Strike crisis had ended in a compromise: İzmir Metropolitan Municipality to lay off 800 workers

While the repercussions of the collective bargaining agreement signed between the parties following the strike process that ended in İzmir in recent weeks continue, a new development has emerged from the municipality front. The İzmir Metropolitan Municipality is preparing to lay off approximately 800 employees.

LAYOFF PROCESS OFFICIALLY BEGUN

The CHP-run İzmir Metropolitan Municipality has officially announced in a letter sent to the General Headquarters of the Municipal and General Services Workers' Union (Belediye-İş) that it has initiated the collective layoff process for 800 workers employed at the municipality-affiliated companies İZDOĞA, İZULAŞ, and İZBETON.

The criteria for who will be laid off during this process, which will be carried out between June 10 and July 4, have also been clarified. According to municipal sources, this process will be limited to those who wish to leave their jobs voluntarily, those who have become eligible for retirement, those who do not accept new duties offered to them despite their previous roles having ended, and personnel determined based on seniority.

TUGAY HAD SAID "I WILL TRY TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF PERSONNEL"

İzmir Metropolitan Mayor Cemil Tugay had clearly stated in a statement on May 7 that the staff structure would be downsized. By saying, "Over time, I will try not to increase but to reduce the number of personnel," Tugay had signaled that a step would be taken in this direction.

Discussion began as soon as the strike ended

Approximately 23 thousand workers employed at the municipality-affiliated companies İZELMAN, İZENERJİ, and Egeşehir A.Ş. had decided to strike on May 29 under the leadership of the DİSK-affiliated Genel-İş Union. During the seven-day strike, serious disruptions occurred in basic services in İzmir such as waste collection, transportation, and parks and gardens. The parties reached a compromise on June 4 and ended the strike.

What is in the collective agreement?

With the agreement reached, a 30 percent raise was granted to İZENERJİ employees for the first six-month period. Accordingly, daily wages were set at 1,468 TL for group A, 1,516 TL for group B, 1,548 TL for group C, and 1,596 TL for group D. In addition, it was reported that a payment of 1,500 TL would be made every month in lieu of attendance and medical report premiums. After the inflation adjustment and an additional 2 percent raise, daily wages excluding premiums rose to 1,749 TL in group A, 1,804 TL in group B, 1,842 TL in group C, and 1,900 TL in group D. The monthly equivalents of these figures were calculated as 55,850 TL, 57,950 TL, 59,500 TL, and 60,680 TL, respectively.

A similar 30 percent raise was applied at İZELMAN. In the first six-month period, daily wages were set at 1,468 TL for the 1st group, 1,539 TL for the 2nd group, 1,618 TL for the 3rd group, and 1,708 TL for the 4th group. After the inflation adjustment and additional raise, these amounts increased to 1,747 TL, 1,831 TL, 1,926 TL, and 2,032 TL, respectively. Likewise, a monthly attendance and report premium payment of 1,500 TL was also decided upon.