Labour Movement in Turkey (15 September-15 October 2024)

Although the scale of the attacks of the capitalist class on the working class are increasing, the struggle of the workers cannot be stopped.

• On 14 September, the subcontracted teachers to Çankaya Houses of Çankaya Municipality started a sit-in protest against the imposition of minimum wage and a 10-month contract. Led by the Private Sector Teachers’ Union the teachers made a press statement in front of the Çankaya Municipality on 27 September.
• At Fernas Mining owned by AKP deputy Ferhat Nasıroğlu, the resistance of miners from Bağımsız Maden-İş union in Soma continues for occupational health and safety measures, and the right to  unionise.On 13 October, the workers started a hunger strike and despite the oppression and detentions, they are not giving up their struggle.
• Having been fired for organizing in the Tekgıda-İş union, Polonez workers have been picketing for months. Despite the oppression and obstruction to break the picket and drive the workers away from the factory, the workers are putting up an inspiring struggle under the leadership of their union.  They are calling for a boycott of Polonez products.
• On 18 September, organised under the Gebze branch of Petrol-İş union, workers at Tarkett Turkey Floor Covering factory went on strike after no agreement was reached in the collective bargaining agreement negotiations
• On 18 September, DİSK started a sit-in protest in front of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security against the exclusion of the DİSK-Dev-Sağlık İş union from the authorization threshold by the Ministry. On October 9, union leadership made a press statement. 
• After no agreement was reached in the collective bargaining agreement negotiations at As Plastic, workers from Petrol-İş union went on strike on 19 September. Workers’ struggle is getting stronger with solidarity.
• On 23 September, Eker workers from Tekgıda-İş union started picketing in front of the Eker Milk factory against the hostility towards unions and the dismissal attack by the employer. On 6 October, the workers made a press statement at the Eker Süt park and despite all crackdowns, they continue their struggle with determination.
• On 24 September, Türk-İş staged simultaneous actions against increasing poverty and misery in the workplaces where it is organised.
• In Istanbul Saraçhane Park on 25 September and in Ankara Anıt Park on 3 October, DİSK held demonstrations under the slogan “Enough is enough! We can’t make ends meet! Justice in Income, in Taxes, in the Country!”
• Organised under Petrol-İş union, workers at Elba Bant went on strike on 25 September after no agreement was reached in the collective bargaining agreement negotiations.
• MKB Rondo workers from Selüloz-İş union have been on strike since 28 August.
• Mersen workers continue their strike with determination, which started on 19 April.
• Workers from UİD-DER pay solidarity visits to workers on strike and in resistance. With class solidarity, the workers’ enthusiasm grows and their determination in the struggle strengthens.
• The collective bargaining negotiations between the Birleşik Metal-İş union and the management of the Befesa Silvermet factory reached no agreement. In response, workers went on strike on 26 July. The strike resulted in a victory on 24 September.
• On 3 October, workers from strikes and resistances in various cities across Turkey held a press statement at the Parliament together with the deputies of the Labour Party (EMEP).
• On 10 October, health workers came together to protest against the draft contract and payment regulation for family physicians and healthcare workers. They protested the regulation that will push workers towards loss of income and precarious work.
• UİD-DER successfully organized the first of the events titled “The Struggle of the Working Class is Unstoppable!” The slogans shouted by workers from various strikes and resistances raised the enthusiasm of the event.