FOOD workers’ international IUF urged trade unionists across the world today to send solidarity to Turkish dairy workers battling for their rights against management intimidation.

IUF affiliate Tekgida-Is began organising staff at Sutas in 2012, with bosses immediately sacking 30 workers to nip unionisation in the bud.

A total of 83 workers have so far been dismissed and many more have been forced to resign because of intimidation.

Sacked workers started picketing the factory gate in April.

Bosses surrounded the site with lorries to hide the pickets but when the workers refused to disperse, management poured 13 tons of liquid manure onto their sit-in area.

Far from ending the protest, it attracted flies to the dairy plant and compromised food safety.

Bosses eventually had to clean up the area and disinfect surrounding villages, while factory owner Muharrem Yilmaz had to give up the chair of the business federation Tusiad when the scandal became public.

The union is calling for the reinstatement of the 83 staff and demanding recognition.