Labour Movement in Turkey (15 July - 15 August 2024)

With the call of KESK and pensioners’ organizations, workers took part in protests under the slogan “We will not give into misery!” in Ankara, Istanbul, Eskişehir, Antalya, Bursa, Diyarbakır and other metropolitan cities on July 16. Workers from UİD-DER also took part in the protests in Ankara and Istanbul.

Izmir: On 11 June, dismissed 147 workers from Çibel Cleaning and Çiğli Food companies of Çiğli Municipality had started a sit-in protest. On 17 July, under the leadership of the Genel-İş union, the workers began to resist in front of the municipality building. The workers’ struggle continues.

Istanbul: Founder of DISK, General President of Maden-İş union and unforgettable leader of the working class of Turkey, Kemal Türkler was commemorated at his grave in Topkapı on the 44th anniversary of his assassination. On 22 July, the commemoration was attended by members and leaders of unions affiliated to DISK, pro-labour parties, older generations of workers who fought shoulder to shoulder with Kemal Türkler, and UİD-DER.

Istanbul: Workers were organised under Tekgıda-İş union at the Trakya Meat and Dairy Products factory in Çatalca, which produces under the Polonez brand. The boss fired dozens of workers to prevent union organization. In response, the workers started picketing on July 19. Despite all the pressure and attacks, the workers’ struggle continues and grows with solidarity visits. On 15 August, the workers once again demonstrated in front of the company’s headquarters and called on the Polonez management to recognize and respect their union rights.

On 22 July, Şişli Municipality workers from Genel-İş Branch No. 3 protested against the piecemeal and late payment of their wages.

Izmir: On 24 July, public workers at Izmir Metropolitan Municipality staged a one-day work stoppage after the collective bargaining negotiations failed to reach an agreement on the “social balance compensation” clause.

Istanbul: On 26 July, 112 Ambulance workers and İstanbul Branches of SES union held a press statement in front of the European Provincial Ambulance Service Head Physician office. Workers demanded a solution to the problems caused by the austerity policies in the public sector.

Hatay: Organized under Birleşik Metal-İş union, workers at the Befesa Silvermet factory went on strike on 26 July after collective negotiations failed to reach an agreement.

Izmir: After no agreement was reached in the collective bargaining negotiations at the Kristal Oil factory, the workers who are members of Tekgıda-İş union went on strike on 11 June. On 2 August, Tekgıda-İş union protested against the scabbing of the Kristal Oil management by outsourcing production to the Tariş Olive Oil factory while the strike continued.

The attacks on municipal workers continue with dismissals and usurpation their wage .

AKP-run Menemen Municipality and CHP-run Çiğli, Karşıyaka and Kemalpaşa municipalities in İzmir, CHP-run Şehitkâmil Municipality in Antep, AKP-run İpsala Municipality in Edirne and CHP-run Nazımiye Municipality in Dersim dismissed hundreds of workers under various pretexts. Workers responded to these attacks by protesting or starting picketing.

Eskişehir: On 9 August, the workers from Türk Harb-İş Eskişehir Branch, who have been protesting for 2 years against low wages and demanding an additional raise, held a 3-day “labour vigil” by setting up a stand in front of the Ulus Monument.

Izmir: On 9 August, Post and Telegraph Organization workers from KESK/Haber-Sen Izmir Branch No. 6 made a press statement in front of the Postal Communication Center in Bayraklı, demanding 3600 additional indicators and tenure.

Istanbul: On 12 August, construction workers of DİSK Dev Yapı-İş union, who work for Bayburt Group subcontractor Modular Technic at the Bakırköy Metro construction site, took action in front of Bayburt Group for months of unpaid wages.

Istanbul: At warehouse of CarrefourSA in Esenyurt, 6 workers were dismissed after demanding a wage increase and protesting against working overtime. On 12 August, workers from DGD-SEN union started picketing against the dismissal attack.

Bursa: 6 workers were dismissed from İbraş Kauçuk in Kestel, where the DİSK/Lastik-İş union was organizing to unionize. On 2 August, Lastik-İş union protested against the hostility towards union. Likewise, Gemlik Azot workers became a member of Lastik-İş union and 6 workers were dismissed. The workers protested the dismissal attack with a press statement and started picketing on August 15.