Turkey: Unexpected wave of strikes in automotive industry

Most people were surprised by the unexpected and spontaneous wave of strikes in the Turkish automotive industry in Bursa, Ankara, Sakarya and Kocaeli. Over 20,000 metal workers in Renault, Fiat, Ford, Turk Traktor, and some suppliers of these MNCs, have been protesting against both the employers union (MESS) and the labour union (Turk Metal). Nous publions ici une analyse d’Eren Korkmaz, , research associate at Istanbul Kemerburgaz University.
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We thank Beerg, and especially Tom Hayes, for allowing Planet Labor to use this article published in their newsletter last week. The article was written on May 24 just a few days before Renault’s announcement on May 27 that it had reached an agreement.

The workers claim that the union has betrayed its members by signing unacceptable collective agreements, without consulting them, and that their wages do not allow them to live in decent conditions.

Reasons… The strike was triggered after the Bosch

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