Turkish workers reach agreement with UPS

(Story originally appeared in the Sept.-Oct. 2011 issue of Solidarity magazine)

In other news from unions around the world, here’s proof that global solidarity works: Last year, the UAW affiliated with the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) to support workers in Turkey who were trying to organize at United Parcel Service (UPS) and its affiliates in the country.

In January, UPS was forced to hire 163 workers who were discharged for union activity. In August, the 3,000 workers reached a first-ever collective bargaining agreement with UPS.

“This is a solid win for workers at a corporation that tried to mistreat workers who were not based in the corporation’s home country,” said UAW Secretary-Treasurer Dennis Williams, who directs the union’s Transnational and Joint Ventures Department. “This was a global solidarity effort that bore great rewards for workers and a textbook example of how supporting workers in other countries leads to economic and social justice.”