four-and-a-half-month strike, and the workers have repeatedly come face-to-face with law enforcement.