Agrobay Greenhouse employees, sacked for joining the Agricultural Workers’ Union (Tarım-Sen), have vowed to continue direct action until the Turkish tomato producer giant pays full compensation for the dismissals, despite facing court as authorities crack down on their month-long protest camp.
Agrobay, part of the government endorsed Bayburt conglomerate, dismissed 39 employees on 22 August in response to their efforts to unionise under agricultural workers’ left-wing Tarım-Sen. In response, Tarım-Sen initiated protests on site at the mega-greenhouse in the western province of Izmir, demanding both compensation and an end to worker’s rights violations.
The mobilised workers were subsequently issued a court order to prevent them from setting foot within 500 metres of the company premises, but the threat of legal repercussions did not proved a deterrence. On Friday, Tarım-Sen Chairman Umut Kocagöz was detained by Turkish police while making a statement in front of the Agrobay resistance tent. Several other arrests were made, stalling the protest only temporarily.
As sacked employees and union representatives returned to the resistance tent on Sunday, Tarım-Sen’s president, Kocagöz, reiterated the union’s determination to expose the violations and find justice. “If necessary, we will stay here not just for 26 days but for 226 days,” he said.
Bayburt Group, a leader in Turkey’s energy, production and service sectors, bills Agrobay ‘the world’s largest tomato greenhouse’. However, the weight of the large-scale operation has not improved working conditions. Employees report late payment of salaries, imposition of unpaid leave, intense line management pressure, mobbing, and other rights violations.
In addition, Bayburt recently garnered unwanted attention over the receipt of governmental tenders, raising eyebrows over the transparency of the group’s political affiliations.
