Major strike decision by metal workers: 155,000 workers, 43 workplaces

A strike decision covering 155,000 metal workers was taken after no consensus could be reached in the collective bargaining negotiations conducted by three unions with MESS. The unions found the 18 percent wage increase offer insufficient. The strike is expected to begin at the end of January.

The 18 percent wage increase offer presented by MESS regarding the first 6-month salary adjustment was not accepted by the unions.

MESS had started its wage offer with a 5 percent increase plus a flat rate of 11.50 TL (10 percent in total) for the first 6 months of the contract. The union had first increased its offer to 15 percent and finally to 18 percent.

However, these offers were not accepted by the three unions.

The strike was announced after no results were obtained from the mediation meetings initiated within the scope of the legal process.

CONCERNS THOUSANDS OF WORKERS

Türk Metal represents approximately 140,000 workers in 196 workplaces, Birleşik Metal İş represents 11,000 workers in 43 factories, and Özçelik-İş represents approximately 2,500 workers in 3 factories.

The three unions represent a total of more than 150,000 metal workers within the scope of the MESS Group Collective Bargaining Agreement.

TÜRK METAL: THE KNIFE IS AT THE BONE

The Türk Metal Union, affiliated with Türk-İş, announced to the public yesterday that it had decided to go on strike. The statement noted that this step was taken to protect the sweat of its members and not to compromise on rights and justice in working life.

Stating that "we are now at the end of the road, the knife is at the bone," the statement indicated that actions will continue until a wage worthy of human dignity is obtained.

STRIKE ANNOUNCEMENT FROM ÖZÇELİK-İŞ

The Özçelik-İş Union, affiliated with Hak-İş, announced that it had decided to go on strike in workplaces under the MESS umbrella after the negotiations that began on October 13, 2025, with the Metal Industrialists' Employers' Association (MESS) remained inconclusive and no consensus emerged from the mediation process.

The union announced that the decision would be declared in the workplaces through its branches and that the struggle would be continued together with the members.

'WE WILL NOT RECOGNIZE A STRIKE BAN'

Özkan Atar, Chairman of the DİSK-affiliated Birleşik Metal-İş, also stated in his announcement today that the strike, which covers 11,000 metal workers in 43 factories across 11 provinces, will begin gradually on January 30.

Atar said, "No one should hope for a possible strike ban. If our strike is banned, we will exercise our constitutional right and will not recognize the ban. We showed this determination yesterday, and we will not refrain from showing it tomorrow either."

MESS HAD SAID 'DO NOT STOP THE WHEELS'

MESS had called on its counterparts, the Türk Metal, Birleşik Metal-İş, and Özçelik-İş unions, during the MESS Group Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations, where an 18 percent cumulative hourly wage increase offer was rejected the day before, saying, "Production is going through a difficult period. Let us protect our factories and our workers together during this period. Do not stop the wheels."

Arçelik, Tofaş, and Otokar announced in their notifications to the Public Disclosure Platform (KAP) that the Türk Metal Union had decided to go on strike for all workplaces included in the collective bargaining agreement negotiations.

In the statement made by Arçelik to KAP, it was said, "It has been notified to our Company that a strike decision has been taken by the Türk Metal Union for all our workplaces included in the collective bargaining agreement negotiations, with the implementation date to be determined later."

IT WAS BANNED IN 2018

In 2018, the strike planned by 130,000 metal workers within the scope of the MESS contract was banned by the Council of Ministers at that time. According to the new system, the authority to postpone a strike lies with the President.

Furthermore, in 2024, the strike of Birleşik Metal İş in 4 factories in the metal sector was postponed by President Erdoğan.

If the strike is postponed, the dispute is resolved by the Supreme Arbitration Board (YHK) if the parties cannot reach an agreement within the postponement period. For this reason, a strike postponement effectively means a strike ban.

When a postponement decision is made, unions usually take the ban to court. However, the court process usually takes up to 2 years to conclude.

News Source: 12punto