International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF), a leading supplier of specialty ingredients to the global processed food industry, has responded to the organization of a union at its factory in Gebze, Turkey with mass dismissals.

The IUF-affiliated Tobacco, Drink, Food and Allied Workers’ Union (Tekgida-Is) in Turkey organized workers at the Gebze factory last year and the Labour Ministry recognized the union as the bargaining unit on June 18, 2015. Workers formed a union in response to poor working conditions and there have been allegations of serious health and safety concerns. IFF challenged this decision at the local labour court and dismissed 30 workers between July and September for exercising their right to join a union. Following the dismissal of a prominent union supporter, Tekgıda-Is organized a protest action in front of the factory gate and issued a press statement on September 7 calling on IFF to respect union rights and stop pressuring workers to resign from their union.