Police raid workers’ strike at burlap bag factory in Istanbul, detain 91

ISTANBUL – Doğan News Agency

The work stoppage action has been ongoing since Feb 9. DHA Photo

Police launched a raid April 10 against a burlap bag factory on Istanbul’s Anatolian side where workers have been organizing work stoppage actions that have been ongoing since February.

At least 91 people have been detained, while some have been transferred to the hospital for injuries, Doğan News Agency reported based on the workers’ accounts.

Following the raid, union representatives, including the Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions (DİSK) General Secretary Arzu Çerkezoğlu, have gone to the factory occupied by the protesters.

Some 600 workers at the Greif factory had initially launched a strike on Nov. 9, 2013 to denounce the layoffs of co-workers, occupying a factory in the city’s Esenyurt district.

A second work stoppage action was launched on Feb. 9 after workers refused the conditions put forward by the firm as part of a collective bargaining agreement. The occupation of the factory has been ongoing since as workers demand for better working conditions, the removal of sub-contractors at the factory and higher wages.