Labour Movement in Turkey 15 July – 15 August

Amasya:On July 17, at GM Technic Glass Factory workers from Kristal-İş union went on strike after collective bargaining negotiations failed to reach an agreement.

İzmir:On 9 July, 368 workers from companies affiliated with İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, members of Belediye-İş union, started picketing following their dismissal. The resistance ended with an agreement on 18 July.

On 23 July, members of the Health and Social Service Workers’ Union (SES) announced their collective bargaining demands in front of university hospitals. Workers demanded the right to strike, a base wage above the poverty line, permanent employment, and free healthcare services.

Mersin:On 23 July, Turkish and Russian workers at the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant construction site, who had not received their wages for three months, staged a work stoppage.

Kocaeli:On 9 July, workers at Omsa Metal, organized under Birleşik Metal-İş union, began picketing in front of the factory to demand recognition of their union rights and the initiation of collective bargaining negotiations

Dersim:On 5 August, at Peri Textile, 17 workers from BİRTEK-SEN union were dismissed for opposing mobbing and insults. They set up a resistance tent and continue their struggle.

Manisa:On 29 July, Türk Metal union held a press statement in front of the Bitron Electromechanical factory, where 25 workers were dismissed. Workers, organized under Türk Metal union a year ago, continue their resistance against the boss’s hostility toward unions and dismissal attacks.

İzmir:Since July 28, workers of Kent Co. Inc. and Personel Co. Inc., affiliated with Karşıyaka Municipality, have been protesting in front of the municipality building, demanding the payment of their wages and wage differences under the collective bargaining agreement.

Kayseri:On 30 July , around two thousand Öz İplik-İş union members stopped work at Yataş in response to the failure to reach an agreement in collective bargaining negotiations and the imposition of a poverty-level wage increase. Workers declared that they will continue their struggle until they win their rights, demanding a 40% wage increase.

Van:On 30 July, the dismissal of 223 workers organized under Genel-İş union by the trustee administration of Van Metropolitan Municipality was protested with a mass march. On 14 August, the workers held another mass march, reiterating their demand for reinstatement.

In late July, the Public Collective Bargaining Framework Protocol, covering 600,000 public workers, concluded with the signing of a poverty-level wage increase. While public workers protested against poverty-level wages and pressure, the Harb-İş union refused to sign the agreement and decided to continue the struggle by setting up tents in squares called “labour tents.”

KESK, In the first week of August, KESK (Confederation of Public Employees’ Trade Unions) established an alternative collective bargaining table to announce public employees’ demands for the 2026–2027 agreement. On the day the government announced its first wage offer, KESK protested with a press statement in front of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security. On 13 August, joint press statements were held in many cities across Turkey, calling on public employees and retirees, regardless of union membership, to unite against poverty wages. On 15 August, KESK protested again in front of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security against the government’s second offer, limited to a 1,000-lira increase in base wages, and announced a one-day work stoppage by all public employees on 18 August.

Bursa:On 30 July, two workers at Elyaf Textile were dismissed for joining Öz İplik-İş union. On 6 August, DİSK, KESK, and other labour organizations paid a solidarity visit to the workers, who have been on strike since July 30.

Ankara:On 7 August, public workers at Middle East Technical University (METU), members of Tez-Koop-İş union, went on strike after their collective bargaining demands were not met. METU students also supported the strike.

Sakarya:On 12 August, workers at SAG Hidrolik, where the Birleşik Metal-İş union is organized, began resistance after one worker was dismissed. The union management called on the boss to respect union rights and sit at the negotiating table.

İzmir:The workers at Digel Textile, who were dismissed for joining the TEKSIF union, continue their resistance.