New development in the İzmir strike: Ballot boxes to be set up
The strike at the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, where no agreement could be reached on the collective bargaining agreement, has entered its seventh day. In the strike involving 23 thousand workers, İZELMAN employees have decided to vote on the municipality's latest wage increase offer.
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Collective bargaining negotiations between the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality and the DİSK Genel-İş Union, which had been ongoing for approximately six months, ended in a stalemate, leading 23,000 workers to go on strike.
The strike covers employees at municipal subsidiaries such as İZELMAN, İZENERJİ, and Egeşehir. Significant disruptions are being experienced in municipal cleaning, health, transportation, special education, firefighting, and parking services.
WAGE OFFER CAME FROM THE MUNICIPALITY, UNION REJECTED IT
The parties sat down at the table once again in recent days, but no results were achieved. The İzmir Metropolitan Municipality administration presented a new wage offer to the workers.
This offer included a 30 percent wage increase for the first 6 months and a 19 percent increase for the second 6 months. However, DİSK Genel-İş officials did not find these rates sufficient and rejected the proposal.
WORKERS ARE GOING TO THE BALLOT BOX
One of the most critical steps in the strike is being taken one day before the Eid al-Adha holiday. Approximately 8,000 workers employed at the municipal subsidiary İZELMAN are preparing to vote on the latest wage offer presented by the municipality.
Following a decision made by union representatives, ballot boxes will be set up at workplaces, and employees will directly express their will.
ONE-THIRD OF THE STRIKING WORKERS ARE FROM İZELMAN
İZELMAN is one of the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality's subsidiaries operating in critical areas such as general services, parking, special education, health, and firefighting.
The institution, where approximately 8,000 workers are employed, accounts for one-third of the total number of workers on strike.
TUGAY'S PROPOSAL WILL BE DECIDED UPON
Whether the latest proposal by İzmir Metropolitan Mayor Cemil Tugay, which aims to end the strike, will be accepted by İZELMAN workers will be determined after the vote. If the result is positive, the stance of employees in other subsidiaries may also be reshaped.
