IZMIR – German fashion brand, Roy Robson has been accused of union busting in Turkey. A complaint has been filed to the German Partnership for Sustainable Textiles claiming the German brand has violated ILO Conventions 87 and 98 at its factory in Izmir. It is claimed the factory has this year dismissed 13 members of IndustriALL Global Union affiliate, Teksif. Roy Robson produces almost 90 per cent of its products in Europe in Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Macedonia and Portugal.
IndustriALL claims that on 18 April, Eser Yılmaz became the 13th union member to be dismissed by the company this year. Eser joined Teksif in January, and was an active union member. Since joining the union, IndustriaLL claims she has been placed under pressure, and called to account for “poor performance”, after which her contract was terminated. This follows the dismissal in January 2018 of eleven members of Teksif from the factory in Izmir.
Roy Robson is a member of the German Partnership for Sustainable Textiles (Textilbündnis) which aims to improve social, ecological and economic conditions in the supply chain. IndustriALL filed a complaint with the partnership, copied to the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development.
The complaint claims Roy Robson fired workers for union activity, in violation of ILO Conventions, Turkish labour law, the company’s own code of conduct, and its roadmap under the partnership.
Teksif international secretary Mustafa Perçin said: “We are calling on Roy Robson’s Turkish facilities to respect fundamental workers’ rights, and we are calling on everyone for international support.”
IndustriALL assistant general secretary Kemal Özkan said: “Roy Robson is engaging in blatant union busting. We will hold the company to account. Workers have a right to join a union, and we will continue to support our affiliate Teksif.”
Apparel Insider has contacted Roy Robson for comment.