Workers' protest at Tommy Hilfiger stores: Protest from Atamay Tekstil for unpaid compensation

Workers who were not paid salaries, severance and notice pay, and leave wages after the sudden closure of the factory of Atamay Tekstil, the subcontractor company of Yeşim Tekstil, which produces for the Tommy Hilfiger brand, in December 2024 and January 2025, came together in front of Tommy Hilfiger stores in three major cities today.

Workers protested simultaneously in front of Tommy Hilfiger stores in İstinyePark AVM in Izmir, Cevahir AVM in Istanbul and Armada AVM in Ankara.

"THEIR WEALTH GROWED, OUR BREAD SHROWN"

Speaking on behalf of the workers working at Atamay Tekstil in the protest in Izmir, Ayşe said that the factory was closed in one day by the boss, saying "There is no work" and that salaries, severance and notice payments were not paid.

Pointing out that the bosses make the workers work in slavery conditions for wages close to the minimum wage, Ayşe included the following statements in her speech:

"We, like thousands of subcontracted textile workers, were employed for wages close to the minimum wage. We made Tommy, Yeşim, and Atamay rich for years. They all added to their wealth at our expense. We struggled with hunger, to say the least. In short, as we increased their wealth, they reduced our bread. Now, they do not pay our salaries, leave, severance and notice payments, they ignore us. What we receive is "three cents" for the bosses. "For us, sometimes it is paying our electricity bill, sometimes it is buying diapers, sometimes it is buying a holiday outfit for our family, sometimes it is just enough money to put on our table, we will not stop fighting until we get what we deserve."

"WE WILL MAKE TOMMY STORES UNOPERATIONAL"

Çağlar Özkan, who made a statement on behalf of the We Are Behind the Bosses (PE) Network, reminded that Tommy Hilfiger announced a profit of 909 billion dollars last year and reacted to those who usurp the rights of workers. Emphasizing that this action is the second warning, Özkan said:

"The workers who sewed the clothes you see inside, who worked for Tommy Hilfiger for years, are here today asking for their rights, severance pay and notice pay. Tommy Hilfiger declared a profit of 909 billion dollars last year. They earned 60 thousand times the total receivables of the workers gathered here. They earned this money on the backs of our worker brothers. Tommy stores in shopping malls are closed for now. With the next warning, not three, not five, not five, but seven; they will take the risk of not opening these stores for half an hour, for hours, for days. Or these workers will get their rights immediately." "We promise here: We will make Tommy stores inoperable. We will not leave even a single penny of our children's bread to Tommy, Yeşim or other bosses."

"IF WORKERS GIVE A PROMISE, THEY WILL KEEP THAT PROMISE"

Speaking at the protest in Ankara, İlter Arslaner, Representative of the We Are Behind the Bosses Network, said in his speech: "We are here on behalf of the workers of Atamay Tekstil, the subcontracting company of Yeşim Tekstil, which has been producing for Tommy Hilfiger for years. Last year, the Atamay boss decided to close the factory, saying there was no work. After the layoffs, the Atamay boss disappeared without paying the salaries and compensation of our fellow workers. Now he continues to boss elsewhere with what he stole from the workers.

Atamay workers promised to fight for their rights. We are here to fulfill that promise. "If the workers of this country make a promise, they will keep that promise, they will not be like bosses," he said.

"ALL TOMMY HILFIGER STORES ARE ACTION AREAS"

Speaking on behalf of the We Are Behind the Bosses Network at the protest held in front of Cevahir Shopping Mall in Istanbul, Mert Doğan said: "We are here to say our word in front of the doors of those who sell those products for thousands of liras without paying the rights of the workers who produce the products at Tommy Hilfiger. We will demand our rights not only today, but in all Tommy stores.

We declare once again. "We will continue to make all Tommy Hilfiger stores a protest area until we get back what they stole from us."