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

The struggle of Fernas Mining workers from Bağımsız Maden-iş union resulted in a victory with the support of various trade unions and workers’ organisations. The boss of Fernas agreed to raise the workers’ wages in January 2025 and to reinstate the dismissed workers without loss of rights.

At Betek Boya, where workers are organized under the Petrol-İş union, the boss rejected to recognise the union and refused to start collective bargaining negotiations. In response, workers have been taking action at the shift exchanges since 15 October.

Organised under Petrol-İş union, workers from As Plastic keep struggling with determination despite the pressure. On 19 October, a solidarity event was held to give strength to the workers. Leaders and representatives of unions affiliated to Türk-İş and DİSK, various labour organizations, and UİD-DER took part in the event. On 15 November, the 58th day of their strike, As Plastic workers made a press statement in front of Mavi Jeans, which has business relations with As Plastic, at Marmarapark Mall in Istanbul.

On 20 October, Türk-Is held a rally called “We’re suffering, We can’t Make Ends Meet”. Hundreds of thousands of workers shouted ‘Enough is Enough’ against the crushing impact of the economic crisis on workers, tax injustice and usurpation of rights.

With the call of Istanbul Medical Chamber, KESK Istanbul Branches Platform and Dev-Sağlık İş union, workers held a press statement in front of the Provincial Health Directorate on 21 October. Under the slogan ‘Privatization in Health System Means Death! Nationalise the Closed Hospitals’, health workers voiced their anger against the deaths of newborn babies.

On 21 October, workers from MERBEL of Konak Municipality and 4 days later workers from Kent A.Ş. of Karşıyaka Municipality staged protests to demand full and on-time payment of their wages in front of the municipality, led by the Genel-İş union.

At the Balcalı Training and Research Hospital of Çukurova University, junior doctors held a one-day strike on 21 October, demanding "the timely payment of performance and on-call wages, the improvement of the physical conditions of the hospital and personal rights".

With the call of DISK, KESK, The Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects, and Medical Chamber of Bursa, workers held a protest on 23 October in front of the Tax Office, under the slogan ‘We Want Justice in Income, We Want Justice in Tax !

On 25 October, workers from the subcontractor Bismak at the construction site of SASA-PTA Production Facility took action to reclaim for their two-month unpaid wages. The workers’ protest resulted in a victory on the second day.

The struggle of Polonez workers continues with determination. On 30 October, workers protested the contract manufacturing of Polonez products by the Bifet factory located in Gebze. Workers continue to call for a boycott of Polonez products.

After the workers from Ekos Elektric were organised in Birleşik Metal-İş union, the boss attempted to prevent unionisation by objecting to the authorisation of the union. On 1 November, workers held a press statement and warning action in front of the factory.

In municipalities in Istanbul and Izmir where the Genel-İş union is organised, municipal workers decided to go on strike after the collective bargaining negotiations with SODEMSEN failed to reach an agreement. Workers in Kartal and Ataşehir municipalities in Istanbul and Buca Municipality in Izmir have reacted against the union leadership for signing the agreement without workers’ consent while they were on strike. Workers from other municipalities who are getting ready to go on strike also showed their reactions.

Nakliyat-İş union organised at Havi Logistic, which carries out the warehousing and logistics work for McDonald’s all over Turkey. The union organised protests in front of McDonald’s branches in many cities and demanded that the boss withdraw his objection to the authorization of the union.

On 5-6-7 November, Family Health Centre workers walked off the job all over Turkey to protest the Regulation on Family Medicine Contract and Payment, which entered into force on 1 November.

On 8 November, workers at Pamukkale University’s enterprises went on strike after the failure to reach an agreement in the collective bargaining negotiations led by their union TOLEYIS.

At Telus Digital located in İzmir Buca Organized Industrial Zone 3rd Region, workers have organized in Çağrı-İş union. Workers continue their struggle against the denial of union and collective bargaining rights.

At TKIS Blinds factory in Tuzla, workers have become members of Teksif union. Workers keep fighting against the boss who objected to the authorization of the union and fired workers.