24 March, 2011Companies affiliated to the Metal Product Industrialists' Association (MESS) are the target of a massive strike launch by IMF affiliate, Birlesik Metal-Is, whose members are fighting for improved wages and working conditions in the metal industry.
TURKEY: On March 22, Turkish union Birlesik Metal-IS, an affiliate of the International Metalworkers' Federation (IMF), declared strike action at 21 companies, eight of which are multinationals, in defense of better wages and working conditions. On the first day of the strike wave, all shop stewards from the 21 companies and all union officers were picketing with Doruk-Susler /Candy Group workers.
The companies are members of the Metal Product Industrialists' Association (MESS) which has signed an industry-wide collective agreement with Turk Metal that includes massive concessions on working conditions and pay. The agreement is negotiated every two years between metalworkers' unions and MESS and impacts approximately 80,000 metalworkers directly, and many more indirectly.
Members of Birlesik Metal-IS are rejecting the collective agreement signed between MESS and Turk Metal, which gives a minimal wage increase of 5.35 per cent at a time when production and profits at companies affiliated to MESS are very high and defers to labour law rather than the collective bargaining agreement on the issue of flexible working conditions.
In February, Turkish unions held a mass demonstration in Ankara protesting the government's proposed labour law reforms which seek to give more control to employers and weaken working conditions and labour rights.
In the coming days and weeks, strikes will begin at the following companies:
- Standard Depo/Averys Group
- Kroman Çelik
- Areva
- Bekaert
- Bosal
- Çimsataş
- ABB
- Arfesan
- RSA
The IMF fully supports its Turkish colleagues in their ongoing fight to win improved wages and conditions for metalworkers in Turkey. The IMF will continue to follow this strike action and work with Birlesik, IMF affiliates and the European Metalworkers' Federation to help in bringing about a successful resolution.