Labour Movement in Turkey (15 September - 15 October 2023)

In Turkey, the erosion of wage increases in the face of inflation drives workers to struggle for additional raises. Despite all the obstacles erected by capital, workers’ struggle to unionize continue.

• In Tunceli, FEDAŞ workers, members of DİSK/Enerji-Sen union, started a work slowdown action demanding improved working conditions and a wage increase. The action turned into a wildcat strike after the dismissal of 32 workers.
• In Izmir, the wildcat strike of Agrobay workers, who were fired without compensation for joining the Tarım-Sen union, continues. The workers went to Istanbul and made press statements in front of the Consulates General of Germany and Russia on October 2. They do not bow to the pressure of law enforcement forces and keep fighting for their rights.
• Workers who were fired from Trendyol warehouse in Esenyurt because they get unionized started picketing on August 28 under the leadership of DGD-SEN and PTT-SEN unions. Their picket continues.
• Ege University, Faculty of Medicine Hospital workers’ entitlements arising from the collective agreement had not been paid for 4 months. Work stoppage actions and protests started by Sağlık-Iş union member workers have resulted in victory. All receivables have been paid.
• Health and Social Service Workers’ Union (SES) Bakırköy Branch, took action on September 13 at Bakırköy Mental and Neurological Diseases Hospital against the increasing administrative pressure and mobbing in the hospital.
• Workers of Mutlu Akü, Tekno Kauçuk and Trelleborg, who are organized under the Petrol-İş union, carried out protests demanding additional pay raises. The workers’ actions in Trelleborg resulted in victory. The workers’ demands were accepted in collective bargaining.
• At the Bekaert factory in Kocaeli, Birleşik Metal-İş union member workers held protests demanding additional raises, and the workplace union representative was fired. The workers, who wanted the representative worker to be reinstated, locked themselves in the factory. The bosses did not accept the demands of the workers and the protest was ended after the workers who were in the factory for three days experienced health problems.
• Organized under Gebze district Birleşik Metal-İş union Branch No. 1, workers of Söylemez Kauçuk factory are protesting the pressure of the factory management during shift changes.
• Thousands of pensioners came together at the Pensioners’ Rally held in Kartal Square upon the call of DİSK on September 24. UID-DER joined the rally with the banner “Let’s Stand Together Against High Retirement Age, Low Pensions, and the Union Busting!”
• Occupational safety experts who are members of the Occupational Health and Safety Employees Union (İSG-SEN) made a press statement in Ankara Ulus Square on September 24, demanding that employers, not occupational safety experts, be prosecuted in work accidents.
• Employees of the German Cultural Center/Goethe Institute Ankara, organized in the Tez-Koop-İş Union, carried out a warning action in front of the Institute on September 27, protesting the hostility towards the union, since the employer did not respond to the draft collective bargaining agreement offered by the union.
• The Health and Social Service Workers’ Union (SES) carried out food boycott actions across Turkey on September 29.
• Subcontracted Municipal Workers Union (TABİB) held a protest in Kartal Square on September 30, demanding better pay, job security and regular jobs.
• Pensioners from Gebze ended their 72-day signature campaign against low pensions by making a press statement in Gebze City Square on October 1. They announced that they would submit the signatures to the Parliament.
• Teachers who are members of the Private Sector Teachers’ Union made a press statement at the Tüm-Bel-Sen Headquarters to voice their demands for “Base Salary” on October 1, when the National Assembly of Turkey opened.
• Voice actors who are member of Actors Union, went on strike for one day on October 2 against the danger of extinction of the Turkish voice over profession.
• Istanbul Ataşehir Municipality’s ATAPER company workers, covered by EYT (Victims of delayed pension age), were dismissed on the grounds of retirement without their approval. The workers, who said that they did not want to retire and could not be forced to retire according to the law, started to protest in front of the municipality, demanding reinstatement.
• Corning Optik workers who are members of DISK affiliate Lastik-İş keep on striking.
• The strike of press workers who were members of TGS (Journalists Union of Turkey), affiliate of Türk-İş confederation, continues in the Ankara and Istanbul offices of Sputnik Turkey.
• Alliance of Trade Unions in Gebze, organized a protest in Gebze City Square on October 4, where it called for a united fight against the increasing attacks of the government and capital after the election, especially the plans to scrap severance pay.
• Workers of the Işıl Tekstil factory in Çorlu, Tekirdağ were organized unionized in Öz İplik-İş Union. The factory management, that was aware of the situation, put pressure on the workers to prevent union organization and installed sprinklers on the roads to prevent the unionists officials from approaching the factory and to prevent them from calling out to the workers. On October 5, workers protested the boss by making a press statement in front of the factory under the leadership of their union.
• Vera Ambalaj factory workers in Antep stopped working against to protest the low raise.
• DİSK Aegean Regional Representation Office took action in Izmir Konak Square on October 5, within the scope of the as part of the “Justice in Income, Justice in Tax” struggle. DİSK member Workers demanded justice in taxes and income, as well as a humane life in retirement and employment rights regular jobs for municipal workers. They stated that they would not allow severance pay to be usurped taken from them.
• Birleşik Metal-İş Union carried out One-hour work stoppage action on October 6 and 13 in all shifts in Turkish Employers’ Association of Metal Industries (MESS) affiliated workplaces after the 30 percent preliminary wage raise demand was not accepted. Workers will not work overtime until October 25, the third meeting date. While collective bargaining negotiations with MESS were are continuing, workers reacted to against the imposition of the preliminary 4750 lira raise agreement, which has already been agreed by with Türk Metal union, to them and. They stopped work in cities such as Istanbul, Kocaeli, Eskişehir, Bilecik and Bursa.