Leather workers won a lengthy organizing drive at Turkey’s DESA factory (featured in this column last year). A large international solidarity push helped propel the union Deri Is to win recognition, as well as the reinstatement of several workers who had been fired during the drive.

The 1,200 mostly women workers were motivated by unsafe working conditions at two manufacturing sites and a tanning yard where they produce leather products for high-end companies like Louis Vuitton and Prada. DESA paid poverty wages without health benefits or maternity leave, and workers were exposed to harsh chemicals with inadequate ventilation.

During the movement to unionize, management fired 44 workers and harassed others into dropping their support. But demonstrations continued for months in front of the factories, bolstered by labor advocacy groups including the international Clean Clothes Campaign and LabourStart, whose online campaign prompted 6,000 people to flood DESA’s mailbox with messages.

The workers agreed to end the campaign in exchange for the company’s promise to refrain from union-busting.

But the world won’t stop watching. Organizers at the Clean Clothes Campaign have pledged to continue working with the new members of Deri Is to make sure the bosses keep their promises.

Labour Behind the Label, a British outpost of Clean Clothes, will send updates on this and other action alerts. Email with “subscribe” in the subject line to receive them.