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Liner Notes

Support Turkish Leather Workers

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Leather workers at the DESA Leather Company in Turkey are fighting poor working conditions and an anti-union employer. After they moved to unionize, management responded by firing 44 workers and intimidating 55 others into resigning their membership. The fired workers, whose union is called Deri Is, have been conducting demonstrations in front of DESA factories for the past six months, where they have been met with harassment and arrests.

DESA Leather manufactures products sold to high-end brands such as Prada, Louis Vuitton, Mulberry, and Samsonite. The 1,200 leather workers employed by the company face appalling working conditions at two manufacturing facilities and a tanning yard, which the union says are in breach of health and safety regulations.

Workers are exposed to harsh chemicals and face lung problems from working in unventilated space. They make poverty wages without health benefits or maternity leave, and regularly work mandatory overtime.

Support the DESA workers by sending letters of protest to DESA and their buyers. Letters can be sent to DESA offices at Halkali Cad No 208 Sefakoy, Istanbul, Turkey, 34620 or Prada, Mulberry, and Samsonite at , , , and .