Clean Clothes Campaign – Turkey Protest Against DeFacto

Clean Clothes Campaign – Turkey, protested against DeFacto, on 15 March, in İstanbul, Kadıköy.

CCC activists who carried a symbolic coffin which is decorated with red paint, standing for 1139 deceased workers under Rana Plaza ruins  and “Made in Bangladesh, 100% life risk” stickers, unfurled a CCC banner in front of DeFacto store. The protesters put placards there, on which is written: “DeFacto, are you at ease?”, “Mediterranean Wind Blows from Bangladesh”, “DeFacto, How Is It Going in Bangladesh?”, “DeFacto, Sign the Accord!”, while chanting the following slogans, demanding the signing of the Bangladesh Accord: “Stop! Stop! Stop the deaths!”, “DeFacto, don’t be unfair”, “DeFacto, how is it going in Bangladesh?”, “DeFacto, sign the Accord!”

The protesters were asked questions by curious passers-by, and the customers. They were replied that in Bangladesh, workers produce to brands including DeFacto, for just 38$ a month, without security of life, and were told that Rana Plaza, which included textile workshops producing for the world’s leading brands collapsed on 24 April 2013, causing the death of 1139 workers, and that this was one of the biggest work accident recorded up until then. The activists went on with their explanations by telling about the “Bangladesh Fire and Building Safety Accord”, and about the CCC’s demand that the brands producing in Bangladesh  sign this “Accord”, and to take responsibility considering the security of life of the workers producing for them together with the other constituents (government, employers and labour unions). It was pointed out that above one hundred world brands signed the “Accord” and thus took pecuniary and non-pecuniary responsibility for the possible work accidents in the future; but  that the Turkish brands DeFacto, SevenHill, Collezione, Batik and Colins who purchase from Bangladesh were deaf and dumb to the appeal of CCC. DeFacto was demanded to sign the “Accord”, referring to the fact that it is the second Turkish brand to purchase the most from Bangladesh. The people in the crowd were reminded that in the previous CCC demo in front of the İstiklal DeFacto store, the administration of DeFacto dispersed another leaflet claiming that they signed BSCI agreement, which has nothing to do with the “Bangladesh Fire and Building Safety Accord”. Thus DeFacto administrators  İhsan Ateş and Zeki Özen were urged to step up to the plate instead of misdirecting public opinion.

The number of demonstrators exceeded a hundred with the participation of Karşı Lig (Adverse League) players, which is an alternative initiative against the industrial football. They red-carded DeFacto, chanting “Murderer DeFacto” slogans. Next, the public announcement was read. Store manager Orhan Soydemir was handed a letter with detailed information on how to sign the Accord to be conveyed to İhsan Ateş and Zeki Özen. CCC activists ended the demo with applause from passers-by and Karşı Lig players and supporters, leaving the symbolic coffin and placards in front of the store. They indicated that they will go on with their protests against DeFacto, and that it cannot escape responsibility simply by sitting it out.

After the demo was over, the store manager turned around the coffin and the placards for a considerable time, called for the police but wasn’t courageous enough to gather and throw them away, so the passers-by and the customers could continue examining these objects for a longer time than expected.

“We Do Not Want to Wear Blood Stained Clothes” Campaign

CCC – Turkey started a petition campaign on change.org, named “We Do Not Want to Wear Blood Stained Clothes” for the Turkish brands producing in Bangladesh -De Facto, SevenHill, Collezione, Batik and Colins- to sign the “Bangladesh Fire and Building Safety Accord”. DeFacto is producing most of its products in Bangladesh. For the workers in Bangladesh to work without death risk and under convenient working conditions, DeFacto must sign the Accord.

Please sign our petition

 

Clean Clothes Campaign – Turkey