Labour Movement in Turkey This Month (15 July-15 August)

Workers in Turkey raise their voices in many industrial areas against rising oppression, grabbing of rights, and miserable wages.

• In Adıyaman, tobacco farmers took action against grabbing of their rights
• Power workers reacted against their union (Tes-İş, affiliate of Türk-İş Confederation) as it signed a three-year contract with a 9% wage rise. They carried out actions in Istanbul, Ankara, Adana and Zonguldak, with some leaving Tes-İş and joining DISK/Enerji-Sen.
• 100 workers in Destek Otomotiv in Bursa were laid off on account of unionization
• 40 workers working in Pegasus Airlines, also members of DİSK/Nakliyat-İş, were laid off on the same grounds. They are furious, determined and are waging a struggle as their basic rights were violated.
• Denim Kumaşçılık workers in Lüleburgaz were laid off on account of getting unionized in DİSK-Tekstil-İş. They keep on their struggle.
• Union-busting in Turan Plastik, whose workers are organized under Lastik-İş in Istanbul. Workers call on the boss to come to negotiation table for collective bargaining.
• Çiftçiler Ayakkabı workers who are DERİTEKS members do not yield to injustice and keep on their fight.
• Bel Karper, Adkotürk and Cargill workers who are members of Tek Gıda-İş keep on their struggle with determination. UID-DER and other labor organizations keep on making solidarity with them.
• Workers in Galataport site in Istanbul had been laid off on account of getting unionized under DİSK/Dev Yapı-İş. As they waged a determined struggle they succeeded in making the boss retreat.
• 75 Workers in İzmir Çiğli Municipality on account of Code-46 also won since they did not bow down and fought.
• The strike of Hakan Plastik workers in Tekirdağ/Çerkezköy ended with gain.
• The strike of Nedex Kimya workers in Gebze ended in victory.

In July and in August many strikes (official and unofficial) and pickets in various industries continued with determination. As solidarity among workers strengthens, as their struggles are linked, hopes are flourishing. Long Live Class Solidarity!