In May 2015, Türk Traktör workers decided to strike in response to harsh working conditions, poor wages, and lack of collective bargaining rights. In response, the company fired 20 workers, some of whom were leaders in the strike.

According to the Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations (SOMO) “Türk Traktör has consistently denied its workers the right to organize and instead compelled them to join Türk Metal, a union that is closely connected to the Turkish government and Türk Traktör management, as a pre-condition for employment.”

Read more on this case in SOMO’s article.

More sources on the case:

The Black Sea article

Reuters article

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Compliance review report