Fernas workers return to their jobs: Good news on salary raises

Workers at Fernas Mining who were dismissed for joining a union and had been protesting for 53 days have reached an agreement with their employer. Under the terms of the agreement, the dismissed workers will return to their jobs, and their salaries will be increased as of January 2025.

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Fernas workers return to their jobs: Good news on salary raises

In the Soma district of Manisa, the 53-day protest by workers who were dismissed from Fernas Mining—owned by AKP Batman MP Ferhat Nasıroğlu—for joining a union has come to an end.

Negotiations between the workers and the employer yielded positive results. Under the agreement, it was decided that the dismissed workers would be rehired and that their salaries would be increased as of January 2025.

MOST OF THE WORKERS' DEMANDS WERE MET

Miner representatives, who returned to Soma after the negotiation process began while they were continuing their protests in Ankara, held two separate meetings with company officials. As a result of the meetings, most of the workers' demands were accepted and an agreement was reached.

THEY WILL RETURN WITHOUT LOSS OF RIGHTS

According to the terms of the agreement, the dismissed workers will be able to return to their jobs without any loss of rights if they wish. For workers who do not wish to return, their severance pay will be provided. Furthermore, it was announced that there will be an improvement in the salaries of all workers starting from January 2025.

In a joint statement issued by the Fernas workers and the employer, it was stated, "With these meetings, mutual trust has been refreshed, and the worker and employer have left the past in the past and opened a new page together. At this point, the winners are both the worker and the employer."

Following the agreement, a joint written statement was issued by the Fernas workers and the employer.

The statement included the following:

“Regarding the Fernas Mining Workers issue, which has been on the public agenda for some time; former employees, those still working, and worker representatives who participated in the protest and are returning, held two separate meetings lasting approximately 8 hours with the employer regarding joint solution proposals based on their own will.

As a result of the meeting, it was agreed that the fundamental problem between the parties was communication and that both sides should keep communication channels open from now on; that due to the lack of a mid-term raise in the minimum wage, the difference that emerged between the Soma Basin and the facility will be addressed with an increase as of January 2025, based on the preparation and production stages of the other facility in which Fernas is a partner, and that the increase will be implemented through an organizational chart that takes into account the workers' seniority and professional experience, again considering the partner facility; that a salary protocol will be made under equal conditions with the partner facility by negotiating with the bank and that the bonuses received will be paid to the workers; that workers who have reached a consensus and wish to return to work can start their jobs as of 21.10.2024 without suffering any loss of rights, that workers who wish to leave will be provided the opportunity to do so by paying their severance pay, notice pay, and any annual leave entitlements, and that both parties will waive the lawsuits filed against each other.

With these meetings, mutual trust has been refreshed, and the worker and employer have left the past in the past and opened a new page together. At this point, the winners are both the worker and the employer.

Together, by keeping the door of communication open, we have full faith that we will establish the best business model in the Soma Basin in a way that will both produce and ensure the country's development.”