A101 workers protest working conditions across 11 Turkish provinces

Workers at the Turkish supermarket chain A101, represented by the Sosyal-İş Union (affiliated with DİSK), have launched simultaneous protests in front of 15 stores across 11 provinces. The demonstrations aim to address what union members describe as inhumane working conditions and systemic rights violations.

The union has outlined several core demands, including access to free drinking water, increased meal allowances, and the right to sit during shifts. Workers also reported being forced to perform multiple roles, such as cashiers also handling heavy lifting, cleaning, and inventory, which they claim leads to excessive workloads.

Additional grievances raised by the union include unpaid overtime during store opening and closing procedures, as well as the violation of the legal 45-hour weekly work limit. Union representatives stated that while the company reports record profits, the employees responsible for that growth face systematic mobbing and labor exploitation.